The Lahore Arts Council Alhamra will host the 10th edition of the three-day Faiz Festival from 13 to 15 February 2026, marking a significant milestone in the celebration of the enduring intellectual and poetic legacy of Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
Over the past decade, the festival has established itself as one of the most distinguished literary and cultural forums in the region, embodying Faiz’s vision of dialogue, human dignity and creative resistance. The festival will formally open on Friday, 13 February, at 3pm in the Hall 1 Foyer, with an inauguration ceremony, an exhibition and a musical performance by the AM Group, setting the tone for an inspiring and reflective cultural gathering. The opening day is designed to present a rich blend of dialogue, book launches, performance and contemporary discourse across multiple venues of Alhamra.
For three days, Alhamra will emerge as a vibrant epicenter of literary reflection and cultural expression. Its auditoriums and open spaces will resonate with scholarly conversations, book launches, poetry recitals, music, theatre, dance performances and interactive workshops, transforming the historic institution into a living canvas of ideas and artistic engagement.
This landmark edition brings together an exceptional gathering of poets, writers, scholars, journalists, policymakers, performers and young intellectuals from across Pakistan. Among the distinguished participants are Kamran Lashari, Salima Hashmi, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sohail Warraich, Kamil Khan Mumtaz, Shahida Dilawar, Dr Ghaffar Shehzad, Fiqah Mansab, Dr Serena Haq, Dr Maria Maan, Farah Zia, Senator Ali Zafar, Moeen Nizami, Kishwar Naheed, Moneeza Hashmi, Adeel Hashmi and Hanif Muhammad, alongside many other prominent voices shaping contemporary discourse.
Renowned figures from film and television, including Marina Khan, Asif Raza Mir, and Mustafa Faridi, will further enrich the festival’s cultural landscape. Leading journalists and analysts, including Syed Talat Hussain, Wajahat Ullah Khan, Wusatullah Khan and Asad Baig, will engage audiences in thoughtful deliberations on pressing national and global issues.
Special thematic sessions will revisit Faiz Ahmed Faiz through contemporary lenses, examining his influence on Pakistan’s cultural policy, his association with Pakistan Times, his creative dialogue with Ustad Daman, and his resonance with Generations Z and Alpha. Eminent scholars, including Dr Anjum Altaf, Hijaz Naqvi, Sarwat Mohiuddin, Professor Zubair Ahmed and Dr Jawaz Jafri, will lead these reflective discussions.
The performing arts will remain integral to the festival’s identity. Ajoka Theatre, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Nazir Ahmed Music Society GCU, Lal Band, drum circles, open-mic platforms and classical dance performances by the acclaimed Nighat Chaudhry will celebrate the continuum of tradition and innovation.
Workshops on digital broadcasting, photography and contemporary media practices, led by Yousaf Ibrahim and Malcolm Hutchison, will offer emerging creatives meaningful learning opportunities, underscoring the festival’s commitment to youth engagement and future-oriented cultural dialogue.
As the home of major literary gatherings, including the Lahore Literary Festival and Think Fest, Alhamra continues to uphold its legacy as the cultural heart of Lahore. By hosting the Faiz Festival 2026, the institution reaffirms its commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue, artistic excellence and democratic values through literature and the arts. Faiz Festival 2026 is not merely a commemoration of a poet; it is a reaffirmation of a vision. It is a celebration of thought, courage and creativity, inviting audiences to rediscover the transformative power of words and to help shape a more enlightened and humane future.