The 2026 Habibi Festival concludes at Joe’s Pub in New York tonight with Laura Elkeslassy and Rasha Nahas. The Public Theater lists a 7 p.m. performance, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and a two-hour scheduled running time.
Elkeslassy’s Ya Ghorbati: Divas in Exile draws on midcentury North African Judeo-Arab music, while Palestinian musician and multidisciplinary artist Nahas works across Arabic song, rock, spoken word and electronic textures. The program replaces an earlier appearance by Ghalia Benali, whom the venue says is unable to perform.
Founded in 2021, Habibi Festival presents traditional, reimagined and contemporary music from the Arab world and the Southwest Asian and North African diaspora. This brief reflects the venue’s current lineup; ticket and performance details remain subject to change.