Moroccan cultural entrepreneur and arts promoter Brahim El Mazned received the 2026 UNESCO–Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture on Wednesday evening at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris during a ceremony attended by numerous figures from the cultural, political, and civil society spheres.
Presented in the presence of UNESCO officials, diplomats, representatives of international cultural institutions, and civil society actors, the award recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the dissemination and promotion of Arab art and culture around the world.
In remarks delivered on the occasion, El Mazned expressed his "deep gratitude" to UNESCO and the Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture for the distinction, which he described as "a collective tribute to the efforts of artists, intellectuals, researchers, and cultural actors working in the service of Arab culture."
The Moroccan laureate also praised Morocco’s cultural dynamism under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, emphasizing that culture has become in the Kingdom "a driver of development, dialogue, and openness," thanks to support for cultural projects and institutions, creative industries, youth empowerment, and the promotion of women’s roles.
Drawing on his experience in the cultural and creative industries, El Mazned, founder of Visa For Music and artistic director of the Timitar Festival, noted that Arab culture is diverse and constantly evolving, interacting with its Amazigh, African, Mediterranean, and global environments.
Created in 1998 with the support of the Government of Sharjah, the UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture honors individuals, groups, or institutions whose work has made an exceptional contribution to the promotion, development, and dissemination of Arab culture worldwide, while fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.
MAP: 25 June 2026
