Habibi Festival celebrates the complexity, vitality, and beauty of music from the Arab world and SWANA diaspora.
Launched in 2021, Habibi Festival (HF) was founded by saxophonist/composer Yacine Boulares, curator/producer Meera Dugal, and Joe’s Pub Director Alex Knowlton to celebrate ancient and contemporary music from the SWANA region. By presenting traditional, reimagined, and contemporary collaborations, HF supports the continued evolution and appreciation of music from this region. HF’s main events include the flagship fall festival at Joe’s Pub, an annual collaboration with NYC’s longest-running free music festival, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park, as well as pop up concerts across the year.
Each October, Habibi Festival presents 5 an expansive range of music across 5 nights featuring local and international artists. Linesup have featured everything from 800-year old Moroccan gnawa to Mauritanian rock to Palestinian indie folk. Each night also features an on-stage conversation between the artists and global media platform afikra to take audiences deeper into the creative process and cultural context of the music.
Habibi Festival 2025 will take place October 8-12.
“It means the world to us to spread the healing joy of our culture’s music and diverse tunes to our city and build community and fuel important cultural exchange and understanding through the healing connection of dance, hip shakes, and zaghrareet!”
Yalla! Party Project Founders
“This was a spectacular concert. Musicianship of the highest degree. Beautiful messaging. Opportunity to hear something I had never heard before. And a beautiful chance to hear a community speak for itself.”
2021 Audience Member
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