Ancient Babylon hosted festival from 8 to 16 October
Published on 11/07/2026 at 15:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFestival programme and heritage setting
- The 13th edition took place at the Ancient Babylon archaeological site from 8 to 16 October 2026.
- The programme included poetry, theatre, music, cinema, visual arts and the International Book Fair.
- Ancient Babylon joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019, according to Shafaq News.
- The festival theatre was restored by the organisers and has 5,000 seats.
Ancient Babylon and its Babylon Festival for International Cultures brought poets, artists and thinkers to the archaeological site near Hillah from 8 to 16 October 2026. The 13th edition was staged on the ancient theatre in Iraq, with the programme combining cultural events and access to a major heritage setting.
Ancient Babylon festival ran from 8 to 16 October
The festival was organised by the Babylon International Foundation for Culture and Arts, which has held the gathering at the archaeological site since 2012. Its official programme lists poetry, theatre, music, cinema, visual arts, talks and the Babylon International Book Fair.
The book fair included publishers’ stands, book signings and meetings with writers. The organiser also described family performances on the theatre stage, while the detailed programme page recorded the 2026 edition as completed after 16 October.
The festival’s cultural programme was spread across the archaeological city rather than being confined to a modern venue. That placed performances, readings and discussions alongside remains connected with the ancient Mesopotamian capital.
The official festival programme gives the dates, venue and programme areas. A separate report from Shafaq News recorded festival events on the theatre stage and reported participation by artists, writers, poets and musicians from Iraq and other countries.
Festival theatre connects culture with UNESCO site
The restored theatre is a central link between the festival and the place itself. The foundation says its team rehabilitated the theatre, which has 5,000 seats, and used it for the first edition in 2012. The venue therefore functions both as an event space and as part of the site’s modern cultural history.
Ancient Babylon was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019. Shafaq News reported on 30 October 2026 that about 90 per cent of the ancient city remains unexcavated, while the governor of Babil province called for support for future excavation, restoration and protection.
The site lies in Babil province on the Euphrates, with Hillah as the provincial capital. The festival’s location gives visitors a direct connection between the current cultural programme and an archaeological landscape associated with Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II.
What the 2026 programme added to the site
The event was not simply a city festival mentioned in passing. Its official programme placed the main performances on the ancient theatre and described the book fair, visual arts and talks as parts of the gathering at the archaeological city.
For travellers interested in heritage presentation, the 2026 edition also showed how the site is being used as a setting for contemporary Iraqi and international culture. The programme ended on 16 October 2026, so it is a retrospective reference rather than a current performance schedule.
Visiting Ancient Babylon: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Babylon Festival for International Cultures took place at the Ancient Babylon archaeological site from 8 to 16 October 2026.
- The festival has ended, and no performances from that programme should be expected during a later visit.
- The site is near Hillah in Babil province, south of Baghdad, and the festival venue was the ancient theatre within the archaeological city.
- Visitors should expect an archaeological landscape with open areas and reconstructed or restored features, including the theatre used for the festival.
- Iraq’s official language is Arabic and its national currency is the Iraqi dinar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ancient Babylon
When did the Babylon Festival take place at Ancient Babylon?
The 13th edition ran from 8 to 16 October 2026 at the archaeological site near Hillah.
What is Ancient Babylon?
It is an ancient Mesopotamian city in Babil province on the Euphrates and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019.
Where is Ancient Babylon and how do you get there?
The site is near Hillah, south of Baghdad. The festival organiser described access by car from Baghdad on the Baghdad to Hillah road.
