October 10-11, 2026
12th Annual Houston Palestinian Festival | Houston Palestinian Festival
Two days of Palestinian food, music, dance, art, and community at Buffalo Bayou Park.
Festival weekend
Houston, we gather in
at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park
Calculating the time until the Houston Palestinian Festival.
A weekend made for gathering.
Every part of the Festival invites Houston to experience Palestinian culture together.
Family and community
A welcoming public celebration for every generation.
Palestinian food
Traditional dishes and hospitality sit at the heart of the weekend.
Music and dance
Live performance carries Palestinian rhythm, memory, and joy.
Art and makers
The bazaar brings independent artists and small businesses into the celebration.
2026 Entertainment Lineup
Voices of Palestine. Rhythm of the Diaspora.
From the timeless sounds of Palestinian folk music to contemporary hip-hop, poetry, rock and dabke, the 2026 Houston Palestinian Festival brings together artists whose work carries Palestinian culture across generations and borders. Join us for two unforgettable days of live music, storytelling, dance and community in the heart of Houston.
2026 Headliner
Rola Azar
Palestinian Folk • Tarab • Contemporary Arabic Music
A Palestinian singer from Nazareth bringing Palestinian heritage into a contemporary musical setting.
Festival Lineup
Music, culture and performances from Palestine, Houston and across the diaspora.
Featured Artist
Omar Offendum
Hip-Hop • Poetry • Storytelling
A rapper, spoken-word poet and theatrical storyteller bridging hip-hop, Arabic poetry, history and the Arab-American experience.
Featured Artist
Nibal Malshi
Palestinian Vocalist • Arabic Classical & Folk
A Palestinian vocalist and songwriter drawing from Arabic classical music, Palestinian folk traditions and contemporary performance.
Featured Artist
Eddy Mack
Hip-Hop • R&B • Arab Diaspora
A Detroit-based Arab-American artist moving between hip-hop, R&B and contemporary Arab-American storytelling.
Featured Artist
Norhan
Arabic / English Pop • Singer-Songwriter
A contemporary singer-songwriter bringing together modern pop, R&B influences and Arab musical identity.
Cultural Performance
Al Ahrar Dabke Group
Palestinian Dabke • Zaffe
Traditional Palestinian rhythm, movement and celebration brought to the festival stage.
Cultural Performance
Wattan Dabke Group
Palestinian Dabke • Texas
A Texas-based Palestinian dabke group celebrating identity and community through traditional group dance.
Cultural Performance
St. George Dabke Troupe
Dabke • Houston
A Houston-area troupe bringing the energy and communal spirit of Levantine dance to the festival.
Houston Favorite
Jabour
Live Arabic Music • Houston
A familiar presence in Houston's Arab cultural scene returning with live Arabic music and festival energy.
Houston Favorite
Salem Omran
Arabic Live Music • Houston
A Houston entertainer returning with live Arabic music rooted in the city's vibrant Arab community.
Palestinian Rock Pioneers • Est. 1966
Al-Bara'emThe Blooms
Palestinian Rock • Jerusalem
Founded in Jerusalem in 1966, Al-Bara'em became one of the pioneering Palestinian bands to perform original Arabic rock music.
Diaspora Ensemble
Palestinian Youth Ensemble
Palestinian Music • Diaspora Ensemble
Palestinian and Arab musicians from across North America celebrating traditional and contemporary Palestinian music.
Festival Emcee
David Boullata
Festival Host
Guiding audiences through two days of performances, culture and celebration.
Festival DJ
DJ Yahya
Festival Music
Keeping the festival energy moving between performances throughout the weekend.
2026 Headliner
Rola Azar
Palestinian Folk • Tarab • Contemporary Arabic Music
Rola Azar is a Palestinian singer from Nazareth whose music brings Palestinian heritage into a contemporary musical setting. Trained at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, her performances blend Palestinian folk traditions, Arabic music and modern arrangements.
Her work has reached audiences internationally while remaining deeply rooted in Palestinian musical identity.
She returns to the Houston Palestinian Festival in 2026, ten years after appearing at the festival in 2016.
Featured Artist
Omar Offendum
Hip-Hop • Poetry • Storytelling
Omar Offendum is a Syrian-American rapper, spoken-word poet and theatrical storyteller whose work bridges hip-hop, Arabic poetry, history and the Arab-American experience.
His performances combine music, poetry and storytelling into a powerful contemporary exploration of identity, migration, memory and culture.
Featured Artist
Nibal Malshi
Palestinian Vocalist • Arabic Classical & Folk
Nibal Malshi is a Palestinian vocalist and songwriter born in Haifa and raised in Isfiya on Mount Carmel.
A graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, her work draws from Arabic classical music, Palestinian folk traditions and contemporary performance.
Her performances have reached audiences in Palestine, Europe and the United States.
Featured Artist
Eddy Mack
Hip-Hop • R&B • Arab Diaspora
Eddy Mack is a Detroit-based Arab-American artist whose music moves between hip-hop, R&B and contemporary Arab-American storytelling.
His work explores culture, identity and the experiences of the Arab diaspora through modern production and lyrical expression.
Featured Artist
Norhan
Arabic / English Pop • Singer-Songwriter
Norhan is a contemporary singer-songwriter performing across Arabic and English music.
Her sound brings together modern pop, R&B influences and Arab musical identity for a new generation of listeners.
Cultural Performance
Al Ahrar Dabke Group
Palestinian Dabke • Zaffe
A Palestinian dabke and zaffe group bringing traditional rhythm, movement and celebration to the festival stage.
Cultural Performance
Wattan Dabke Group
Palestinian Dabke • Texas
A Texas-based Palestinian dabke group celebrating Palestinian identity and community through traditional group dance.
Cultural Performance
St. George Dabke Troupe
Dabke • Houston
A Houston-area dabke troupe bringing the energy and communal spirit of Levantine dance to the festival.
Houston Favorite
Jabour
Live Arabic Music • Houston
A familiar presence in Houston’s Arab cultural scene, Jabour brings live Arabic music and an energetic festival atmosphere back to the Houston Palestinian Festival stage.
Houston Favorite
Salem Omran
Arabic Live Music • Houston
Houston entertainer Salem Omran returns with live Arabic music and a performance rooted in the city’s vibrant Arab community.
Palestinian Rock Pioneers • Est. 1966
Al-Bara'em
The Blooms
Palestinian Rock • Jerusalem
Founded in Jerusalem in 1966, Al-Bara’em, meaning The Blooms, became one of the pioneering Palestinian bands to write and perform original Arabic rock music.
Their story connects a formative era of Palestinian popular music with later generations of Palestinian and Arab artists in the diaspora.
Diaspora Ensemble
Palestinian Youth Ensemble
Palestinian Music • Diaspora Ensemble
The Palestinian Youth Ensemble brings together Palestinian and Arab musicians from communities across North America to celebrate traditional and contemporary Palestinian music.
Through collective performance, the ensemble connects Palestinian musical heritage with a new generation of artists in the diaspora.
Festival Emcee
David Boullata
Festival Host
David Boullata joins the 2026 Houston Palestinian Festival as festival emcee, guiding audiences through two days of performances, culture and celebration.
Festival DJ
DJ Yahya
Festival Music
DJ Yahya keeps the festival energy moving between performances with music throughout the weekend.
Help bring the Festival to life.
Become a Sponsor
Support the Festival and introduce your organization to thousands of visitors.
View sponsorshipsBecome a Bazaar Vendor
Showcase your small business in the Festival marketplace.
Contact PACCBecome a Food Vendor
Share Palestinian cuisine and serve Festival visitors throughout the weekend.
Contact PACCVolunteer With Us
Join the team that welcomes visitors and supports Festival operations.
VolunteerOur 2026 sponsors.
We thank the businesses, families, and individuals helping make the Festival possible.
Diamond level
Gold level
Silver level
- Tony & Pam Lewis
- Mohammad Salhout
Bronze level
Friend level
- Drew Padly
- Dr. Samir Tuma
- Nabil & Muna Murad
Our 2026 bazaar vendors.
Meet the artists, makers, boutiques, and small businesses joining the Festival marketplace.
Vendor Inquiry- Aseel & SJ Boutique
- Baladi Art
- Bidaya
- Creative Arts
- City Keffiyeh
- Fantastic Jewelry
- Fluffy Fun
- Graphica by Hanadi
- J. Lila Jewelry
- Knower
- MC Crochet Bags
- Nizali
- Oriental Home
- Pippa & Pearl
- Ruhh Couture
- Saboona Soap
- Sana's Emroidry
- SARU
- SimSim Bliss
- Spring Scents
- Sue Boutique
- Tatli
- Tera Yes
- The Bakes Motel
- AlQuds Orchard
- Basita
- Darzah
- Elements of Anatolia
- Evermarked Atelier
- Eyewitness Palestine
- Fig & Folio
- H.A. Creations
- Houston Henna House
- Modern Designs Philadelphia
- Olive & Moon
- Omnia Badawi
- Palestine Justice Effort
- Palestine Online Store
- Queen L Accessories
- The Coral Beach
- Within The Light Candles
- Blossom Jam Company
Our 2026 food vendors.
Meet the restaurants, cafes, and food businesses serving Festival weekend.
Food Vendor Inquiry
Before you arrive
Plan your Festival weekend.
Start with the questions visitors ask most, then explore the complete Festival FAQ.
View All Festival FAQsWhen is the 2026 festival?
The 12th Annual Houston Palestinian Festival takes place October 10-11, 2026. Festival weekend begins Saturday, October 10 at 1:00 PM. Complete daily hours will be published on the festival page as they are confirmed.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available through Tzkrti. Buy festival tickets online.
Where will entrance information be posted?
The official entrance location is still being finalized. Check the festival map before your visit for the latest confirmed entrance information.
Where is the festival?
The festival is at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007.
Plan your visit
Parking and arrival map.
Start with Lot H. If it is full, use Lot C. Theater District Garage offers additional parking.
Loading Festival map…
Festival venue
The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park
105-B Sabine St, Houston, TX 77007Use the directions link to plan your arrival.
Get Directions