Al-Ahsa, 17 Sha'ban 1447 AH (5 February 2026)

The third Al-Ahsa Bisht Festival continues to draw thousands of visitors from inside the Kingdom and from Gulf and Arab countries, celebrating the bisht as an ancient heritage garment tied to national identity, social life and official occasions, a symbol of authenticity and prestige.

The festival is organized by the Heritage Commission of the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Al-Ahsa Governorate and the Al-Ahsa Development Authority, at the historic Ibrahim Palace in the center of Hofuf, coinciding with the official inscription of the bisht on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a national achievement reflecting the global value of this Saudi heritage.

The festival spotlights the bisht's journey from an inherited local craft to a global human heritage, taking visitors on a comprehensive cultural journey through the history of bisht making in Al-Ahsa, whose name is synonymous with high quality and extreme precision in weaving and embroidery, in a rich experience blending authenticity and modernity.

Bisht making in Al-Ahsa is one of the most prominent traditional crafts passed down through generations. Artisans acquire their skills through long experience and practice, from selecting fabrics through cutting and sewing to the precise hand embroidery that demands great time and effort. Al-Ahsa families have become known for the craft as a hallmark of local heritage.

The festival features information corners on the history of the bisht and the development of its craft, along with interactive experiences and live workshops that let visitors get close to the details of the craft and learn the skills of weaving and the traditional industries tied to it, in an educational and cultural experience suited to every segment of society.

A corner is dedicated to the traditional women's abaya, "Bait Al Daffah for Women", along with the "Little Host" corner for children, which offers heritage content through shadow plays, stories and hands-on training, instilling national identity and passing heritage to future generations.

This year's festival takes on an international dimension through the participation of UNESCO and six brotherly and friendly countries, making Ibrahim Palace a platform for civilizational dialogue and the exchange of expertise in the craft arts, and introducing visitors to Saudi heritage as a shared human legacy.

The festival hosts varied daily events including the "Threads of Gold" operetta, the Al-Ahsa wedding, performing arts, the "Elegance of Identity" and "Bisht Protocol" programs, poetry evenings and light projection shows that turn the walls of Ibrahim Palace into a living visual canvas celebrating the history and symbolism of the bisht.

At a Glance

  • Venue: Ibrahim Palace, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa
  • Event: Al-Ahsa Bisht Festival (third edition)
  • Organizers: the Heritage Commission, Al-Ahsa Governorate and the Al-Ahsa Development Authority
  • Character: heritage, cultural and interactive
  • Distinction: the bisht's inscription on UNESCO's intangible heritage list