LINEUP ANNOUNCED: Habibi Festival 2026

Akram Abdulfattah

Palestinian-American violinist, composer and producer Akram Abdulfattah is an artist who has earned international recognition for his genre-defying music and commitment to cultural dialogue. Most recently Abdulattah was a featured artist in the WOMEX 2025 Showcase Official Selection, has been shortlisted for jazzahead! 2026 and is a recipient of multiple 1st and 2nd prize awards from the Marcel Khalife and Palestinian National Competitions. Abdulfattah’s musical philosophy is rooted in instrumental storytelling, with a distinctive fusion style shaped by Indian, Turkish, and Persian influences, as well as Western jazz, rock, and funk.

Photo Credit: Hamada Hojouj

Ameer Armaly

Born in South Carolina, Ameer Armaly was exposed to the oud and Arabic music in general from an early age through his uncle who played the oud. He went on to study under Simon and Najib Shaheen. Ameer performs as an instrumentalist with a variety of artists and leads an Arabic music ensemble which performs regularly around the New York area, cultivating local talent and reviving the great Arabic instrumental and vocal music of the Twentieth Century.

Vocalist Marwa Morgan will present a program of songs showcasing the rich diversity of Arabic Music, accompanied by an ensemble lead by Ameer Armaly. The program will include songs from Egypt, the Levant, and North Africa.  The program will also showcase Marwa Morgan’s original music which combines grounding in the tradition with contemporary styles.

Photo Credit: John Murchison

Amir ElSaffar New Quartet

New Quartet Live at Pierre Boulez Saal documents the initial encounter between trumpeter Amir ElSaffar's trio, consisting of Tomas Fujiwara, one of NYC's most in-demand and dynamic drummers, and Ole Mathisen, a tenor saxophonist of unparalleled technique and versatility, with Greek pianist Tania Giannouli, a rising star who has headlined almost every major jazz festival and venue in Europe over the past several years.

ElSaffar’s nuanced and vibrant trumpet sound, rooted in Chicago school classical technique, combining subtle ornamentation and microtones of Arab Maqam with Jazz influences ranging from Miles to Woody Shaw, resonates throughout the session, guiding the new ensemble into unexplored musical territories. The music ranges from intensely quiet and nearly silent to ecstatic and declamatory, with the microtonal piano ringing ear-opening and beautifully unconventional harmonies throughout.

The four musicians had a mini-residency consisting of two rehearsal days, a concert, and an all day recording session at the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, a hall known for its phenomenal acoustics and legacy of its namesake, 20th century pioneer conductor and composer Pierre Boulez.

Photo Credit: Daniel Wetzel

Ghalia Benali

Ghalia Benali is a Belgian-Tunisian singer, composer, actress, and storyteller whose music creates bridges between Arabic culture, poetry, and maqām and other musical currents, aligning jazz, baroque, flamenco, and contemporary sounds into one flowing river. Known for her deep contralto voice and powerful stage presence, she has been called “the Aretha Franklin of Carthage” by Belgian jazz legend Philip Catherine and is often referred to as “the granddaughter of Oum Kalthoum” for her ability to reinterpret Arabic heritage while keeping its soul alive.  Each performance by Ghalia is a living ritual where music, poetry, silence, and storytelling align to create an immersive experience that transcends time and culture.

Photo Credit: Bryan Nicolas Maxwell

Laura Elkeslassy: Ya Ghorbati يا غربتي - Divas in Exile

A retro-futurist cabaret, Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile excavates the music of midcentury North African Judeo-Arab divas, weaving together North African folk and sacred music, ranging from traditional Andalusi style, to popular Chaabi, to Francarabe cabaret. Ya Ghorbati moves across time and space to trace a history of political upheaval, exile, and displacement, ultimately questioning the supposed binary of Arab and Jew.

Laura Elkeslassy is a singer of Judeo-Arab music. Her work draws inspiration from her Moroccan roots exploring North-African folk, Andalusi nubas, and Maghrebi Jewish liturgy. Laura’s ongoing journey of self-discovery–which includes forgotten ancestors, wild synchronicities found in dusty old bookstores, and the reclaiming of a lost family name–is the inspirational heart of her project, Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile.

Photo Credit: Miriam Goi

Marwa Morgan

Marwa Morgan is an Egyptian singer and songwriter based in New York City. She began singing at a young age and has since performed with numerous ensembles in the U.S. and beyond. Her previous performances include prestigious stages such as Symphony Space, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Growing up in Cairo, Marwa's musical style has been heavily influenced by classical Arabic music icons. Her original music blends elements of classical tradition with modern musical elements. Her recently released single, Deif, is currently available for streaming on all major platforms.

Vocalist Marwa Morgan will present a program of songs showcasing the rich diversity of Arabic Music, accompanied by an ensemble lead by Ameer Armaly. The program will include songs from Egypt, the Levant, and North Africa.  The program will also showcase Marwa Morgan’s original music which combines grounding in the tradition with contemporary styles.

Photo courtesy of the artist. 

Nadine El Roubi