Cairo: The Tunisian play Al-Haribat (The Fugitives) by director Wafa Tabboubi won the Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Award for Best Arab Theatrical Work, at the 16th Arab Theatre Festival. The festival was organised by the Arab Theatre Institute in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, January 10-16, 2026.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, the jury, chaired by Palestinian actor Kamel El Basha and comprising a panel of distinguished Arab theatre professionals, evaluated 14 competing productions from across the Arab world. Following extensive deliberations and in-depth analysis, the committee unanimously decided to award the top honour to the Tunisian production, recognising its artistic and intellectual merit as well as its distinctive directorial aesthetics, according to the jury’s official report.