Preparations are underway for the fifth edition of the popular Muharraq Nights festival set to take place at the end of the year.
The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) has floated two tenders inviting architects, designers, creatives and local firms to prepare historic neighbourhoods and buildings in Muharraq for the event, scheduled for December.
“Muharraq Nights is an annual cultural festival held each December as part of Celebrate Bahrain,” Baca explained in tender number 4/2026/BACA (P32026) posted on the Tender Board website.
“Taking place along the Pearling Path, a Unesco World Heritage Site, the festival brings the historic city of Muharraq to life through exhibitions, performances, installations, markets and cultural initiatives.”
Of the two tenders, one is focused on preparing the Pearling Path Visitors Centre and the Fakhro House for the month-long festival.
Qualified designers, architects, multidisciplinary design studios and creative practitioners can submit proposals for the spatial design and co-ordination of the ‘Pearling Path Visitors Centre, Fakhro land and area in front of Fakhro House’ as part of Muharraq Nights 2026.
“Through the activation of heritage buildings, public spaces, and key locations along the Pearling Path, Muharraq Nights creates a cohesive cultural experience that encourages visitors to explore the city, engage with its heritage, and experience Muharraq through contemporary interpretations rooted in its unique identity and character,” Baca explained.
The second tender involves the partial restoration of five historic buildings in Muharraq to prepare them for activation in December.
“This initiative aims to preserve their historical and architectural significance while introducing the essential interventions required to support their adaptive reuse,” Baca added.
“The project shall be completed in November 2026.”
Tenders for both projects will close on September 16.
Those interested in the first tender have until tomorrow to pay their tender fees for the five-month contract, while those wishing to bid for the building restoration project have until Monday to do so.
The fourth edition of Muharraq Nights Festival featured more than 1,300 cultural activities and musical performances. Organised by Baca along the 3.5km Pearling Path, the festival ran from the Bu Maher shoreline to the Siyadi Majlis. Of the total activities, more than 560 spanned art exhibitions, guided tours and interactive workshops, in addition to 800 musical performances.
Earlier this year, two multistorey car parks were demolished along the Pearling Path to pave way for a comprehensive redevelopment plan for Muharraq, including improving access to the historic Beit Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa landmark.
The GDN had reported that Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar had noted at the time that the project would create a more spacious entrance to the Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa House, and the demolition was part of the ‘comprehensive development vision’ of Muharraq ordered by His Majesty King Hamad.
The project coincided with the designation of 2026 as the ‘Year of Isa Al Kabeer’ by His Majesty to commemorate the founder of modern Bahrain and strengthen national identity.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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