Romania Guest of Honor at Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre .. "Radu Stanca" National Theatre Leads Romanian Participation

Romania Guest of Honor at Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre .. "Radu Stanca" National Theatre Leads Romanian Participation

Amr Yehia

Romania returns once again to the forefront of cultural life in Egypt. From November 1 to 5, 2026, Romania will participate as Guest of Honor in the 11th edition of the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre (SITFY). This event crowns an exceptional year full of celebrations dedicated to marking the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Romania and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Throughout 2026, Romania has enjoyed a rich cultural presence in Egypt through a series of major events that contributed to enhancing bilateral cultural dialogue and opening new horizons for joint projects.

Two events stand out as major milestones in the celebratory cultural program: the Cairo International Book Fair (January-February 2026) and the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre (November 2026), where Romania was Guest of Honor in both. Both initiatives were supported by the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The success of this year's major cultural projects, with continuous participation and support from the Embassy of Romania in Cairo, continues to create new opportunities for cooperation, as well as complementing other prominent events held in 2026 that contributed to stimulating bilateral political dialogue and economic cooperation.

The Romanian program at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre, presented by the "Radu Stanca" National Theatre in Sibiu, under the artistic supervision of the great Professor Constantin Chiriac, and funded by the Ministry of Culture and a number of private sector sponsors, includes theatrical performances and musical concerts by the "Iza Group," masterclasses, workshops, and professional meetings. During the opening ceremony, artist Diana Lazăr will be honored in recognition of her entire artistic career, along with a number of prominent figures in the Egyptian and international theatre scene.

The Embassy of Romania in Cairo also played an active role in ensuring the success of Romania's participation in the Sharm El-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre, by ensuring coordination at the local level with various stakeholders, facilitating dialogue with organizers and Egyptian authorities, mobilizing partners, as well as providing the necessary organizational and logistical support for the implementation of the Romanian program.

In the same context, the Embassy will host on the evening of November 1st, following the official opening ceremony of the festival, a reception in Sharm El-Sheikh, celebrating Romania's status as Guest of Honor, commemorating the 120th anniversary in South Sinai Governorate, and launching the celebrations for Romania's National Day.

This participation reflects the excellence of Romanian theatre, as well as the vitality of Romanian-Egyptian cultural cooperation. The Embassy of Romania will continue its efforts to participate in launching or supporting all bilateral cultural projects that continue to successfully carry forward the 120-year friendship between our two countries.