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

Image via D-CAF

Egypt’s largest contemporary arts festival is finally coming back, and as per usual, it will be held in several places in Downtown Cairo. Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) is on its 11th edition. Considered the leading contemporary international festival in the Arab region, D-CAF will feature over 30 diverse events this year that will last three weeks, from the 12th of October to the 5th of November.

What to expect?

Image via D-CAF

This year’s schedule is jam-packed, introducing a wide range of performances from media arts, modern music, performing arts, exceptional talks, and special events. What makes this year extra special is the clash between technology and art that the festival is adopting this year.

These performances will involve the participation of 80 artists arriving from 14 different countries, presenting diversity in artistic endeavours. Such activities consist of modern art showcases, conferences, and visual arts displays that stand out due to their innovative concepts and commitment to staying current with technology while maintaining interactivity with the audience.

The D-CAF Festival will include another prominent feature to advocate for the technological aspect of this year’s edition, with the participation of more than 50 programmers whose interest was sparked in attending the shows due to the exceptional usage of technology that will take place this year.

Another perk of this year’s festival is the intertwining of international and local forums for contemporary arts. In the same way that D-CAF will be introducing Arab artists, they will also be giving the stage to international figures presenting their edition of Contemporary Arab Arts. Some of those participating in the International Forum for Contemporary Arab Arts will be introduced for the first time globally, which is an excellent source of exposure and an even greater opportunity for Egyptian art lovers to get introduced to innovators.

In line with the festival’s aim to increase interactivity throughout the event, this edition will include four free workshops in different fields. These uniquely crafted workshops include augmented reality art workshops, interactive audiovisual arts workshops, experimental drama workshops, and theatrical directing workshops.

Why you should attend?

Image via D-CAF

Whether you are a theatre lover, a technology advocate, or a simple arts lover, this event is for you. D-CAF truly has something for everyone. This festival guarantees a wide array of activities, including performing arts alongside theatrical, visual, musical, and digital shows. There is simply no way to leave this event disappointed. It is overwhelmingly unique and calls for everyone, no matter what their age or where their interests lie. D-CAF is the sole festival in Egypt reserved for multiple forms of contemporary arts and is always up-to-date with the ever-evolving world we live in.