1956 Creation of the Baalbeck International Festival

The Baalbeck International Festival was initiated in 1956 under the patronage of the President of the Lebanese Republic, Camille Chamoun. It was acknowledged that the glory of the Roman temples surrounding the festival would be a unique setting and would have an important cultural, touristic and socio-economic impact on Lebanon and the city of Baalbeck, and because of that, the infrastructure of this Lebanese region has been developed to facilitate the access to Baalbeck. 
Led by a committee of 12 volunteers from diverse cultural backgrounds, the festival became a beacon in promoting culture and tourism in Lebanon.

The festival successfully established a unique setting for innovative performances by local, regional and acclaimed international talents where it aspired to nurture a vibrant artistic environment rooted in cross-cultural exchange. The Festival there on became the most outstanding annual event in the region gained a boundless international reputation hosting some of the world’s legendary artists and also became an inspiration for other festivals in the Middle East. 

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