About The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF)

Each October, D-CAF brings together artists and practitioners from all around the world to showcase and discuss contemporary work. Throughout the years, our programme has included performing arts, new media and visual arts, music, film, street performances, workshops, and panel discussions.

We are a platform for the independent art scene in Egypt, showcasing uncensored and unconventional performances, exhibitions, and events.

Challenging Boundaries in Art

Our core philosophy is to challenge the traditional relationship between artist and audience. We present a diverse program that pushes boundaries and offers fresh perspectives on the world, breaks apart boundaries set between disciplines; and offer new ways of thinking about the world we live in today.

Through our program, we aim to show innovative work of quality, providing Cairo’s audiences with a fresh perspective on what the arts can look like.

A Multidisciplinary Arts Program

We curate a dynamic schedule of events, making D-CAF one of the most exciting things to do in Cairo. Our festival features:

• Performing Arts: Groundbreaking contemporary theatre and dance from Egypt and beyond.
• Visual & New Media Arts: Provocative art exhibitions in Cairo that explore modern themes.
• Music: A lineup of cutting-edge local and international musicians.
• Film & Street Performances: Bringing art into public spaces for everyone to experience.

Downtown as Our Stage

Through a key partnership with Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, we are able to reactivate and utilize iconic, forgotten spaces like the Radio Cinema and the Kodak Passageway. To have been the first ones to re-open historical buildings that had been left abandoned such as the old French consulate, Viennoise, and more. Using unconventional spaces is at the core of D-CAF’s identity, weaving Downtown Cairo’s rich visual culture and complex history into the festival’s experience.

Building a Global & Local Arts Community

D-CAF is dedicated to fostering a sustainable and inclusive arts ecosystem.

Opportunities for Egyptian Artists

We create vital opportunities for Egyptian artists to collaborate with world-renowned directors and performers. These encounters have been the seed for launching incredible international careers and help localize global works for our audiences.

Arts for All Initiative

We believe art should be accessible to everyone. Our community programs, like “Arts for All,” work with NGOs to bring marginalized communities to D-CAF events, ensuring our audience is as diverse as our programming.

And until 2018, our Urban Visions programme brought contemporary dance, clown performances, and puppetry to Downtown Cairo’s pedestrian streets, attracting passersby from all walks of life.

For over a decade, we have consistently delivered an unparalleled cultural experience. This legacy continues today.The 13th edition of D-CAF is happening right now. Discover our program today.