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The sixth edition of Showtime! 2026, organized by Qatar Foundation's Pre-University Education, has concluded with the participation of 50 students from six QF schools. Through the bilingual theatrical production "The Secret of the Garden", featuring the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, established under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation, students experienced a learning journey that combined creativity with practical application. The production helped strengthen their communication and teamwork skills while encouraging them to use Arabic in artistic and interactive contexts, reflecting QF's approach to providing authentic learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Aisha Al Sultan, Performing Arts Specialist at Qatar Music Academy within Qatar Foundation's Pre-University Education, said the educational value of Showtime! extended beyond the final performance to encompass a broader process of learning and discovery, from auditions and script readings to rehearsals, overcoming challenges and ultimately performing before an audience. She explained that participating in the production enabled students to develop a range of artistic and personal skills, including acting, vocal performance, movement and emotional expression, as well as the ability to understand characters and their motivations. Arabic featured prominently in this year's production, helping students deepen their understanding of vocabulary and linguistic structures by applying them in practical contexts rather than simply memorizing lines. Al Sultan noted that the experience was closely linked to classroom learning, explaining that Showtime! allows students to put academic skills into practice. Reading becomes a means of understanding characters and interpreting scripts, language becomes a tool for communicating with an audience, while music and movement help develop concentration, memory and coordination.

His Excellency Minister of Culture Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani honoured the winners of the 38th Doha Theater Festival at Dukhan theater, Ministry of Culture headquarters, in the presence of artists and cultural figures. The play by Qatar theater group won five awards: Best Overall Production, Best Script (Taleb Al Dos), Best Scenography, Best Director (Mohamed Youssef Al Mulla), and Best Actor (Nasser Habib).Best Actress went to Amina Al Wakiili for her role in a play by Doha theater group. The festival featured three plays, with a jury comprising actor Ghazi Hussein, critic Dr. Nizar Shukroun, and artist Khalid Abdul Karim Al Hammadi.Director of Culture and Arts Department Abdulrahman Al Dulaimi said the theater in Qatar was built on the efforts of successive generations of creators who carried the message of art and its human and moral values, contributing to establishing its place as a space for expressing human issues and aspirations. He added that the theater has remained, since its inception, a laboratory for human questions and a mirror of reality, given its ability to reshape time and space through its artistic and creative tools, noting the importance of employing this art to serve society and promote human values. Al Dulaimi stressed that this 38th edition of the Doha Theater Festival has shown promising indicators of the development and distinction of Qatari theater, reflecting the growing impact of the festival on the country's cultural movement. He also said the renewed presence of young talents on stage is the result of these efforts and an important step towards a more promising cultural future.He concluded that the festival concludes while the ideas and questions raised by theater remain present and evolving, enhancing its role in enriching cultural dialogue in society. The closing ceremony also paid tribute to late pioneers of Qatari theater, honoring their contributions to the cultural scene.Qatar theater group supervisor Nasser Abdul Raza said the results achieved by the group in this edition reflect its continuous efforts to attract and refine young talents. He added the competition was strong among nominees in all categories, and the awards are a motivation to continue producing more distinguished works in the future. Director Mohamed Youssef Al Mulla said he is happy to win the Best Integrated Work award for the third consecutive time at the Doha Theater Festival.He added this repeated recognition places greater responsibility on him to further develop his directing experience. He also said the win represents a collective effort involving the entire team, and the multiple awards reflect the scale of work invested in the production.

The 32nd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater kicked off at the Cairo Opera House with the participation of renowned talents in the field from the region and the world, including Qatar. The opening ceremony saw the honoring of the Qatari writer and producer Hamad Al Rumaihi, in addition to ten notable talents in theater from both Arab and foreign countries, in appreciation for their contribution to the theater movement regionally and globally in acting, directing, criticism, and academic studies. The Festival will feature 13 Arabic shows, including the Qatari play "The Ninth Hour" by director Mohammed Al Mulla, which won seven awards in the 37th Doha Theatre Festival. The managing team behind the Festival announced that it will publish 11 books that document recent theatrical movements globally, with the goal of supporting the criticism movement and providing references for researchers and theater workers. The Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theater was first held in 1988. It is considered one of the most notable events in the field in the region and the world. It provides a platform to showcase plays from all around the world, opens doors for dialogue and cultural communication, and introduces audiences to theater trends.