Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts 2027

The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts is Jordan’s most prominent annual arts event and one of the most distinctive festival settings in the Middle East. Running for around 17 nights each July and August, performances take place among the colonnaded streets and amphitheatres of Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. The South Theatre, with seating for approximately 3,000 and its original Roman stone tiers intact, serves as the main performance venue.

Note: Exact 2027 dates have not yet been officially confirmed. The dates above are estimated based on the previous year’s schedule (23 July–8 August 2026). Check the Jordan Tourism Board and official Jerash Festival social media channels for confirmed 2027 dates when announced.

History and significance

The festival was established in 1981 and has run almost every year since, interrupted only briefly by regional events. It was created to use the ancient city as a living cultural stage and to attract Arab and international artists whose work gains a unique dimension when performed against 2,000-year-old Roman architecture. Over the decades it has hosted major names from Arabic music and theatre alongside international orchestras, flamenco companies, and Indian classical dance troupes.

What to expect

Each evening runs from around 9:00 pm to midnight, with multiple concurrent performances across different stages within the archaeological site. The South Theatre hosts the headline acts — typically major Arabic music performers, orchestras, or international shows. Smaller stages near the Oval Plaza and the North Theatre host folk music, traditional dabke dance, and local Jordanian performing arts groups.

The 2027 programme will be announced in May or June; check the Jordan Tourism Board and the official Jerash Festival social media channels for confirmed acts. Historically, tickets for the most popular nights (especially headline Arabic artists) sell out within days of the programme being released.

Visiting in the summer heat

July and August in Jerash are hot: daytime temperatures regularly reach 35–38°C, and the archaeological site offers almost no shade. The South Theatre’s stone seating is exposed to direct sun throughout the afternoon, making it genuinely unpleasant for anyone arriving mid-day. The Oval Plaza and colonnaded streets offer minimal cover as well.

The festival’s evening format works in your favour. Performances begin at 9:00 pm, by which point temperatures in Jerash - sitting at around 600 metres elevation - typically drop to 22–24°C. The open stone amphitheatre cools further through the night, and a light jacket or layer is useful after midnight.

If you plan to visit the ruins during the day before your evening performance:

• Aim for before 9:30 am or after 4:30 pm to avoid the worst of the heat
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing and a wide-brim hat; direct sun on stone surfaces reflects significant UV
• Bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person - on-site vendors are limited and water at the site entrance costs more
• Apply SPF 50 sunscreen before entering and reapply if you are there for more than an hour

For the evening performance, a light layer is enough; the site is open-air and breezes increase after 11:00 pm.

Tickets and logistics

Ticket prices vary significantly by performance and seating section, ranging from approximately JOD 10 for smaller stage events to JOD 50—80 for premium South Theatre seats for headline acts. Tickets are sold through the official festival box office and select Amman ticketing outlets. The site entrance fee for the archaeological park is separate and costs around JOD 10 for non-Jordanians during the day; festival ticket holders typically enter the site for the evening event only.

Jerash is 48 kilometres north of Amman, roughly 50 minutes by car. Public minibuses from Amman’s North Bus Station run to Jerash town throughout the day; evening festival transport is more limited so taxis or shared private vehicles are the practical option for returning to Amman after the show. Many visitors stay overnight in Amman and make a dedicated evening trip. Our Jerash city guide has full details on getting there and what to see during the day before the evening performance.

If you prefer to stay in Jerash rather than making the late-night return to Amman, browse hotels in Jerash on Booking.com - the options are fewer than Amman but staying locally means you can take your time at both the daytime ruins and the evening performances without rushing for transport.

To combine a daytime visit to the ruins with your festival evening, book a guided Jerash tour through GetYourGuide - a half-day tour from Amman is a practical way to cover the highlights before the festival gates open.