The Tunis medina lights up again on the occasion of the month of Ramadan through a festival of lights, music and cultural activities with the fourth edition of “Médina des Lumières”, which will be held from March 15 to 22, 2025.
“Light medina”: a flagship event
After the success of previous editions, which brought together more than 8,000 visitors per evening, this event returns with a rich and varied program, distributed on several emblematic sites of the old town.
“Médina des Lumières”, is part of an ambitious dynamic of rediscovery and valuation of the Médina de Tunis. This initiative aims to celebrate Tunisian and Arabic culture in all its forms, by revitalizing historical centers, by reinterpreting their inheritance through a contemporary approach and positioning it as an essential pole of cultural tourism.
Thanks to a strategic approach and the mobilization of public and private actors, Médina des Lumières works to strengthen the attractiveness of the medina and make it a sustainable and inclusive tourism model.
General theme: Arab-Muslim tradition
By taking place during the sacred month of Ramadan, this event takes on a strong symbolic dimension, highlighting values deeply rooted in Tunisian society, such as sharing, spirituality and creativity. This spiritual setting offers visitors an immersive experience, allowing them to discover the interior medina.
Since its creation, the number of participants in “Médina des Lumières” has continuously increased, strengthening its status as an essential event and living space not to be missed.
The 2025 edition, which will be held from Saturday March 15 to Saturday March 22, will honor Arab-Muslim traditions through a rich and diverse program. This event offers an exploration of the medina, combining historical heritage, contemporary artistic expressions and gastronomic discoveries. The objective is double: to preserve the heritage while energizing the local economy.
A festival in the heart of Arab-Muslim traditions
The objective of this event is to replace the Medina of Tunis as a key center for cultural tourism, for Tunisians as for foreign visitors. It also aims to strengthen the feeling of belonging of the inhabitants to their heritage, while energizing local economic activities and generating wealth through several axes:
– Heritage development: artistic illuminations will enhance emblematic sites such as Bab Bhar, Bab Mnara and the Zaytouna Mosque, offering visitors an unprecedented rediscovery of these architectural gems.
-Support for craftsmen: by highlighting their know-how and promoting high quality products, as an alternative to goods produced in series. A dedicated space will highlight traditional know-how and will allow local craftsmen to exhibit and sell traditional and modern creations, inspired by Arab-Muslim heritage.
– Dynamization of the local economy: the influx of visitors will promote the activity of medina’s shops, cafes and restaurants.
– Promotion of cultural tourism: by associating traditions and modernity, “Médina des Lumières” aspires to strengthen the image of Tunis as a cultural destination of excellence.
– Sustainable impact: The ticket system will collect data on the expectations of visitors, in order to improve future editions.
Varied activities for all tastes
An immersive program, with concerts, shows, cinematographic projections, thematic conferences and gastronomic experiences will punctuate this edition.
The activities are spread over several places and include a multitude of events (free and paid), including conferences, training workshops in perfume manufacturing, leather work, Arabic calligraphy and pottery, without forgetting music and daily concerts organized in Dar Hussein, headquarters of the National Heritage Institute in Bab El-Mnara.
All these activities are part of a career carefully designed to link the historic jewels of the Medina (Bab Mnara, Sainte Croix, etc.) with contemporary animation sites as a general place and court place. Visitors will be able to navigate easily thanks to a marked route, embellished with illuminations and interactive shows.
The highlights of this edition include the shows of “Mosaic Soufi”, Fawzi Chekili, Dendri Stambeli, Ahmed Litaim, and finally the duo Mohamed Barsaoui and Faten Arabi.
The craftsman’s market is one of the flagship events of the event, offering a unique opportunity for craftsmen to sell their creations, with special prices for the inhabitants of the medina. Spaces will also be dedicated to traditional and modern creations: jewelry, textiles, decorative objects and culinary products inspired by Arab-Islamic heritage.
The artistic lighting will help highlight the emblematic monuments and doors of the medina, such as Bab El-Mnara, the minaret of the Youssef Dey Mosque and the Sainte-Croix Church, creating a magical atmosphere in collaboration with the “Interference” program.
The varied cultural program will include thematic conferences each evening allowing to explore the different periods in the history of the medina (Andalusian, Berber, Islamic) in Dar Hussein.
Film projections will be held in Dar Hadded, in addition to outdoor performances on the Place du Tribunal and in the garden of Sidi Mfarej, including contemporary dance shows and modern artistic performances.
Intimate concerts and artistic shows will take place at the Sainte-Croix church, located rue de la Mosque Zaytouna, in a unique atmosphere.
The event will end with memorable evenings on the Place de la Kasbah, including public concerts celebrating Arab-Islamic traditions, combining traditional instruments and contemporary touches. A restoration space will offer traditional Ramadan dishes, thus creating a friendly and warm atmosphere for the participants.
A project led by DMO Tunis-Carthage
This edition is organized by the organization of management of “destination management organization” destinations (DMO). DMO is an organization dedicated to the promotion of the Tunis-Carthage destination as an essential tourist center. With a clear mission to revitalize the tourist offer and strengthen collaboration between public and private actors, the DMO is based on fundamental values: sustainability, resilience, integrity and solidarity.
Since its official launch in May 2024, the DMO has organized several significant events, including “Tunis Mosaic Vivante” in October 2024, which brought together thousands of participants and generated a strong economic and social dynamic in the region. With these successes, the DMO now organizes the fourth edition of “Médina des Lumières”.
Press release
