TUNISIA · CULTURE
Key Facts
- The festival The 60th Carthage International Festival ran in summer 2026, with concerts on 13, 15 and 17 August; the organisers say it began in 1964.
- The film days The 37th Carthage Film Days are set for 12 to 19 December 2026, according to the festival organisers.
- The minister Amina Srarfi has been Tunisia’s Minister of Cultural Affairs since 25 August 2024, the government’s official list shows.
- The football team Tunisia lost all three games at the 2026 World Cup: 5-1 to Sweden, 4-0 to Japan and 3-1 to the Netherlands.
- The ranking FIFA, football’s world governing body, ranks Tunisia 57th as of its 20 July 2026 update, against a best of 14th.
Tunisia culture is built around a few big stages, from a summer music festival in Carthage to a film festival each December. This guide names the people, places and dates that matter in 2026.
Tunisia Culture at a Glance
Tunisia is a North African country on the Mediterranean, and its capital is Tunis. Tunisia culture gathers around a handful of public events that the state helps to run.
For a US reader, the quickest way in is through dates and stages rather than a long list of names. The summer festival, the December film festival and the national football team show how Tunisians present themselves.
See the Rio Times Tunisia page for the latest news and our Tunisia politics guide for the people in government. Our Tunisia economy guide covers the money side.
The festival at Carthage plays in an ancient Roman theatre, and the film days draw cinema from Africa and the Arab world. Both are run with the backing of the state.
- Summer: the Carthage International Festival, 60th edition in 2026
- December: the Carthage Film Days, 37th edition, 12 to 19 December 2026
- Sport: the national football team, 57th in the FIFA ranking on 20 July 2026
The Government Behind the Stage
Amina Srarfi is Tunisia’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, and the government’s official list shows her in post since 25 August 2024. The same list was updated on 30 October 2026.
Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri leads the cabinet as prime minister, a post she has held since 21 March 2025. The cabinet includes the ministries for culture, sport and family affairs.
Sadok Mourali is the Minister of Youth and Sports, also in post since 25 August 2024. His ministry is the public body responsible for sport in Tunisia.
On 13 August 2026 Srarfi attended the Carthage concert for National Women’s Day, together with the family minister, Asma Jabri. The festival organiser names both women among the official guests.
The Carthage International Festival
The Carthage International Festival is Tunisia’s best-known summer music event, and its organisers say it was founded in 1964. In 2026 it held its 60th edition.
Its main stage is the Roman theatre of Carthage, an ancient site near Tunis. The festival office is in the Cité de la Culture, a large cultural centre in the capital on Rue Mohamed V.
Tickets are sold at the Carthage theatre and at the Cité de la Culture, the organiser’s sales-point page says. The festival website carries the programme and the ticket page.
The 2026 nights show its mix of Tunisian and Arab stars. A Tunisian singer, a Lebanese singer and a Tunisian diva played within five days in August.
Three Nights in August 2026
On 13 August 2026, National Women’s Day in Tunisia, the singer Nabiha Karaouli returned to the Carthage stage after 16 years away. The organiser says the theatre was packed and that a national channel broadcast the show live.
Karaouli opened with “Metchawiga”, the title song of her 1999 album, and then sang “Ken galbi ytawaani” from 1994. A children’s choir joined her for the patriotic song “Bledi”.
She also sang “Mabrouka tetbarra”, which the organiser describes as a tribute to women who suffer domestic violence. Her new song “Yamma” had its first stage performance that night.
On 15 August 2026 the Lebanese singer Elissa played Carthage for the first time since July 2009. The organiser reports a full house and a set that opened with “Kol Youm fi Omri”.
Elissa then sang older hits such as “Kermalak”, “Betmoun” and “Badi Doub”, and newer songs from recent albums. The organiser says the crowd sang along to the hits that marked a generation.
On 17 August 2026 the Tunisian singer Amina Fakhet came back to Carthage after eight years away. The festival’s report calls her “the diva” and names “Soltan Hobbek” as her best-known song.
She presented a new song, “Mazal Bkri”, backed by the National Music Band under conductor Youssef Belhani. Musicians from Algeria played in the band, and she also sang a song by the Libyan artist Mohamed Rouafi.
- 13 August: Nabiha Karaouli, Tunisian, back after 16 years
- 15 August: Elissa, Lebanese, back after 17 years
- 17 August: Amina Fakhet, Tunisian, back after eight years
The Carthage Film Days
The Carthage Film Days, known by their French initials JCC, are Tunisia’s main film festival. The organisers describe it as the largest film festival in Africa and the Arab world.
The 37th edition is set for 12 to 19 December 2026, according to announcements of 24 August and 3 September 2026. The festival is run with the National Centre for Cinema and Image, a state body known as CNCI.
In late summer the organisers asked designers to submit the official poster for the 37th edition. They first set a deadline of 4 September 2026 and then extended it to 10 September at noon.
The festival website has sections for rules, juries, films, tributes and screenings. It also has an industry strand called Carthage Pro for film professionals.
The site is published in French, English and Arabic, which fits a festival that looks to Africa and the Arab world. The 36th edition is kept in its archive.
Football, Tennis and Sport Icons
Tunisia’s men’s national football team played at the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico hosted. FIFA’s match data shows three group-stage defeats in June 2026.
Sweden won 5-1, Japan won 4-0 and the Netherlands won 3-1. Tunisia scored two goals and conceded twelve.
FIFA’s world ranking, last updated on 20 July 2026, puts Tunisia 57th. The country’s best place is 14th and its lowest is 65th, with an average of 36th.
The next ranking update is due on 18 November 2026. The Tunisian Football Federation, known as the FTF, publishes league fixtures and match sheets on its website.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) lists Ons Jabeur as a Tunisian player born on 28 August 1994. Its records show her reaching No. 2 in the world in 2022.
Her last match on the WTA record is at Wimbledon, which began on 30 June 2025, and no 2026 matches are listed. The WTA ranking list of 29 June 2026 places her 1,217th.
What Tunisian Culture Says About the Country
Tunisia culture shows a country that mixes Tunisian, Arab and international music on its main summer night. A Tunisian singer, a Lebanese singer and a Tunisian diva each took the Carthage stage within five days in August 2026.
The state stays close to the stage, with the culture minister present and a national channel carrying the show. In Tunisia, culture is a public event as much as a private taste.
The country also looks backwards and outwards at once. Its summer festival sits in an ancient theatre, and its film festival presents itself to Africa and the Arab world.
Women stand at the front of the 2026 story, with two female stars returning after long absences. A song about domestic violence shared the programme with love songs and a patriotic anthem.
The football story is humbler in 2026 after three World Cup defeats. Still, a best ranking of 14th shows a team that has stood among the world’s top 15.
What It Means for US Readers
Travellers who want Tunisia culture can plan around two dates, the Carthage festival in summer and the film festival in December. Check the official festival sites for programmes and tickets before booking flights.
Our Tunisia in North Africa guide and Tunisia geopolitics guide put the country in its regional setting. They help explain why a Mediterranean festival draws stars from Lebanon and musicians from Algeria.
US sports fans can follow the national team through FIFA’s published ranking and fixtures. The next ranking update is on 18 November 2026.
What Is Not Known
The programme, juries and opening film of the 37th Carthage Film Days are not yet public. Ticket prices and venues for that edition are not published either.
Attendance figures and budgets for the Carthage festival are not published on its site. The organisers describe full houses but give no numbers.
Ons Jabeur’s plans for the coming season are not announced in the WTA records. Her 2026 record shows no matches.
This guide names the singers, officials and sporting bodies that official sources confirm for 2026. Writers, painters, film directors and television hosts are not covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tunisia’s culture minister?
Amina Srarfi, in post since 25 August 2024, according to the government’s official list updated on 30 October 2026. She attended the Carthage concert on National Women’s Day, 13 August 2026.
What is the Carthage International Festival?
It is Tunisia’s best-known summer music festival, held at the Roman theatre of Carthage. Its organisers say it began in 1964, and 2026 was its 60th edition.
When are the Carthage Film Days in 2026?
The 37th edition is set for 12 to 19 December 2026, according to the organisers. The programme and juries are not yet public.
Who performed at Carthage in August 2026?
Nabiha Karaouli played on 13 August, Elissa on 15 August and Amina Fakhet on 17 August. Each had been away from the Carthage stage for between eight and 17 years.
How did Tunisia do at the 2026 World Cup?
Tunisia lost all three group games in June 2026: 5-1 to Sweden, 4-0 to Japan and 3-1 to the Netherlands. It scored two goals and conceded twelve.
Where does Tunisia rank in world football?
FIFA ranked Tunisia 57th in its 20 July 2026 update. The country’s best place is 14th and its lowest is 65th.
Sources: Presidency of the Government of Tunisia, composition of the government, 2026-10-30; Carthage International Festival, organiser: report on Nabiha Karaouli concert, 2026-08-14; Carthage International Festival, organiser: report on Elissa concert, 2026-08-16; Carthage International Festival, organiser: report on Amina Fakhet concert, 2026-08-18; Carthage International Festival, organiser: history and contact, 2026-08-18; Carthage International Festival, organiser: sales points, 2026-10-31; Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage, announcement of the 37th edition poster call, 2026-08-24; Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage, extension of the poster deadline, 2026-09-03; FIFA, World Cup 2026 match data, 2026-06-25; FIFA, men’s world ranking, Tunisia, 2026-07-20; Tunisian Football Federation, 2026-10-31; Women’s Tennis Association, player record of Ons Jabeur, 2026-10-31.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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