Muscat Nights 2026 Attracts Nearly 2M Visitors

The Muscat Nights 2026 festival, a month-long celebration of culture, entertainment and community, has emerged as a major success, drawing nearly 2 million visitors since it launched on January 1 across the capital’s venues.

Organised by Muscat Municipality as part of an integrated vision for the winter season, the festival featured 168 events held at 24 main and secondary venues, blending cultural showcases, family attractions, sports competitions and artistic programmes that appealed to residents, expatriates and tourists alike.

Officials say the strong turnout reflects Muscat Nights’ growing appeal and underscores the capital’s expanding role as a regional destination for cultural tourism and community-centred entertainment.

Among the most popular attractions was Qurum Natural Park, which recorded the highest visitor numbers among the festival’s seven permanent sites. The park hosted spectacular nighttime drone shows with hundreds of synchronized drones creating dynamic light formations inspired by Muscat’s cultural identity.

Also at Qurum, the Light Festival transformed the park’s lake into an open-air theatre with choreographed fountain displays, music and smart lighting, while Candy Land offered a playful interactive experience merging entertainment with educational elements.

Al Amerat Public Park emerged as another crowd favourite, welcoming large and diverse audiences with highlights such as the Heritage Village, showcasing Omani identity in modern formats, and a bustling Craft Market promoting traditional crafts and supporting local families’ livelihoods.

Muscat Nights 2026 also delivered a wide range of cultural and artistic programmes, including 25 cultural activities across 11 locations such as visual arts pavilions, cultural villages and graphic arts exhibitions.

Sports events played an important role, with 13 local and international tournaments on the schedule, like the Muscat Nights International Billiards and Snooker Championship, the Muscat Nights International Chess Championship, which welcomed 270 players from 35 countries, the 12th International Shotokan Karate Championship, and the Oman International Drift Championship.

The festival also featured theatrical productions, with 12 diverse performances ranging from comedy to children’s plays staged across seven venues in the Muscat Governorate, offering platforms for emerging talent and creative exchange.

Muscat Nights 2026 was staged at a broad array of locations, including not only Qurum Natural Park and Al Amerat Public Park, but also the Oman Automobile Association, the Royal Opera House Muscat, Seeb Beach, Qurayyat, Wadi Al Khoudh and several shopping centres, ensuring the festival reached communities across the governorate.

The wide spread of venues and activity types contributed to high attendance and strong engagement from Omanis and international visitors, reinforcing Muscat Nights’ reputation as a signature event of Oman’s winter season.

The events and programmes also provided employment opportunities, generating about 500 jobs for Omani job seekers, organisers reported.

As Muscat Nights 2026 concludes, officials and participants alike are highlighting how the festival has not only entertained but also stimulated economic activity and promoted cultural exchange, supporting Oman’s broader vision for community engagement and tourism development.

Organisers are already looking ahead to future editions, aiming to build on this year’s success by expanding cultural offerings, enhancing visitor experiences and further elevating Muscat’s profile as a vibrant hub for festivals and events.