The Jordan Guide

Jerash Festival Marks Landmark Edition in Roman Ruins This Summer

· 2 min read Travel News
The colonnaded Roman road of the ancient city of Jerash with stone columns lining the path

Contents

  1. The Setting: Jerash's Roman Ruins
  2. The Programme
  3. Getting to Jerash

The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts is running from 22 July to 2 August 2026 at the archaeological site of ancient Gerasa, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. The festival, which has marked major editions since its founding in 1981, returns this summer with a programme of Arabic theatre, classical music, folk dance, and international performances held under the stars in the South Theatre and along the Cardo Maximus.

The Setting: Jerash’s Roman Ruins

The Jerash archaeological site is consistently ranked among the most impressive Roman sites in the Middle East. The ancient city’s oval forum, colonnaded Cardo, temples of Artemis and Zeus, hippodrome, and two Roman theatres are all in a remarkable state of preservation. The South Theatre, which seats around 3,000, serves as the main festival venue.

Watching a performance in a Roman theatre with the columns of ancient Gerasa as a backdrop - and the Jordanian night sky overhead - is an experience that sets the Jerash Festival apart from almost any other cultural event in the region. The site is particularly striking when lit at night for evening performances.

The Programme

The festival programme traditionally blends Arabic classical music, folk and traditional dance from across the Arab world, theatre productions from Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, and international acts invited to add variety. Details for the 2026 lineup are available through the Jerash Festival’s official channels.

Evening performances are the main draw, with daytime slots typically devoted to children’s programming, craft markets, and smaller acoustic performances at secondary venues within the site.

Getting to Jerash

Jerash is located approximately 48 kilometres north of Amman - a drive of 45–60 minutes on a good day, longer with traffic during festival evenings. Public buses run between Amman’s North Bus Station (Tabarbour) and Jerash throughout the day, and shared taxis (service taxis) offer a faster alternative for the same route.

During the festival, accommodation in Jerash itself is limited, so most visitors commute from Amman or from the hotels of the Jordan Valley. Booking a room in Amman with easy access to the northern highway is the most practical option.

Our Jerash guide covers the archaeological site in detail, including which areas to prioritise for first-time visitors, ticket prices, and the best time of day to visit before or after festival performances. For those exploring the wider north of Jordan, Amman is the natural base, with the capital’s restaurant and hotel scene easy to reach after an evening at the festival.