Entering its second day, SuliFest 2026, set to become the largest national public and cultural gathering in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, continues to draw crowds to Sulaymaniyah’s Hawary Shar Park following its grand opening.

According to the festival program schedule, the day-two main stage lineup features the Sahand Group (a musical group) from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, followed by Arsalan Rock from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM, concluding with a main zone light show from 10:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

SuliFest 2026 Launches with Vibrant Opening Night 

The eight-day event featured extensive cultural, health, and family programs alongside major business participation and sports activities on Friday. It was organized by iTalk with Channel8 as the official media partner.

The opening day featured a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere as large crowds of visitors enjoyed the festival's flagship light show, live DJ sets, and a performance by world-renowned Kurdish percussionist and composer Hazhar Zahawi alongside other artists. 

Hazhar Zahawi: Music and Culture Are Pillars of Kurdish Survival 

Following his performance, Zahawi praised the festival in an interview with Channel8, stating that the concept was “beautiful” because it brought people from all walks of life together, proving that Sulaymaniyah truly deserves its title as the "capital of culture."

He emphasized that music and cultural language have served as critical pillars for the Kurdish people to endure and survive across all four parts of Kurdistan. “We have always stood in history with our culture. We gave culture to the world,” he added. 

“I think it is beyond culture; I think it is the vibe, the way people live, and the way people even think about life.”

SuliFest Aims to Change Festival Culture 

Meanwhile, Shkar Atta, Head of Commercial and Marketing at SuliFest 2026, said that the event was planned to change "the meaning of a festival" in Kurdistan and "change the vocabulary from food to activities." 

He emphasized that the large-scale event is being held to raise money for charity, including supporting the Hiwa Cancer Hospital.

Kurdistan Save the Children Joins SuliFest to Boost Awareness 

Nwa Abdullah, Youth Program Manager at Kurdistan Save the Children, stated that the organization is participating in the event to introduce its programs to the community and raise awareness about its work in youth development, education, health, and child protection.

SuliFest Preparations Were 'Absolutely Amazing' 

Samyar Samadi of the iTalk team told Channel8 that the preparation for the gathering was “absolutely amazing,” adding, “We set this thing up to show how beautiful Sulaymaniyah is.”