Tunisia claimed five awards at the 26th Arab Radio and Television Festival, which concluded Thursday at the Opera Theatre in Tunis. The event brought together broadcasting delegations from across the region to celebrate creative excellence, AI media innovations, and regional artistic collaboration under the theme The Pulse of the Image and the Echo of the Future.
The festival wrapped up its multi-day run on September 25, 2026, drawing media organizations, production houses, and artists from 20 Arab countries to the capital’s Cultural City. Organized by the Arab States Broadcasting Union, the annual gathering serves as a primary showcase for regional television, radio, and digital content asbu-closing-ceremony. This year’s competition drew more than 320 entries spanning traditional broadcasting categories as well as newer fields that incorporate artificial intelligence.
Tunisian Productions Sweep Multiple Categories in Official and Parallel Competitions
The state broadcaster Tunisian Radio, via Radio Monastir, captured first place in the motivational programs category for the broadcast And from Challenge Miracles.
In the official television competitions, Tunis Television earned first place in the news report division with When the Scorched Earth Blossoms. The national television network also took top honors in the variety and artistic evening shows category with Tonight is a Feast, while its cultural program Houses of Art secured second place in its respective category. Among the parallel radio contests, the women’s program They Are the Pioneers produced by Diwan FM earned the first-place prize.
MBC Egypt Grabs Two Drama Awards With High-Profile Series
The channel’s series Do Not Return or Exchange won the award for best social drama. The December 2025 production stars Dina El Sherbiny and Ahmed El Saadany in a family narrative centered on kidney donation and marital conflicts, featuring supporting performances by Sedky Sakhr, Fadwa Abed, and Hassan Malek under the direction of Mariam Abou Ouf.
The comedy stars Karim Mahmoud Abdel Aziz alongside Mohamed Abdel Rahman, with a storyline following a sharp-witted lawyer named Samir Abu Al-Wafa who resolves family disputes while dodging his own past troubles.
Broad Regional Recognition Across Gulf, Levant, and North African Entries
Beyond Tunisian and Egyptian winners, the festival distributed honors across multiple participating nations. Oman’s Ministry of Information claimed several top prizes, including first place in cultural programs for What the Shadow Said, economic programming for Hands That Yield, and drama for Al-Farahidi, alongside the general documentary award for The Arab Humpback Whale Al Ain reported.
Other notable regional winners included Saudi Arabia’s Radio for the sports program Challenge Journey, Syria’s General Radio and Television Corporation for the documentary Out of the Game, and Iraq Media Network’s documentary Humanity Under Bombardment which took the top prize dedicated to Palestinian affairs. Palestine’s public broadcaster also earned recognition with Text on the Edge taking second place in cultural radio programs and On This Land placing in documentaries.
AI Integration and Opening Musical Showcase Mark the 26th Edition
Festival leadership emphasized the necessity of adapting to rapid technological shifts within the industry. Abdel Rahim Suleiman, director general of the Arab States Broadcasting Union, highlighted the inclusion of a new media competition dedicated to artificial intelligence-based works Al Ain noted, pointing to the high caliber of the 300-plus submissions evaluated this year.
The closing ceremony at the Opera Theatre also featured a performance of the symphonic work Traveled to You, and Sang. Composed by Tunisian music researcher Karim El Thalibi and led by maestro Rassem Damek, the musical journey brought together young vocalists from six Arab countries—including Yacoub Shaheen from Palestine, Hanan El Shater from Egypt, and Feras Fayez from Oman—before concluding with a group rendition of the regional anthem Mawtini.
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