Salalah – Salalah will host the second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival from September 14 to 22, building on the momentum of the first edition that quickly put the event on the regional cultural map.

Organised by Dhofar Municipality under the chairmanship of Ahmed bin Mohsin Al Ghassani, the festival will run three competitive segments this year, each carrying a US$50,000 grand prize – a total purse of US$150,000.

Participants from various cities from Oman as well as GCC states –  Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – will take part.

The Elite Shows segment will feature award-winning productions handpicked from major international festivals, alongside standout performances from last year’s edition.

The Grand Shows segment will open the competition to theatre companies from anywhere in the world, with entries reviewed and shortlisted by a specialist jury.

The third segment – Dhofar Theatre – is reserved for local troupes and performers, giving Omani theatre companies in the governorate a platform to develop their craft and reach wider audiences.

Registration opened in June through dedicated online forms.

Al Ghassani said, “The festival is more than a showcase of international theatre; it is a strategic cultural project that reflects the standing of both Dhofar and the sultanate on the regional cultural scene, and a statement of Oman’s commitment to the arts as a bridge between peoples and cultures.”

Ammar bin Awbad Ghawas, President of the festival, added that the three-track structure was designed to let local talent rub shoulders with international theatre performances and artists, helping them exchange ideas and skills.

The festival is part of the wider Khareef Dhofar 2026, which includes the Dhofar Film Festival and region’s first-ever international sculpture festival running alongside more than 100 cultural, artistic and sports  events through September.