Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 12:15 PM* 

France 24's cultural programmes, 'Arts24', hosted by Olivia Salazar-Winspear in English, and 'À l'Affiche !', presented by Sonia Patricelli in French, are heading to Avignon to cover one of the world's largest theatre festivals. This year's edition features over 1,700 performances that encompass classical drama, contemporary dance, political plays, and a wide range of spontaneous spectacles.

The 79^th Festival d'Avignon, held in partnership with France Médias Monde, places the Arabic language at centre stage. Highlights include a tribute concert to the Egyptian diva Oum Kalthoum, taking place on July 14 in the Cour d'honneur of the Palais des Papes. The performance will feature artists such as Natacha Atlas, Souad Massi, Camelia Jordana, Maryam Saleh, and Abdullah Miniawy. This grand concert will be broadcast live on RFI and MCD, France Médias Monde group's radio stations, starting at 9:40 PM*.

This year, the festival also welcomes artists from the Palestinian territories, Tunisia, and Egypt, along with Lebanese choreographer Ali Chahrour. As a guest on Arts24, he will present his work 'When I Saw the Sea', a powerful piece that explores the tragic fate of migrant women working in Lebanon in inhumane conditions.

A first special show about the Festival d'Avignon, aired when the festival opened, can also be (re)watched on france24.com