Literature, Poetry & Spoken Word – Shubbak Festival 2025

مرحبًا بكم!

Our Latest Line-Up Drop: More Names, More Surprises

Shubbak Festival 2025

23 May – 15 June Join us

Across London and beyond

Two hands with henna designs are touching against a green cloth background with gold swirl designs

Shubbak Festival 2025 – Opening Night

3EIB in collaboration with Creative Space Beirut & Nol Collective, Nafs Space

Fri 23 May 6.30pm

Southbank Centre

Fashion · Music ·

starkly lit group of performers on chairs on a dark stage

Khashabi Theatre: MILK مِلْك

Bashar Murkus, Khulood Basel and Khashabi Theatre

Sat 24 – Sun 25 May Various times

Southbank Centre

Theatre ·

دليل الفنان ضد الفصل العنصري

An Artist’s Manual Against Apartheid

Farah Chamma & LIEV of chamæleon, in collaboration with Shubbak

Across All day

Online

Experimental · Performance ·

Split image; left side shows oranges and a person in traditional Palestinian attire with "La Palestine" text. Right side depicts an explosion near a building, with smoke and Arabic text conveying urgency.

فن الملصقات الفلسطينية

Art of the Palestinian Poster

Curated by Malu Halasa, with assistance from Sara Bashiti and Valeria Berghinz

Fri 23 May – Sat 13 June Various Times

P21 Gallery

Visual Arts ·

Painting of two figures in flowing white garments against a dark sky. Their arms are extended gracefully, suggesting movement and a dreamlike quality.

أطراف القرص القمري

Limbs of the Lunar Disc

Sarah Al Sarraj

Fri 23 May – Sun 8 June 12–6pm

Mimosa House

Visual Arts ·

Koulounisation

Salim Djaferi

23 May – 24 May 7.30pm

Battersea Arts Centre

Performance · Theatre ·

3EIB Fashion Pop-up: SWAG from SWANA

3EIB and friends

Sat 24 May & Sun 25 May 12–6pm

Southbank Centre

Fashion ·

Two dancers perform passionately in dim lighting, with one supporting the other in an expressive pose. Their muscles glisten, conveying strength and grace.

الحبُّ خلف عينيّ

The Love Behind My Eyes

Ali Chahrour

Sat 24 May, Wed 28 May Various Times

The Lowry, The Place

Performance ·

Punks for Palestine

Real Life Presents

Mon 26 May 2pm – 10.30pm

New Cross Inn

Music ·

Application 39 (for the 2048 Gaza Summer Olympics)

Ahmed Masoud

Mon 26 May – Sun 1 June 7pm

Theatro Technis

Theatre ·

Merguez

Sami Abu Wardeh

Mon 26, Tues 27 & Sat 31 May 8.30pm

Theatro Technis

Theatre ·

Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free

Showcasing works from an array of artists

Tue 27 May – Fri 6 June 10-6pm

Grand Junction

Visual Arts ·

Three men sit on the ground near a boat, one holding a cup, surrounded by wooden crates and a hazy, overcast sky.

غزة تبقى القصة

Gaza Remains The Story

The Palestinian Museum

Tue 27 May - 3 June 10am–6pm

Grand Junction

Visual Arts ·

Rise, Habibi

Curated by Róisín O’ Loughlin

Wed 28 May - Sun 15 June 10am–5pm

The Crypt Gallery

Experimental · Visual Arts ·

Six people in black clothing perform animatedly against a dark background, showcasing expressive poses and faces, conveying a dramatic and playful tone.

Return to Palestine

The Freedom Theatre

Wed 28 May – Sun 1 June Various times

Theatro Technis

Performance · Theatre ·

A diverse group of six people sit around a table engaged in a collaborative discussion. Papers and markers are on the table, indicating a focused, productive atmosphere.

.تعانق. صوت جماعي. العثور على جذورنا في الشتات

Embrace: A Collective Voice – Finding Roots in the Diaspora

Noria Collective

Thu 29 May 6-8pm

The Africa Centre

Talks & Workshops ·

Close-up of a child's face partially covered by a black-and-white patterned scarf, against a blurred yellow floral background. The child's eyes look thoughtful.

Home

A production by Shubbak and Grand Junction

Fri 30 May Various times

Grand Junction

Family · Theatre ·

troupe of dancers and musicians performing in Arabic dress

Manjal

Tarweedeh Collective - Nabad

Fri 30 May 8.30pm

Theatro Technis

Performance ·

يوم من الكتابة، والحوار مع مجلة المركز ريفيو

Writing from the Centre of the World

The Markaz Review

Sat 31 May 10.30am - 5.30pm

Arab British Centre

Talks & Workshops ·

So Many Ways to Move

chamæleon

Sat 31 May 7pm - 10pm

Kunstraum

Music · Performance ·

نَسْج السرديات

Marking Narratives with Issam Kourbaj

Shubbak and ACAVA Studios present Issam Kourbaj

Sun 1 June 11.30am

ACAVA Studios

Family · Visual Arts ·

Close-up of a person with eyes closed, showcasing defined, symmetrical curly hair parted down the middle. The monochrome tones create a serene and introspective mood.

Talking Textures

Yasemin Hassan

Fri 2 June – Fri 15 Sept All day

Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross

Visual Arts ·

Three performers on a dimly lit stage strike expressive dance poses, conveying intensity and emotion. A beam of light highlights the central figure.

رحلات ابن بطوطة

Ibn Batuta’s Travels

Seenaryo

Wed 4 – Thu 5 June 7.30pm

Grand Junction

Theatre ·

A group of four individuals in casual black t-shirts sitting on a blue sofa, exuding a relaxed and stylish vibe.

صدى - موسيقا من فلسطين

SADA صدى (Echo) – Music from Palestine

Barbican & MARSM present: DAM, Rola Azar, Dana Salah

Fri 6 June 7.30pm

Barbican

Music ·

نَظَر

Nazar

Lara Habib Kobeissi

Across June Various times

LADA Live Art Development Agency

Experimental ·

من الشفاه إلى القمر

From The Lips To The Moon

Pouya Ehsaei, Tara Fatehi

Sat 7 June 8pm

Grand Junction

Music · Performance ·

Townhall Talks By Young Shubbak

Young Shubbak

Tue 10 June 4-10pm

Kiln Theatre

Family · Talks & Workshops · Visual Arts ·

For Sudan

Various

Tue 10 June 7pm

Grand Junction

Performance ·

Talks to Reframe the Arab World Presented by afikra | عفكرة

Shubbak and Afikra Live

Thur 12 June 7.30pm

Rich Mix

Talks & Workshops ·

Maqam Editions Presents Al-Mu’allaqat

Maqam Editions

Thur 12 June 5-8pm

Grand Junction

Literature · Music · Performance ·

Bare feet dangle playfully from a wooden structure, with a background of autumn trees and fallen leaves, conveying a carefree, whimsical mood.

ذاكرة الطيور

Memory of Birds

Tania El Khoury

Fri 13 – Sun 15 June 9–5pm

Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival

Experimental ·

A woman with long dark hair stands on stage, holding a wicker suitcase. Arabic text is projected onto her and the wall, creating a dramatic and contemplative atmosphere.

Language: no Broblem

Marah Haj Hussein

Fri 13, Sat 14 & Tue 17 June 7.30pm

Battersea Arts Centre, Bradford 2025

Theatre ·

Sarab by the Palestinian Circus School

The Palestine Circus School

Sat 14 June 10am–4pm

Jacksons Lane Arts Centre

Performance ·

إيقاعات سورية

Syrian Rhythms: Where Cultural Heritage Composes the Future

Ettijahat

Sat 14 June Various Times

St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace

Music · Talks & Workshops · Visual Arts ·

Welcome!

Shubbak Festival 2025

23 May – 15 June Join us

Across London and beyond

Our Latest Line-Up Drop: More Names, More Surprises

Shubbak Festival 2025

23 May – 15 June Join us

Across London and beyond

Shubbak Festival 2025 – Opening Night

3EIB in collaboration with Creative Space Beirut & Nol Collective, Nafs Space

Fri 23 May 6.30pm

Southbank Centre

Khashabi Theatre: MILK مِلْك

Bashar Murkus, Khulood Basel and Khashabi Theatre

Sat 24 – Sun 25 May Various times

Southbank Centre

An Artist’s Manual Against Apartheid

Farah Chamma & LIEV of chamæleon, in collaboration with Shubbak

Across All day

Online

Art of the Palestinian Poster

Curated by Malu Halasa, with assistance from Sara Bashiti and Valeria Berghinz

Fri 23 May – Sat 13 June Various Times

P21 Gallery

Limbs of the Lunar Disc

Sarah Al Sarraj

Fri 23 May – Sun 8 June 12–6pm

Mimosa House

Koulounisation

Salim Djaferi

23 May – 24 May 7.30pm

Battersea Arts Centre

3EIB Fashion Pop-up: SWAG from SWANA

3EIB and friends

Sat 24 May & Sun 25 May 12–6pm

Southbank Centre

The Love Behind My Eyes

Ali Chahrour

Sat 24 May, Wed 28 May Various Times

The Lowry, The Place

Punks for Palestine

Real Life Presents

Mon 26 May 2pm – 10.30pm

New Cross Inn

Application 39 (for the 2048 Gaza Summer Olympics)

Ahmed Masoud

Mon 26 May – Sun 1 June 7pm

Theatro Technis

Merguez

Sami Abu Wardeh

Mon 26, Tues 27 & Sat 31 May 8.30pm

Theatro Technis

Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free

Showcasing works from an array of artists

Tue 27 May – Fri 6 June 10-6pm

Grand Junction

Gaza Remains The Story

The Palestinian Museum

Tue 27 May - 3 June 10am–6pm

Grand Junction

Rise, Habibi

Curated by Róisín O’ Loughlin

Wed 28 May - Sun 15 June 10am–5pm

The Crypt Gallery

Return to Palestine

The Freedom Theatre

Wed 28 May – Sun 1 June Various times

Theatro Technis

Embrace: A Collective Voice – Finding Roots in the Diaspora

Noria Collective

Thu 29 May 6-8pm

The Africa Centre

Home

A production by Shubbak and Grand Junction

Fri 30 May Various times

Grand Junction

Manjal

Tarweedeh Collective - Nabad

Fri 30 May 8.30pm

Theatro Technis