Mediterranean Poetry Festival Returns to Cairo and Alexandria
The Instituto Cervantes, Spain’s official cultural center, has announced the launch of the third edition of the Mediterranean Poetry Festival, a bilingual celebration of poetry and music taking place in Cairo on Monday, November 17, and in Alexandria on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Both events will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the institute’s branches in Dokki (Poulos Hanna Street) and Fouad Street, Alexandria, with free admission open to the public until full capacity is reached.
The festival brings together six poets from Egypt and Spain for two nights of poetic exchange and live performance that blend Arabic and Spanish expression, reflecting the shared spirit and cultural depth of the Mediterranean.
Spanish poems will be performed in Arabic translation by actor Ahmed Yehia, whose theatrical delivery bridges linguistic and artistic worlds. The evenings will also feature musical interludes by Egyptian artists on oud and guitar, creating a harmonious Mediterranean ambiance that enhances the emotional resonance of the readings.
Featured Poets from Egypt and Spain
From Egypt, the festival welcomes Kawthar Mustafa, a celebrated poet and songwriter whose collections include Season of Planting Girls, The Tale of a Horse’s Tail, Paper Boat, and Songs Are Still Possible. With over 130 songs featured in films, television, and stage productions, her lyrical craft connects literary and musical traditions.
Also representing Egypt is Sameh Mahgoub, poet, media professional, and Director of the Arab House of Poetry in Cairo. Author of acclaimed works such as Nothing Equals the River’s Sadness and A Woman Laden with Jasmine, Mahgoub’s poetry has been translated into several languages, earning him awards including the Al-Babtain Prize for Poetic Creativity and the Athir Prize for Arabic Poetry (Oman, 2022).
From Spain, the festival will host four distinguished voices in contemporary poetry:
Rosa Berbel, winner of the Antonio Carvajal and Ojo Crítico Prizes for her debut Las chicas siempre dicen la verdad (Girls Always Tell the Truth);
Jesús Aguado, recipient of the Hiperión Prize (1990), known for his spiritually infused poetry and translations of Indian devotional texts;
Bibiana Collado, poet, researcher, and recipient of the Arcipreste de Hita Prize (2012), who combines academic work with literary creation; and
Juan José Téllez, poet, journalist, and critic celebrated for The Sunken City and The Dirty Choices, bridging poetry, politics, and culture in modern Spain.
A Bridge Between Shores
Since its inception in 2023, the Mediterranean Poetry Festival has served as a bridge between Egyptian and Spanish cultural spheres, fostering dialogue and artistic collaboration across the region.
By uniting languages, sounds, and emotions, the festival highlights poetry’s enduring power to connect people across borders — reaffirming the Mediterranean as a shared space of creativity, reflection, and human expression.