AGP Executive Report

Lebanese Music Spotlight: Ramy Ayach returns with “Adhibini,” a Modern Standard Arabic track that leans into tarab and comes with a 1970s-inspired video by Fadi Haddad—another collaboration with poet Catherine Moawad. Book Design Buzz: New Zealand’s PANZ Book Design Awards have announced their 2026 finalists, spotlighting standout typography and emerging designers. Film & Culture: NYFF is set to premiere Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! starring Pedro Pascal, with the movie centered on a cellist piecing together a fractured life and original Hollywood film-score music. Nordic Documentary: Nordisk Panorama revealed its 2026 selection for Malmö, featuring 62 projects and work-in-progress titles from filmmakers including Maryam Ebrahami and Michael Madsen. Arts & Community Events: Lebanon-area readers may also want to note the “Events: July 29, 2026” listing and local festival coverage, including a Bethel Park Arts and Music Festival roundup and UNESCO’s addition of 25 new World Heritage sites.

Lebanon Arts & Culture: Elissa is back with “Leebat Al Ayam,” her first single and visual from a forthcoming album, pushing a message of resilience and faith as she explains how Lebanon’s political climate has delayed releases and videos. Arts, Travel & Identity: PAC Beirut Duty Free unveiled its long-term brand signature “Between Home and Away,” plus a refreshed visual identity and a new brand film that frames travel as both leaving and returning. Human Stories & Community: Tuesday marked the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, with reporting that highlights how the treaty’s protections are under strain and how refugees’ lives are shaped by displacement and policy. Arts in the Region: An exhibition titled “In Transit” at Artbooth Gallery Abu Dhabi explores memory, identity, and displacement through a cross-generational lineup of artists. Music & Performance: The Lebanon Area Fair runs through Aug. 1 with free daytime admission and live entertainment, drawing thousands for food, games, and shows.

Lebanon Arts & Culture: A major charity art auction is underway for displaced families in Lebanon, with Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi donating a work to “Hold Beirut” (28–31 July) benefiting the Lebanese Red Cross and Beit El Baraka. Sports & Community: The Lebanese Basketball Championship finals drew attention for a troubling Game Three atmosphere—abuse and intimidation drowned out the usual rivalry. Arts & Fashion: Lebanese-born designer Rita Chiha launched Arziya, a luxury resort-wear brand rooted in Lebanese kaftan memories. Film & Screen: Amman’s film festival opened with a tribute to Palestinian actor Mohammad Bakri, honoring his decades-spanning cinema legacy. Arts Beyond Lebanon: Fantasia’s top prize went to Hanna Bergholm’s body-horror “Nightborn,” while UAE event calendars teased big-name concerts and shows. Local Life: Lebanon’s wedding season is dampened by war and economic strain, dimming once-lively celebrations.

Lebanon Wedding Season Under Strain: War and the economic crunch are dampening Lebanon’s once-lively wedding calendar, with couples scaling back celebrations as security fears and costs keep guests away. Lebanon Arts & Community Events: A free Washington Band of Annville concert marks its 170th year on Aug. 2 in Lebanon, while the Lebanon Area Fair runs through Aug. 1 with free daytime admission and daily entertainment. Regional Arts Mood: Shubbak Festival’s 15th anniversary at London’s V&A brings contemporary Arab and SWANA creativity to “Friday Late” on July 31, mixing live music, fashion, and immersive installations. Sports Spotlight: Syria’s U-17 women’s team won the West Asia title, beating Lebanon 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw—Lebanon’s Yara Jaitani took Best Player. Global Distraction: Berlin Pride’s deadly vehicle attack suspect was shot dead by police after a near-24-hour manhunt, underscoring how quickly public celebrations can turn tragic.

Berlin Pride attack: Germany’s manhunt ended with the suspected Islamist attacker, Abdul Ballout (Abdul B., 21, German-Lebanese), shot dead by police in Spandau after he allegedly rushed officers with a bladed weapon; the Saturday van-ramming and stabbing left one dead and 29 injured, while Berlin held vigils at the Brandenburg Gate. U.S.-Iran diplomacy: The U.S. paused strikes on Iran for a second straight day and Tehran said it did too, as talks aim to reopen negotiations on an interim ceasefire; U.N. envoy Mike Waltz said Trump is “giving talks some space,” with Oman mediating Strait of Hormuz safe passage. Lebanon wedding season hit: A Xinhua report from southern Lebanon shows couples scaling back weddings amid war fears and the economic crunch, reflecting how the conflict and financial strain are dimming one of Lebanon’s busiest celebrations. Sports/entertainment crossover: NRL chatter swirls around Adam Doueihi’s potential exit from Wests Tigers, while Shakira wrapped her World Cup-themed tour stop in Atlantic City.

Lebanon Area Fair: The 70th Lebanon Area Fair runs through Aug. 1, with free admission 8 a.m.–3 p.m. and $5 tickets after 3 p.m. for ages 10+—plus daily live entertainment. Beirut arts & youth tech: A Beirut Minecraft project keeps the St. Nicolas stairs active as a creative public space, letting kids redesign real areas in a blocky 3D world. Music spotlight: Joseph Attieh confirms he’s in love ahead of his sold-out Beirut Holidays Festival concert, turning the relationship reveal into a major fan moment. Film & awards: Fantasia International Film Festival’s juried awards went to Hanna Bergholm’s “Nightborn” (best film) and Seidi Haarla (best actress). Sports culture: Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says the Adam Doueihi rift is “salvageable” as he pushes for a resolution after the player stood down. Church news: The Maronite Church marks a week of prayer and celebration ahead of Patriarch Elias Hoyek’s beatification, including screenings, Masses, and a concert by the Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Lebanon Arts & Culture: Beirut’s “St. Nicolas stairs” project is getting a tech boost through Minecraft workshops, letting youth redesign real urban spaces even amid ongoing conflict—an example of how play can turn into civic creativity. Film & Debate: “The Odyssey” is drawing major attention at cinemas, but the wider conversation is also about bans and backlash—one global roundup notes how politics and identity can follow films from premiere to prohibition, including Lebanon’s own past ban tied to casting. Church & Heritage: The Maronite Church is gearing up for Patriarch Elias Hoyek’s beatification with a week of prayer, screenings, Masses, and a concert by the Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra. Sports & Community: Lebanon Area Fair opens July 25 with food, games, and live entertainment, while local sports coverage continues to spotlight how community events keep culture moving.

Lebanon Area Fair: The 70th annual Lebanon Area Fair opens today (July 25) at Sion Hill and runs through Aug. 1, with food, games, and live entertainment drawing thousands of visitors. Sports & community spotlight: A local youth camp at Western Boone wrapped up this week, while the Spartansburg Community Fairgrounds hosts a free Southern Gospel & Bluegrass concert on Saturday (1–4 p.m.), featuring the Malpass Brothers, Cutter & Cash, and the Needhams. Arts & culture beyond Lebanon: Kuwait has stripped citizenship from hundreds of cultural figures, including novelist Talib al-Rifai, raising alarm across the arts community. Music in the region: Tel Aviv performance artist Oren Pesso kicked off a show at HaTanacha Park with a “heat or war” message as Israel braces for possible renewed strikes. Sports news: Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says the Adam Doueihi situation is “unexpected” but insists, “we have to find a resolution.”

UN Anti-Corruption Push: The UN General Assembly opened a special session in New York with leaders warning corruption hits the poor hardest and calling for stronger action toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. US-EU Tech Tensions: Trump says the U.S. will investigate EU trade practices after EU fines on Google and others over alleged digital antitrust violations—while broader tariff threats hang over tech and trade. Regional Heat, Cultural Life: In Tel Aviv, a performance artist asked audiences to choose “heat or war” as cities reopen bomb shelters amid rising US-Iran tensions. Arts & Identity in the Region: Kuwait stripped hundreds of cultural figures of citizenship, including major writers and composers—an abrupt blow to the country’s creative scene. Lebanon Arts Spotlight: A Beirut Jesuit church space in Ashrafieh is described as a cricket-and-community hub that has shifted during wartime, with mattresses and quiet routines replacing play. Music & Film Buzz: Indie cinema previews highlight major releases like “Hadestown: The Musical” and other festival-bound titles. Sports Culture: Toni Breidinger returns to NASCAR’s Truck Series, while FIBA plans to move its Asia office back to Kuala Lumpur from Beirut.

FIBA & Lebanon Sports Administration: FIBA’s Asia office is set to move from Beirut to Kuala Lumpur in January 2027, with Wasim Khan taking over as Executive Director after Lebanon’s Hagop Khajirian retires. Lebanon Community & Live Music: Lebanon Fireman’s Picnic returns this weekend with free live performances plus food and family tournaments. Lebanon Arts & Culture Spotlight: Rola Azar’s new music release, “Hathi Ardi,” frames Palestinian emotional history through an independent EP and ongoing studio work across the region. Local Arts/Heritage: A feature on henna highlights its cultural roots and community meaning, including a screening of Basma Khalifa’s film “Henna.” Food & Culture (Lebanon-linked): Zankou Chicken’s Armenian-Mediterranean menu traces back to Beirut, tying Lebanese heritage to a modern fast-casual success story. Arts in Film: Five films by Arab directors are selected for Venice Film Festival 2026, including Palestinian entries “Citizen Osama” and “Conversation With the Sea.”

Lebanon Fireman’s Picnic: Lebanon’s 94th annual Firemen’s Picnic runs Friday through Sunday at Lebanon Firemen’s Park, with free live music, food like fish fry baskets, and weekend tournaments including youth baseball, volleyball, men’s softball, and dartball. Venice Film Festival (Arab cinema): Five films by Arab filmmakers were selected for Venice 2026, including May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown (Golden Lion competition) and Palestinian entries Citizen Osama and Conversation With the Sea. Lebanon in the spotlight (music): Lebanese pop star Elissa is set for a major concert on July 31 in Jeddah, with a stop in Jerash on July 30 as part of regional festival programming. Arts & culture funding (Europe): A German-French co-production committee awarded €1.15M in its latest “Minitraité” round, backing new projects including Maria Schrader’s Arbeit und Struktur. Local arts-adjacent community: A Quaker-inspired piece reflects on Shaker “gift drawings,” linking faith practice to creativity and attention to everyday beauty.

Roland-Garros on TV: FFT and beIN Media Group have extended their exclusive broadcasting deal for Roland-Garros across 34 territories, with beIN set to cover the 2027–2031 editions. Musical Theatre: Farrah El Dibany is set to star in a new Egyptian-French musical bringing Dalida’s life story to the stage, premiering in Alexandria on Oct. 31 before Cairo performances. Lebanese Pop on Tour: Elissa will headline major concerts in Jordan (Jerash Festival, July 30) and Saudi Arabia (Jeddah Season, July 31). Sports Medicine Spotlight: Aspetar’s Surgery Observer Programme welcomed 69 international observers over the past year, underlining Doha’s growing role in orthopaedic and sports training. Arts & Community: A new musical “Dalida” project and Lebanon’s own cultural calendar get a boost with the return of the Lebanon Country Fair (66th edition) this weekend. Lebanon in the wider region: Lebanon’s place in regional security talks remains in focus as diplomatic reporting points to plans around the Syrian-Lebanese border and Hezbollah’s arsenal.

Arts & Community: The 66th Lebanon Country Fair returns this Friday through Sunday, with line dancing, monster truck and helicopter rides, animal shows, contests (including pie and watermelon eating), and a demolition derby—plus local charities like the Covenant Soup Kitchen and the Lebanon Historical Society benefiting from proceeds. Sports Media: The French Tennis Federation and beIN Media Group extended their exclusive Roland Garros broadcasting deal across 34 territories in MENA and Asia through 2031, keeping beIN as the tournament’s exclusive broadcaster. Lebanon in Sports: Lebanon’s men’s volleyball team finished seventh at the West Asian Men’s Championship in Muscat, while Oman won the title after beating Qatar 3–0. Global Arts/Tech: UN chief António Guterres urged a ban on “killer robots” as AI moves into battlefields, and warned about deepfake porn. Culture & Film: Venice’s Giornate degli Autori unveiled its 2026 selection, spotlighting displaced stories and 25 world premieres.

Arts & Medicine: Elaine Byrne’s “Alessia” won Ireland’s Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Art Award, linking visual art to medical training and spotlighting how creative work can “listen behind the words.” Women in the Spotlight: The 2026 Inspiring Women Awards celebrated resilience and ambition, with proceeds supporting bursaries and youth projects. Film & Community: Hamilton International Film Festival (HIFF) returns for its 18th year, mixing student-made indie films with global screenings and free public events. Sports as Culture: Lebanon’s youth basketball scene gets a boost as Jordan Ahli Bank sponsors the West Asia Basketball Association U18 Championship, with Lebanon qualifying for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup. Music on the Move: Saint Levant announces his Afandi World Tour, bringing a Beirut-inspired live production to Dublin on Oct. 29. Local Sports/Entertainment: An industrial basketball tournament is set to return, while Lebanon Firemen’s Picnic promises free live music and weekend family activities. Controversy Watch: A Portland-area theater faced backlash over a “The Odyssey” marquee message tied to Jews and antisemitism debates.

Lebanon–Israel “Pilot Zone” Update: The U.S. says operations have started in three southern Lebanese villages—Froun, Srifa and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya—under a trilateral framework tied to Israel’s gradual pullback and Lebanon’s expected disarmament steps. Arts & Culture: Palestinian rapper Saint Levant announced the “Afandi World Tour,” with a Dublin stop on Oct. 29, and a Beirut-inspired live production; meanwhile Shabjdeed & Al Nather revealed a three-stop “3RB TOUR” hitting Amman (Aug. 13), Beirut (Aug. 19) and Damascus (Aug. 21). Music Spotlight: Lebanon’s Fadl Shaker is reportedly set to leave for Qatar after a travel ban was lifted on “humanitarian grounds,” following court steps tied to older cases. Film & Society: A Portland-area theater backlash over “The Odyssey” marquee text has reignited antisemitism concerns, with critics calling the wording historically inaccurate. Sports (Youth): Jordan Ahli Bank sponsors the West Asia Basketball U18 Championship in Amman, with Lebanon among the teams and qualification spots at stake.

Music & Politics: The Hind Rajab Foundation filed an urgent criminal complaint in Belgium against an IDF veteran tied to a Tomorrowland appearance, pushing the case into the spotlight as the festival’s second weekend approaches. Middle East Tensions: Iran says it attacked tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. carried out another night of strikes; meanwhile, Houthis announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, escalating Red Sea risks for global shipping. Lebanon on the Ground: AFP reports Israeli flags and soldiers appearing along roads near Naqura, with UNIFIL patrols in between and permits allowing limited access to occupied villages. Sports (Lebanon, Tennessee): Alex Palou won the rain-delayed Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway after storms and extreme heat forced a postponement and a shorter race. Arts & Culture: Keys to Life concert programming in Lebanon highlights Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury’s Isolated, commissioned for a time of bombardment. Local Arts/Community: Lebanon’s sports complex procurement may shift for Phase 2, with the city considering a new contractor selection process.