Dhofar – Dhofar Municipality unveiled the full programme for Dhofar Khareef 2026on Monday, which will run from June 21 to September 21, featuring 125 cultural, artistic, sporting and entertainment events across Salalah and the governorate’s other wilayats and tourist destinations.

The expanded programme is part of a broader strategy to consolidate Dhofar’s position as a leading tourism destination and attract more visitors from within Oman and abroad.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said this year’s season focuses on enhancing the identity of key tourism sites through world-class performances and high-quality programmes that showcase the governorate’s rich natural and cultural diversity.

“The new approach is to give each venue its own distinctive entertainment and cultural identity inspired by its surroundings, creating a wider range of experiences for visitors,” he said.

Among the highlights of the 2026 edition are the second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival and theinaugural Dhofar International Sculpture Festival, alongside heritage symphony performances, international choir concerts, improvised comedy shows and a broad range of cultural, sports and traditional activities.

Major venues include the newly revamped Ittin Square, the Ittin Plain City Centre, the modern waterfront zone, Al Murooj Theatre, the health park at Salalah Public Park and the dedicated Children’s Time zone at Awqad Public Park, designed as an interactive educational and entertainment city for young visitors.

Additional attractions will be hosted at Osara on Raysut Beach, Nova Entertainment, La Mer Al Mughsail and the Samharam Heritage Village, offering family activities, restaurants, cafés, shopping areas and leisure facilities.

The artistic programme will feature symphonic and choral performances with participants from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, in addition to international acts and Arab improvisational comedians.

On the sports front, the season will include the Dhofar Marathon, drag racing events, the Salalah Cycling Tour and several competitions across the governorate, as well as a traditional weapons shooting championship at Samharam Village.

Al Ghassani said the festivities will extend beyond Salalah to the wilayats of Taqah, Mirbat and Sadah, helping distribute tourism and economic activity across the governorate.

The second Dhofar International Theatre Festival is scheduled to take place from September 14 to 22, featuring participants from around the world competing in three competition categories with prizes of up to US$50,000 in each.

The first edition of the Dhofar International Sculpture Festival will bring together artists from different countries to create works inspired by Oman’s heritage and the cultural identity of Dhofar.

Addressing accommodation arrangements, Al Ghassani said a joint committee has been formed with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to regulate the housing sector during the season. Three official booking apps (Sikka, Masarah and Valo) have been approved for visitor accommodation, while authorities have warned against using unlicensed platforms. Inspection teams will conduct field visits to ensure compliance with regulations and continue monitoring real estate brokerage offices throughout the season.