Faiz Festival Lahore: Dates, Venue and Programme

The Faiz Festival is a three-day literary and cultural festival in Lahore held in February, in memory of the Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The 10th edition ran from 13 to 15 February 2026 at the Lahore Arts Council, Alhamra, on Mall Road, with talks, poetry, theatre, music, dance and workshops across the building's halls and Barni Garden. Dates for the 2027 edition had not been announced when we checked, so plan on mid-February and confirm nearer the time.

This guide covers where and when it is held, what the 2026 programme looked like, and how to make the most of a visit.

When and where is the Faiz Festival held?

The 2026 festival ran from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 February at Alhamra, the arts complex on Mall Road, with the formal opening at 3 pm on the Friday. The first Faiz festival was held in 2015 by the Faiz Foundation Trust together with the Lahore Arts Council, and it has been held regularly since. The 2026 edition was billed as the 10th.

February is also one of the pleasantest months in the city. Our Lahore weather by month guide covers what to expect, and our Lahore Literary Festival post covers another cultural event of the season.

What was on the 2026 programme?

According to reports from Daily Times and The Nation, the three days brought together poets, writers, journalists, researchers and artists, with several sessions running at the same time in different halls. Reported items included:

• An opening ceremony with an exhibition and a musical performance by the AM Group.
• Sessions on Faiz's relevance today, including Faiz and Pakistan's cultural policy, Faiz and Pakistan Times, and Faiz and Ustad Daman.
• Book launches and poetry recitals.
• Theatre from Ajoka Theatre and Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, dance by Nighat Chaudhry, and student performances.
• Workshops on digital broadcasting, photography, contemporary media and puppetry.
• Open-mic sessions and a drum circle.
• A conversation between the actress Mahira Khan and Samina Peerzada, which drew one of the biggest audiences, according to The Nation.

The line-up changes each year, and the full schedule is normally published in the weeks before.

Getting in, and what it costs

We could not confirm from the sources we read whether sessions are free or ticketed, and that has varied at cultural events, so we won't print a price. Alhamra announces this with the schedule; check its official channels before you go. Arrive early for the popular sessions in any case, because halls fill quickly and the final day was reported as especially crowded.

Getting there and planning your day

Alhamra is on Mall Road, in the central part of Lahore. Parking on the Mall is tight on busy days, so a ride-hailing car is often easier. Our guide to getting around Lahore covers the options.

A sensible way to plan the day:

1. Pick your sessions the night before from the published schedule, since several run at once.
2. Choose one or two big sessions and leave gaps between them; queues for popular talks can take time.
3. Keep an hour for Barni Garden and the open-air activities.
4. Dress for a mild February day and carry a light layer for the evening.

The Mall area also has the Lahore Museum, Punjab University's Old Campus and other sights within reach. See our Lahore Museum guide.

Who is the Faiz Festival for?

It suits readers, students, poetry lovers and anyone curious about Urdu literature and Lahore's cultural scene. The sessions are mostly in Urdu and English, and many assume some knowledge of Faiz and his poems, though there are activities for younger people as well.

It is less suitable if you have only one day in Lahore and want the Walled City and the Mughal sites, or if you dislike crowded halls. For a wider view of events across the year, see our experiences page.

Frequently asked questions