Chnaniir Festival Launches Its 2026 Second Edition Under the Theme “Meshwar”

The Chnaniir Festival officially unveiled the program for its second edition, Summer 2026, under the theme “Meshwar”, during a launch event held at Château Rweiss. The event took place under the patronage of the Minister of Tourism, H.E. Laura El Khazen Lahoud, represented by her advisor Mr. Maurice Matar, and was attended by media representatives, social figures, artists, and local dignitaries.

The ceremony opened with the Lebanese National Anthem, followed by a speech by Chnaniir Festival President Mrs. Maria Boustany Abi Nasr. She emphasized that the festival is a message of continuity and hope. Despite the many challenges Lebanon has faced this year, she said, the festival serves as a space of optimism while promoting Lebanon as a whole and highlighting Chnaniir as an emerging tourism destination.

She then presented an overview of the festival program, which begins on August 22 and continues from August 29 to September 6. She stressed the diversity of the program, designed to engage all age groups through a rich combination of sporting, artistic, and spiritual activities. She also highlighted Chnaniir’s beautiful natural landscapes, explaining that one of the festival’s main objectives is to showcase the village’s environmental beauty by organizing events across different locations within the town.

Representing the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Maurice Matar conveyed the Minister’s greetings and praised the festival’s cultural and artistic diversity, describing it as a reflection of the Lebanon we aspire to – a country of openness, pluralism, and coexistence, where everyone can find a space to express themselves and enjoy the country’s unique heritage.

As the festival is jointly organized by the Parish of Saint Michael and the Municipality of Chnaniir, speeches were also delivered by Parish Priest Fr. Gabriel Matar and Mayor Issam Abi Nasr. Both emphasized that the close collaboration between the parish and the municipality is the foundation of the festival’s success. They reaffirmed that its primary goal is to establish Chnaniir as a recognized tourism destination while contributing to the local economy through increased cultural and tourism activity.

During the conference, the full festival program was presented. It includes an environmental activity on August 22, organized in collaboration with HIGHLANDER, the international hiking organization. The hike will start and finish in Chnaniir while passing through neighboring villages, marking only the third edition of this event to be held in Lebanon.

Maestro Elie El Alia and renowned poet Nizar Francis also addressed the audience, expressing their enthusiasm for participating in the concert “AGHANINA” on September 1. Fr. Khalil Rahmeh likewise praised the festival’s diverse program, noting that he will conduct the Notre Dame University–Louaize Choir in the concert “Lebanon, the Melody of Hope” on September 3.

The festival will also feature performances by Hadi Dou, the Four Knights, a stand-up comedy show, a dedicated Children’s Day, and a road race. It will conclude with a traditional Village Day celebrating the Feast of Saint Michael, the patron saint of Chnaniir.

In addition, the festival will host a handicrafts exhibition showcasing the work of distinguished artisans and craftsmen. The organizing committee also presented its other initiatives, which can be explored through the village’s official website: www.chnaniirfestival.com.