From the Fête de la Musique to Queen live, from One Thousand and One Nights revisited by Caracalla to Brad Pitt on F1 tracks: here are our cultural recommendations of the moment. Photos courtesy of the owner.
Despite it all… Fête de la Musique
From Saida to Tripoli, passing through Beirut and Jounieh, Chouf, Zahle and Baalbeck, the 25th edition of Fête de la Musique is shaping up to be more than just another celebration. From June 20 to 22, the Institut Français and its partners are organizing free, open-air concerts and musical happenings across Lebanon.
The main concert takes place on June 21 in the gardens of the National Library in Sanayeh (Hamra), where several emerging Lebanese acts will perform. A vinyl market and sound-related pop-ups will also be part of the experience.
In Tripoli, the streets of Mina will come alive June 20 with performances by Cecile and the Band, Bazar, and DJ K-NAZ. On June 21, Deir al-Qamar hosts a musical parade through its streets, followed by live sets by Talia Lahoud, Choufna Band, Atraba Band and several choirs.
“God Save The Queen” ... and Mercury
“The best Queen since Queen” is how the Argentine tribute band God Save The Queen (originally Dios Salve a La Reina) bills itself — and they’re bringing their international act to Beirut Holidays Festival on July 10.
More than just a concert, this live tribute to the legendary British rock band is a choreographed and electrifying performance. Celebrating 27 years on stage, the group has toured everywhere from the Americas to Japan. In Beirut, they’ll light up the Waterfront with renditions of We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody and more.
Pablo Padin takes on the monumental role of Freddie Mercury — replicating even the smallest gestures of the Queen frontman.
The magical “The Theory of the Bumblebee”
Known online as Grosso Modo, Paul Joubert has built a following through whimsical and poetic Instagram videos. His new novel, The Theory of the Bumblebee, released in May, captures that same spirit in literary form.
It begins just as his videos often do: “While strolling through life, I didn’t understand it all…”
The story centers on Peter, a child who — like all children — has a superpower: the ability to fly. But as he grows older, the world of playground dreams slowly gives way to adult reality. This bittersweet fable explores the tension between childlike wonder and grown-up compromise.
Ghylan al-Safadi’s open wings
The hoopoe bird has captivated cultures for centuries — from ancient Egypt, where it symbolized protection and luck, to Greek mythology, where it stood for renewal. Syrian artist Ghylan el-Safadi reimagines the hoopoe as a visual storyteller in his latest exhibition, The Hoopoe’s Tale.
Through color, texture and symbolism, el-Safadi gives voice to a bird that speaks of solitude, joy, struggle and wonder. The exhibition is on view until July 5 at Maya Art Space in Beirut.
“Mission: Impossible,” an epic final clap
Nearly three decades after he first took on the role, Ethan Hunt is back for his final mission.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, directed by Christopher McQuarrie, is the closing chapter of a franchise defined by heart-pounding stunts, breakneck pacing and pure cinematic spectacle.
At 61, Tom Cruise continues to defy the odds, performing his own gravity-defying stunts — from motorcycle aerobatics to skydiving. The film is as much an action-packed thriller as it is a love letter to old-school movie magic.
Catch it in theatres through at least June 24 — for one last leap into the void.
One Thousand and One Nights signed Caracalla
From June 20 to Aug. 22, the legendary Caracalla Theatre presents a reimagined One Thousand and One Nights — a new theatrical creation blending folklore with contemporary expression.
The show combines traditional dabke, contemporary choreography, theater and music into a journey that’s as emotional as it is visual. Scheherazade’s stories unfold onstage with a poetic flair, offering something equally enchanting for both children and adults.
Scheherazade among the vines
On July 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., Scheherazade will come to life again — this time in the golden light of sunset over IXSIR’s hills.
Conceived by Maestro Harout Fazlian, this orchestral and theatrical performance is set against Lebanon’s natural beauty. It brings together the Firdaus Orchestra — the region’s first all-female professional ensemble — with vocalists Jana Abi Ghosn and Jalal Chaar. The text is by Lebanese poet Henri Zoghaib, and the performance draws from Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic suite Scheherazade.
The result: a rare fusion of East and West, nature and narrative.
F1, or when Brad Pitt puts the pedal to the metal
Brad Pitt returns to high-octane action in F1, the new film directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and premiering June 26 — both in cinemas and on Apple TV.
Shot during real Formula 1 races on actual circuits, the movie stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver called back to the track to mentor a rising star (played by Damson Idris). Racing legend Lewis Hamilton helped train Pitt for the role and consulted on the project.
High-speed realism meets Hollywood thrills in a film that blurs the line between sports documentary and cinematic fiction.
For more cultural events, feel free to check the Cultural Agenda calendar.
