The Shubbak festival of contemporary Arab culture will return to London from 11 to 26 July 2015. This will be the third edition of the biennial festival which first launched in 2011.

Omar Al-Qattan, Festival chair says: Shubbak may today be the world’s premier festival of Arab culture, with the widest scope, freedom and variety. Incredible artists from across the Arab world are participating, helping us understand their world with greater lucidity and deeper empathy.

The Shubbak festival showcases the very best of contemporary Arab culture across dance, film, theatre, family events, literature, poetry, talks and the visual arts. It is currently seeking expressions of interest from Arab artists, and organisations that work with Arab artists, for 2015.

Eckhard Thiemann, artistic director of Shubbak says: We are immensely proud to have brought together an ambitious programme that invites artists to speak in a multitude of voices about what matters deeply to them. London is intrinsically connected to the Arab world. Shubbak amplifies these links through connecting Arab artists with audiences in London.