What to Do in Alexandria in October 2026: Carmina Burana and Dalida
ALEXANDRIA · Culture
Alexandria’s concert season opens with Carmina Burana on Saturday 10 October, and the month ends with a Dalida tribute on 31 October with tickets from EGP 1,000 (about US$19). The rest of the month, day by day.
ALEXANDRIA — Most of the city’s ticketed culture in October sits in one place, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Shatby. Its Arts Center programme lists a Carmina Burana season opener on Saturday 10 October for EGP 200 (about US$4), and a Dalida tribute on 31 October with tickets from EGP 1,000 (about US$19) to EGP 2,750 (about US$52).
This guide is for people who live here or are staying for weeks. It lists what is on from today, Monday 5 October, with dates, venues and prices from the organiser. Events that have already happened, such as the Techne Summit, which closes today, are left out. All dollar figures use the RT rate of about EGP 52.4 to US$1 on 5 October, rounded.
6 to 11 October: A holiday shifts and the season opens
Thursday 8 October, all day
Armed Forces Day public holiday
Egypt · Paid holiday for government, public-sector and private-sector workers; banks closed
Egypt marks the 1973 crossing of the Suez Canal on 6 October, a Tuesday this year. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly moved the paid day off to Thursday 8 October, which gives most workers a three-day weekend with Friday and Saturday. The Labour Ministry has also made 8 October a paid holiday for private-sector workers, and the Central Bank of Egypt says banks are closed that day and reopen on Sunday 11 October.
Saturday 10 October, 8:00 p.m.
Season’s Inaugural Concert: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Great Hall, Shatby · EGP 200 (about US$4) · BA Tickets Office
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra and Choir open their season with Orff’s choral work, conducted by Nayer Nagui. For the price of a coffee abroad, it is the most accessible big classical night of the month. Buy at the Port Said Street ticket office or online, and arrive early.
Sunday 11 October, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Cinema: Short Films Programme
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Lecture Hall · Free entry, priority for online pre-registrants
The programme screens graduation projects from the “Let’s Talk Cinema” school. Entry is free. Pre-register online to get priority.
13 to 24 October: Dance, nostalgia and an international duo
Tuesday 13 October, 8:00 p.m.
Dance Performance: Scarecrow
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Small Theater · EGP 50 (about US$1)
A contemporary dance piece choreographed and directed by Kholoud Issa. It is one of the cheapest tickets in the programme. Movement needs no Arabic, so non-speakers can follow it easily.
Friday 23 October, 8:00 p.m.
Concert: Cassette 90s Band
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Small Theater · EGP 300 (about US$6)
A live set of 1990s repertoire in the Small Theater. The organiser’s programme gives no further detail on the line-up, so treat it as a nostalgia night rather than a headline act.
Saturday 24 October, 8:00 p.m.
Recital: Orientino Duo (Sweden) with the BA Youth Orchestra
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Great Hall · EGP 150 (about US$3)
Tania Naranjo (piano and singing) and Bader Debs (percussion and singing) perform with the BA Youth Orchestra under conductor Shady Abdelsalam. It suits anyone who wants a formal concert without an opening-night crowd.
25 to 31 October: Film, children’s theatre, theatre and Dalida
Sunday 25 October, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Cinema: Cineolio’s Cinenights
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Main Entrance, Auditorium · Free entry, priority for online pre-registrants
Three short films with English subtitles: Avalons (Brazil, 2011, 17 minutes), The Beetle at the End of the Street (Spain, 2018, 18 minutes) and The Repetition for Love (South Korea, 2025, 15 minutes). It is a good free evening for non-Arabic speakers, as all three carry English subtitles.
Thursday 29 October, 11:00 a.m.
Hadota Ma Tekhawefsh (A Non-Scary Story)
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Small Theater · EGP 120 (about US$2) · Booking through the Arts School administration, +2 (03) 5466735
A children’s play for ages six and above. The listed show is a morning performance for schools, so families should call the Arts School to ask whether places are open to the public.
Friday 30 October, 8:00 p.m.
Theatre Performance: The Incident
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Small Theater · EGP 50 (about US$1)
A theatre production directed by Yasmin Said. The programme does not say which language it is performed in, so ask the ticket office if that matters to you.
Saturday 31 October, 8:00 p.m.
Musical: Dalida… The Song That Never Ends
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Great Hall · EGP 2,750 (about US$52), EGP 2,250 (about US$43), EGP 1,750 (about US$33) or EGP 1,000 (about US$19)
A tribute to Dalida with singer Farrah El Dibany, directed by Khairy Beshara, with arrangements by André Manoukian and Mathieu Herzog conducting. It is the priciest ticket of the month and the headline night. The programme’s English page labels the day Sunday, but 31 October 2026 is a Saturday and the Arabic page says Saturday, so confirm with the box office before you buy.
Planning your Alexandria in October
Almost everything above is run by the Bibliotheca. Tickets are sold at the BA Tickets Office on Port Said Street, Shatby, Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On event days it opens from 10:00 a.m. until the start time (from 2:00 p.m. on Fridays). Online tickets are available for some events in limited numbers, and the Bibliotheca says online prices include a service charge.
Egypt ends daylight saving time on Thursday 29 October, when clocks go back one hour at midnight, so the last Friday and Saturday events run on winter time. Check your phone clock if you are travelling in from abroad.
What it means for you. For a visitor from the United States, the Bibliotheca programme is unusually cheap. Nearly every ticketed night costs between US$1 and US$6, and only the Dalida musical reaches US$52. The calendar is also thin outside the Bibliotheca, so a month-long stay works best if you add the Cairo International Film Festival, which runs from 11 to 20 November at the Cairo Opera House, per its organisers. Our Cairo festival guide has the details.
What is not known. The programme gives no prices for the Sunday film nights beyond free entry, no language details for the theatre pieces and no running times for the concerts. Programmes at the Bibliotheca can change, so check its Arts Center page before you travel. For wider context on the country, see our explainers on Egypt’s geopolitics and the pound and the economy, which affect what you pay in dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest event in Alexandria in October 2026?
The Dalida tribute musical on Saturday 31 October at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Great Hall has the highest ticket prices, from EGP 1,000 (about US$19) to EGP 2,750 (about US$52). The Carmina Burana season opener on Saturday 10 October costs EGP 200 (about US$4).
When is the Armed Forces Day holiday in 2026?
The anniversary is Tuesday 6 October, but Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly moved the paid day off for state employees to Thursday 8 October 2026.
Where can I buy tickets for Bibliotheca Alexandrina events?
At the BA Tickets Office on Port Said Street in Shatby, or online at onlineticketing.bibalex.org for some events. The Bibliotheca says online prices include a service charge.
Are there free events in Alexandria this month?
Yes. The Bibliotheca’s Sunday Cinema screenings on 11 October and 25 October are free, with priority for online pre-registrants.
When do the clocks change in Egypt in October 2026?
Daylight saving time ends on Thursday 29 October, when clocks go back one hour at midnight, so winter time starts on Friday 30 October.
Sources: Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Center programme, October 2026, Dostor (holiday decision), Banker News (holiday decision), timeanddate (Egypt clock change), Cairo International Film Festival. Exchange rate: RT, USD/EGP about 52.4 on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
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