Muscat: Held from October 2 to 9, the festival will feature 35 theater groups from 50 countries, creating a global artistic gathering in Salalah.

Dhofar Municipality, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Omani Theatre Association, organized the festival, which was officially announced at a press conference held at Anantara Salalah Resort.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality and head of the festival’s Executive Committee, highlighted the event’s unique timing. “The festival coincides with the Serb season in Dhofar Governorate to combine the natural beauty of the governorate with the diversity of theatrical and cultural arts,” he said.

The Dhofar International Theatre Festival is a major international competition designed to spotlight global talent while fostering Oman’s own theatrical traditions. It brings together the most important international performances to enhance local talents and build the next generation of Omani theatre artists, as expressed by His Excellency Al Ghassani.

According to Musa bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Director General of Culture, Sports and Youth for Dhofar, the festival will feature six categories over eight days: major performances, public theatre, children’s and youth theatre, monodrama, and duo performances. It will also include specialized workshops by experts in the field.

Beyond theatre, the event aims to promote cultural tourism and encourage investments in Dhofar. By hosting international theatre groups, the festival will support specialized tourism and cultural exchange while enhancing Oman’s cultural footprint both regionally and globally, emphasized Ammar bin Obaid Ghawas, the festival’s general coordinator.