July–August 2026, Tunisia. Fantastical concerts in an ancient amphitheatre under the open sky, beneath the light of African stars. The traditional International Festival of Symphonic Music in El Jem takes place only once a year, in summer, under the patronage of the President of the country. It consistently sells out, bringing together world-class virtuosos performing masterpieces by Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Piazzolla, Saint-Saëns, Bernstein, Gershwin and other composers.
It is true magic. A perfect alignment of place, time and performance. A harmony that creates a truly extraordinary event, leaving no one indifferent, even those who are not fond of the word “conservatory” or are not particularly passionate about classical music. It is an experience worth packing your bags and heading to the airport for. Journeys like this remain in memory for a long time.
Why? Let us explain step by step.
So, the place. The concerts of the El Jem Music Festival are not held within dull walls, but in an incredible setting. Under the open sky, in an ancient amphitheatre, a monumental structure only slightly smaller than the famous Colosseum in Rome. An important detail: the Tunisian amphitheatre is better preserved than its renowned Italian counterpart. It is a monument of global significance, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once upon a time, the arena of the El Jem amphitheatre hosted bloody gladiator battles watched by thousands of excited spectators. Cheering echoed from the stands, while the roar of wild animals could be heard from underground cells. Today, both the arena, the seating tiers and the chambers that once held animals and gladiators, serving as waiting rooms for the fighters, can still be seen, allowing visitors to feel the breath of a long-lost empire.
But equally important is the time of the concerts, which is just as extraordinary. Imagine: the flickering of torches and above you is the endless, velvety African night sky full of stars.
In reality, it is not so simple. Traveling independently to a remote location in the evening in a foreign country, returning late at night, fearing delays, feeling stressed and ultimately overpaying. Does one really need to subject themselves to such stress?
For many years, we have been organizing visits to the festival concerts for travelers (for example, here is what we wrote about it in 2024 and 2025), and we can confidently say that for many of our guests, an organized trip is virtually the only way to experience the musical magic of El Jem. If you carefully look at this year’s festival program published below, you will notice that city names are indicated. This is no coincidence. It is a way for tourists staying in popular resorts along the Tunisian Mediterranean coast to attend these iconic performances.
The prices listed in the program include not only the ticket cost, but also comfortable and safe transportation to the venue and professional escort. Concerts begin at 22:00, with departures from hotels after dinner, depending on the location between 19:30 and 20:30. Return to hotels is around 02:00. The events have no age restrictions, but ticket prices are the same for all ages.
The unique acoustic properties of the Tunisian Colosseum make it possible to hold breathtaking concerts where performers do not use microphones. The level of musicians is best reflected in the program of the International Festival of Symphonic Music in El Jem, which we are presenting only in part. In July–August 2026, the festival will include 10 concerts, but based on previous years’ experience, we have selected 6 of the most interesting ones, which are expected to be among the most in-demand:
Saturday, July 18
“Camerata Barcelona – Colors of Spain”
A vibrant musical journey under the direction of conductor Adolfo Gassol.
Featuring classical and traditional Spanish music.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 45 EUR
Sousse/Monastir – 40 EUR
Mahdia – 36 EUR
Saturday, July 25
“L’Orphéon Orchestra: Ravel’s ‘Boléro’ and Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Scheherazade’”
A musical program combining two masterpieces of classical music.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 45 EURSousse/Monastir – 40 EUR
Mahdia – 36 EUR
Saturday, August 1
“Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra”
A world-famous Austrian symphony orchestra.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 60 EUR
Sousse/Monastir – 55 EUR
Mahdia – 50 EUR
Thursday, August 6
“Film Music: Cinecittà/Hollywood”
A concert organized in collaboration with OIDA (Orchestra Instabile di Arezzo), offering an exciting journey through music that shaped the history of cinema: from Italian masterpieces to major Hollywood productions.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 45 EUR
Sousse/Monastir – 40 EUR
Mahdia – 36 EUR
Saturday, August 8
“Naples in the Mediterranean: The Most Beautiful Neapolitan Songs”
A program presenting Naples as a musical crossroads of high and popular culture in dialogue with Southern Italy, France, Spain and the sounds of the Mediterranean.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 45 EUR
Sousse/Monastir – 40 EUR
Mahdia – 36 EUR
Saturday, August 15
“Yuri Revich – violinist, composer and ensemble ‘My Sounds’, Austria”
The program includes works by Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Piazzolla, Saint-Saëns, Bernstein, Gershwin, as well as an original composition by Yuri Revich.
Hammamet/Nabeul – 45 EUR
Sousse/Monastir – 40 EUR
Mahdia – 36 EUR
We recommend taking into account that tickets, especially for the concerts listed above, begin to sell out in advance. Therefore, if you would like to include a visit to the El Jem Festival in your itinerary, it is advisable to book early. For advance ticket purchases, please contact either your tour operator before traveling to Tunisia or your hotel guide immediately upon arrival, without leaving it to the last moment, in order to increase your chances of adding this extraordinary experience to your personal travel diary.
Finally, a few words from our guests:
“This is unforgettable! Words cannot express the full range of emotions. I truly want to experience it again.”
“I am not a big fan of classical music or opera, but in this case you don’t need to understand anything, just sit and listen. The atmosphere and the music do the rest.”
“The most wonderful event for me in Tunisia! Magical!”
