# Carthage International Festival

The Carthage International Festival is the highlight of Tunisia's summer music season, held in the Roman theatre of Carthage. Its latest edition, the 60th, ran to twenty evenings from 16 July to 19 August 2026, from Cheb Khaled to Angélique Kidjo. Dates for 2027 have not yet been announced.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/festival-international-carthage/

Every summer, the Carthage International Festival brings the great voices of Arab song, plus a handful of international headliners, to the Roman theatre of Carthage. Founded in 1964, it is run by the National Establishment for the Promotion of Festivals and Cultural and Artistic Events, a public body under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The latest edition, the 60th, took place from 16 July to 19 August 2026. Dates for 2027 have not been published yet.

## An ancient theatre as a stage

The Roman theatre of Carthage was excavated between 1901 and 1956 on the slope of Odeon Hill and was adapted for performances as early as spring 1906. The national heritage agency gives it a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The terraces face south-east, and concerts take place in the open air under the summer sky.

The theatre is part of the archaeological site of Carthage, on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1979. Our [Carthage and Sidi Bou Said](/en/tunisia/carthage-sidi-bou-said/) page describes the ruins to visit by day, with the TND 20 combined ticket.

## The 2026 edition

The 60th edition had twenty evenings, nineteen concerts and one play, on a budget of 3.5 million dinars. About 35% of the programme came from abroad: thirteen Arab shows and seven international ones. A few of the evenings:

- **16 July**: opening night with Tunisian singer Saber Rebaï;
- **18 July**: Cheb Khaled;
- **20 July**: The Jacksons;
- **23 July**: Angélique Kidjo;
- **30 July**: Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía;
- **1 August**: Sami Yusuf, performing at Carthage for the first time;
- **4 August**: Rondò Veneziano;
- **15 August**: Elissa;
- **19 August**: closing night with Lebanese singer Majda El Roumi and 55 musicians.

Two evenings followed the national calendar: 25 July, Republic Day, and 13 August, National Women's Day.

## Going to a concert

**Tickets** are sold online: in 2026, sales for every show were open when the programme was presented in early July. In 2026 a seat on the terraces cost TND 100, about €30, and a chair TND 150, about €45, for the most popular nights: the opening, Cheb Khaled and Sami Yusuf.

**Weather.** In Tunis, average highs reach 34°C in July and August. With the sea at 26 to 27°C, concerts combine easily with beach days.

**Where to stay.** The theatre is a few minutes from the hotels Sabaro has chosen on the north coast: [Villa Didon](/en/hotels/villa-didon-carthage/), on Byrsa Hill, is the closest; [Maison Dedine](/en/hotels/maison-dedine/) is in Sidi Bou Said; [The Residence Tunis](/en/hotels/the-residence-tunis/) and the [Four Seasons Hotel Tunis](/en/hotels/four-seasons-tunis/) are on the beach at Gammarth. Carthage Hannibal station on the TGM line also serves the site.

**Safety.** Traffic bans can close the area around the presidential palace in Carthage. Foreign ministries do not all give the same advice. Your country's advice:

(Depends on the traveller's country: see the table on https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/festival-international-carthage/)

Our [safety in Tunisia](/en/guides/securite-tunisie/) guide has the details.

## Other summer festivals

Tunisia's summer has other ancient or open-air stages: the [Hammamet International Festival](/en/events/festival-international-hammamet/) on almost the same dates, the [Dougga International Festival](/en/events/festival-international-dougga/) in July and the [Tabarka Jazz Festival](/en/events/tabarka-jazz/) in early July. Our [summer festivals in Tunisia](/en/guides/festivals-ete-tunisie/) guide compares them.

## Frequently asked questions

### When is the Carthage Festival in 2027?

The dates have not been announced yet. The latest edition ran from 16 July to 19 August 2026; its programme was presented in early July.

### How much is a ticket for the Carthage Festival?

In 2026, TND 100 on the terraces, about €30, and TND 150 for a chair on the most popular nights. Tickets are sold online.

### Where are the concerts held?

In the Roman theatre of Carthage, an open-air ancient venue used for performances since 1906, on the UNESCO-listed archaeological site.