Manama: The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has announced that the design programme of the fourth edition of the Muharraq Nights Festival is highlighting the features of the historic city of Muharraq. This is happening through a series of events, exhibitions, and activities held along the Pearling Path, as part of the Celebrate Bahrain Season 2025.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the programme offers artistic showcases, interactive workshops, and a variety of activities held across numerous historic houses and cultural spaces. This includes participation from markets, shops, and local initiatives. The festival also presents creative workshops and specialised design experiences, featuring design works and artistic pieces ranging from furniture to home accessories. Notable highlights include Artyology's creative design pieces at Al Hala Building and a cultural experience by Kalimat House from Saudi Arabia at Turabi House, featuring selected books and locally made products.
BACA explained that the festival has opened several design exhibitions, including a collaboration with Al Sadu Society from Kuwait, showcasing textile arts inspired by traditional Sadu patterns at Haneen Raihan. Other exhibitions include products inspired by Al Nashil garments at Haneen Wared and a presence by Assouline at Haneen Yasmeen with a curated selection of publications.
Public Pages at Block 215 hosts various local and regional publishing houses and bookshops, displaying recent publications in contemporary art, design, architecture, and culture. The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities also participates with a curated selection of its publications and exhibition-related titles. The space includes panel discussions and interactive programmes focusing on design expertise exchange. Notably, Design Majlis explores how creative practices tell stories, and Naso Art Journal discusses the sustainability of artistic ecosystems in the region.
At Suq Al Qaysariyyah, the Pearling Path Gift Shop offers products linked to Bahrain's pearling history. Suq Nights features products by local and regional designers in fashion, perfumes, gold, and jewellery. The Pearling Path Visitor Centre and Amarat Ali Rashed Fakhro serve as destinations for shopping and creative initiatives. Siyadi Shops display contemporary design products and initiatives, alongside studios offering modern design experiences.
The festival introduces the project Under the Lights of Muharraq, which activates ten historic shops and workshops across the city, transforming them into cultural and tourism destinations. These include the Muharraq Modern Bookshop, Al Darwaza Carpentry, and Abdulla Al Hamadi Upholstery.
The Muharraq Nights Festival runs daily until 30 December, from Sunday to Wednesday, 5 PM to 10 PM, and from Thursday to Saturday, 5 PM to 12 AM, along the Pearling Path. For more information on the festival's locations and events, visit the Pearling Path website or follow @PearlingPath and @CultureBah on social media.