The 17th day of the Third World Culture Festival Karachi 2026 drew a full house, as crowds packed the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi for a night of Qawwali music, rock, film and theatre. The 25-day festival, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, has turned the city’s cultural calendar into a daily celebration of music, art and performance from Pakistan and around the world.
The highlight of the day was “Bazm-e-Qawwali”, a soulful Qawwali performance at the Open-Air Theatre that left the audience spellbound. A large number of spectators attended the show and applauded the artists with great enthusiasm, filling the venue to capacity.
A night of soulful Qawwali
Pakistan’s renowned Qawwals Rizwan and Muazzam took the stage for the evening’s main performance, and their soulful voices gave the night a festive charm. Qawwali, the devotional music made famous around the world by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, remains one of Pakistan’s most loved art forms, and the packed crowd showed that its appeal is as strong as ever.
The audience clapped along through the performance and cheered the artists at the end, a warm response that underlined how deeply the music connects with people across generations. For many in the crowd, the open-air setting under the night sky made the experience even more special.
Rock, film and theatre filled the day
The day had started very differently, with a special rock music workshop led by the American band Burn The Ballroom. The band introduced participants to the finer points of rock music, its melodies and its many styles, and performed several songs in their own distinctive style. The session was warmly appreciated by everyone who took part.
Later, under the title “USA Evening”, a special screening of short films from the United States and Indonesia was held at Auditorium II. The American film Handwoven explored traditional weaving, cultural identity and the struggle to preserve ancestral heritage, while With a Kind Regard told a moving story of ordinary people’s hopes, fears and economic hardships through a collection of old job applications. The American film Down the Hatch and the Indonesian film Solata were also part of the programme.
Alongside the music and films, the day also featured an Arabic music workshop, international street theatre, short plays and a rock concert, giving visitors a wide mix of performances to enjoy in a single day.
A festival that keeps growing
The Third World Culture Festival Karachi 2026 has now reached its 17th day of a 25-day run, and its programme has ranged from theatre and dance to fine arts and film. Earlier in the week, the Arts Council opened “Shared Horizons”, its third international art exhibition, featuring works by 11 international and 19 Pakistani artists at the Ahmed Pervez Art Gallery.
The festival has also celebrated the cultural heritage of Punjab, the Saraiki belt and Balochistan through dedicated Pakistan-themed programmes, bringing the country’s regional traditions onto one stage. With eight days still to go, the festival continues to draw large crowds each day, and the full house for the Qawwali night shows that Karachi’s appetite for live culture is stronger than ever.
Read more of our culture coverage: VXR Festival Brings Virtual Reality Art to Pakistan.
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