The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Images via AUC

The 2nd edition of AUC Tahrir CultureFest is here this April to take us on a vibrant journey around Cairo. The festival, as always, brings people together with book talks, discussions, performances, exhibitions, a bazaar, a children’s corner, and a food fair, besides outdoor adventures of various fun activities, all in favour of capturing Cairo’s multicultural essence and flavour.

Let’s explore this year’s interesting theme and programme of an immersive cultural experience of the world.

The 2nd Edition of CultureFest All Around the City

AUC Tahrir CultureFest is a three-day event, and you can register to get your ticket from here free of charge. The 2nd edition in 2025 will take place from the 10th to the 12th of April at the AUC Tahrir Culture Center with additional activities around Cairo, each day from 8 AM to 10 PM. 

Cairo Global City

Image by Assmaa Rady

This edition has a unique theme that centres Cairo as a global city, focusing on its part as a vivid mixture of rich culture. Cairo has always bridged Africa, the Mediterranean and the Arab world, acting as a cultural hub for the global South. Cairo smoothly blends the past heritage and modernity of the region, creating a vibrant community of originality and culture. This theme in the CultureFest will explore the effect of Cairo on bringing the world together by gathering AUC’s community, friends, and neighbours from anywhere to share the fun in a vibrant and diverse atmosphere.

Talks and Panels: Conversations of Egypt

The 2nd edition of CultureFest features a lineup of interesting talks and panel discussions over the three days around Egypt as a part of the world. The topics have been announced as follows: Reflections on the Nile: Sustainability, Innovation and Action, Egyptian Startups Going Global, Bilhana: A Journey Through Middle Eastern Cuisine, Foreign Egyptians and Egyptian Foreigners, Children’s Picture Books: Mirrors of Contemporary Egyptian Society, and Cairo’s Architecture: A Cosmopolitan Canvas.

Adventures Around Cairo with CultureFest 2025

The CultureFest’s 2nd edition will extend beyond the walls of AUC Tahrir and take attendees through multiple journeys. Urban Sports: Nile Kayaking Adventure promises a unique experience of paddling through history with a kayaking tour along the Nile led by professional experts. The tour will parallel kayaking with the informative aspect of environmental awareness, teaching about combating water waste and plastic pollution and delving into global sustainability goals.

The second adventure awaits on the 11th of April, as a culinary walk in Downtown Cairo will take place. Cairo on a Plate: A Global City Food Tour features passing by the diverse food spots of Downtown, including French, Italian, Armenian, and so many more tastes from around the world. Participants can try out and taste 8 cuisines by registering through here.

Live Worldly Performances and Global Tunes

Image via A CAPOP Ensemble

CultureFest 2025 brings us many live musical and dance performances that don’t require any registration or extra tickets and can be easily entered by early arrival and the free CultureFest ticket, acquired from TicketsMarche. The performances blend various Egyptian and international music and choreography from the East to the West of the global South.

The Key with Marwan Pablo

For the first time, Marwan Pablo will perform at the AUC Tahrir as a part of AUC CultureFest 2025. This is not just any live performance, as Marwan Pablo promises his most loyal fans an exclusive experience of his musical journey with the title The Key, which will take the audience on a journey from his early beginnings to his latest musical hits. This concert is for dedicated fans to gain a deeper perspective into his world. The tickets are available through TicketsMarche.

CultureFest 2025 Holds a Seat for the Kids at Its Kids’ Corner

The 2nd edition of AUC Tahrir CultureFest will provide a full programme for kids with different all-day activities. This programme includes activities for children and adults like painting on Egyptian 2olas (pots), pottery making, cartoonist face portraits, and other children’s activities such as face or canvas painting and origami workshops. All activities will be held at the Main Garden on the 11th and the 12th of April from 12 PM to 8 PM.

Vibrant Colours and Flavours from the Globe

AUC Tahrir CultureFest of 2025 has quite a culinary selection that caters to different cuisines for everyone. The booths include Butcher’s Burger, Pizza Station, Pasqua’s Crepe Station, El Makhbaz El Lebnani, Gracias EG, Panda House, Koffee Kulture, Mandarine Koueider and more.

For the visual aspect, the event also includes the Heels Over Head Exhibition. This exhibition will display the final projects of AUC’s Visual Arts Program senior students as a show of emerging artists and the creativity of new generations in visual storytelling. The opening will be on the 10th of April at 6 PM and will continue until the 1st of June.

The festival will also feature a global fashion show on the third day, displaying different national costumes worldwide. The show welcomes the participation of all AUC students who register here and receive a certification with rewards for being a part of the global fashion show.