What’s On

We open the Amphitheatre concerts with Egyptian musician Saad Al-Oud and his band, performing beloved Egyptian songs in an open-air setting.

We open the Amphitheatre concerts this season with Egyptian oud player and singer Saad Al-Oud and his band on 20 and 21 November, presenting an open-air evening filled with some of the most beloved Egyptian songs. Saad Al-Oud began his musical journey performing in gatherings among family and friends, reminiscent of traditional Khaleeji jalsat (musical gatherings), but held instead in various coffee shops and restaurants. He called them, in Egyptian dialect, “Jalsa with Saad Al-Oud” — informal sessions where he played the oud and sang with the audience a wide selection of songs by iconic Arab singers, as well as popular ones by Egyptian film stars such as Mahmoud Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Zaki, and excerpts from well-known operettas like El-Layla El-Kebira (The Grand Night).

By 2018, these intimate gatherings had grown into large concerts attended by hundreds, then thousands, in Cairo and Alexandria. From there, the young oud player and his band expanded their reach across the Gulf, performing in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

The beloved superstar known as the “Voice of Egypt” returns to her Kuwait audience for the third consecutive year, delighting fans with a selection of her greatest hits.

The concerts of “The Voice of Egypt,” the acclaimed singer Angham, at the National Theatre have become an annual tradition eagerly awaited by her audience in Kuwait. This November, we meet the beloved artist for the third consecutive year. This engagement comes as part of her current concert season, which Angham launched with her first-ever performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, followed by a series of successful concerts across the Arab world.

Angham consistently leads audiences on a dramatic musical journey, drawing on a career of more than 35 years spanning 27 albums and numerous singles. Her latest album, “Tigi Nseeb”, released in July 2024 after a four-year break from album projects, quickly gained wide popularity and—true to her style—unfolds like a narrative in song. She performed the album’s tracks at her most recent National Theatre concert last November.

For the first time in the Middle East, Jon Batiste — the Jazz Icon, Academy Award winner, and five-time Grammy Award recipient — will perform in Kuwait as part of his world tour.

Oscar and five-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste makes his Middle East debut on 29 November in Kuwait, at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ali Concert Hall, presenting a magical musical evening as part of his world tour “The Maestro Series.”

The acclaimed American singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist is distinguished by his unique and captivating performances that blend diverse musical styles. He seamlessly weaves together classical music, jazz, soul, R&B, and other African American traditions, while his masterful playing at the piano and on other instruments showcases brilliant improvisations. Renowned for collaborations with Beyoncé, Lang Lang, and Michelle Obama, Batiste co-composed the jazz-inspired score for Pixar’s Soul, earning an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy, and BAFTA Film Award.

The young Kuwaiti singer Talal Sam meets his audience at the Amphitheatre to celebrate the release of his debut album “Al-Wa’d Quddam” (The Promise is Ahead).

On 4 December, the Amphitheatre hosts the Kuwaiti singer Talal Sam in a concert featuring songs from his debut album “Al-Wa’d Quddam” (The Promise is Ahead), released on 5 November, alongside his most popular earlier works. Talal first rose to fame among young audiences as a social-media content creator, then began his career of acting and singing almost in parallel, releasing several singles while appearing in musical theatre productions and television series.

Most recently, he dropped the album’s first track, “Qawi al-Bass,” on YouTube, where it attracted around 2 million views in under two weeks. Through his voice and songwriting, Talal blends emotion and storytelling that resonate with today’s youth, reflecting both his singing journey and growing creative maturity.

The musician presents his first concerts in Kuwait at the National Theatre.

For the first time in Kuwait, the National Theatre will host musician Saint Levant in December. Marwan Abdelhamid, AKA Saint Levant, was born in Jerusalem to a French-Algerian mother and Serbian-Palestinian father during the Second Intifada. He spent 7 years growing up in Gaza, to which he dedicated his first EP “From Gaza with Love”.

Drawing inspiration from his origins with influences that combine traditional Arabic music, R&B and hip-hop, the young artist embraces the plurality of his own cultural heritage, the Arab community worldwide and the Palestinian struggle abroad. His songs – written in Arabic, English and French – have captivated a global audience with their international appeal. His latest project, “Love Letters and Love Letters Deluxe”, is a compilation of new music by Saint Levant, each song representing an ode to different aspects of his world – triumphant, reflective, hopeful, and heartfelt.

The Lebanese strong voice returns this December to perform her finest songs alongside beloved Arabic classics.

After a brief absence, Abeer Nehme takes the stage at the National Theatre on 8 December, presenting a special evening that blends a selection of her own songs with masterpieces by great Arab singers.

Recognised as one of today’s most radiant and versatile Arab voices, Nehme commands an exceptional range—from classical Arabic singing (tarab) and Andalusian muwashshahat to operatic and Western repertoire.

Two stars of romantic Arabic songs, Hani Shaker and Khaled Selim present a selection of the most beloved songs by Abdel Halim Hafez, the Nightingale.

This December, the National Theatre hosts “Halim”, a concert starring Egyptian singers Hani Shaker and Khaled Selim, renewing our encounter with the songs of Abdel Halim Hafez—classics the Kuwaiti audience never tires of. Between the Nightingale and Kuwait lies a love story with many chapters.

Among the singers of his generation, Abdel Halim Hafez, the Nightingale, had a special bond with Kuwait, performing numerous concerts on its stages. He also recorded a rare set of songs in the Kuwaiti dialect, unique in his career, including “Ya Farhat Al-Summar,” “Ayni Ḍanaha Al-Sahar,” “Ya Layali Al-Eid,” “Min Al-Jahra lil-Salmiya,” and “Ya Hali,” the latter filmed for Kuwait Television in 1965.

Great classical music performed for the first time by the famous Qatar’s orchestra under the baton of German conductor Andreas Weiser.

On 19 December, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ali Concert Hall hosts the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) for the very first time, presenting a programme of famous classical works by great composers such as Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Bizet, Mozart, John Williams, and Henry Mancini. The orchestra will be conducted by German maestro Andreas Weiser.

Known for its innovative programming and unique sound, QPO blends Western symphonic traditions with the rich musical heritage of the Arab world, creating performances that are globally resonant and deeply rooted in the region’s cultural legacy.

With more than 500 performances to date, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra brings together 78 world-class musicians from 28 countries, many of whom have performed with the world’s leading ensembles. The QPO has graced prestigious stages worldwide, including La Scala (Milan), Konzerthaus Wien (Vienna), Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Paris), Santa Cecilia (Rome), the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), and the Royal Albert Hall (London).

A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic will be screened with its score performed live by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

Celebrate the holiday season with a landmark cultural event at the National Theatre, as Kuwait welcomes “Home Alone in Concert” for the very first time on 20 December. The evening features a full screening of the film on a giant screen with John Williams’s Academy Award–nominated score performed live to picture by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

Since its 2013 debut, “Home Alone in Concert” has become a global tradition, uniting cinema and live performance in a festive experience for all the family. This year also marks the film’s 35th anniversary (released in 1990), starring Macaulay Culkin as eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, accidentally left behind when his family departs for Christmas and forced to defend his home against two hapless burglars. With two Academy Award nominations—including Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“Somewhere in My Memory”)—Home Alone has secured its place as one of the most cherished holiday classics, perfect for audiences of all ages.

The new term of the Music School runs from 22 December to 17 January, for participants aged 14 and above, under the supervision of a distinguished group of academics.

The new term of the Music School runs from 22 December to 17 January, with classes held every Saturday and Monday, for participants aged 14 and above. The School offers both individual and group classes led by a distinguished team of academic specialists in Eastern and Western musical instruments, as well as Arabic singing. For this term, three new classes have been added: Advanced Eastern Violin, Vocalize, and Sound Engineering.

Each course runs for one month and consists of 8 sessions, held every Saturday and Monday, with each session lasting 45 minutes. All instumrntal classes includes an additional solfège class (music notation reading) for all students, except those enrolled in Arabic singing, guitar, vocal training, and audio engineering.

For registration and more information, please visit JACC website or mobile app.