14th Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF)

This event has ended. Dates for the next edition will be added here once they are announced.

D-CAF, founded in 2012 by Orient Productions, is Egypt’s leading international festival of contemporary performing and visual arts, staged in the faded belle-epoque buildings, rooftops and passageways of Downtown Cairo. The 14th edition runs from 11 October to 2 November 2026, with 16 performances spanning dance, theatre, visual art and music, six workshops and events at around ten art spaces in Cairo and Alexandria. The festival is a good way to get to know the regenerated downtown district around Talaat Harb and Mohamed Mahmoud streets. Tickets for ticketed shows are modestly priced and sold online and at the venues, and some outdoor and visual-arts events are free. Many works are non-verbal or surtitled, so the programme is accessible to visitors who do not speak Arabic.

What to expect

The programme usually brings together international and Egyptian artists in a mix of performance, exhibitions, film and music. Many events take place in buildings that are rarely open to the public, such as old cinemas, theatres, apartments and rooftops, which is part of the appeal. Audiences include artists, students and Cairo’s cultural community, along with curious passers-by at outdoor events.

Getting there

Downtown Cairo is easy to reach by metro: Sadat station, where Lines 1 and 2 meet, and Mohamed Naguib station on Line 2 are within walking distance of most venues. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely used, though evening traffic is heavy. For events in Alexandria, frequent trains run from Cairo’s Ramses Station.

Planning tips

• October weather is warm by day and pleasant in the evening.
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking between venues on Downtown’s busy pavements.
• Book early for shows with limited seating.
• Combine a show with a meal or tea at one of the area’s traditional cafes.