Asala Nasri performs in Damascus for the first time in over 15 years

Syrian singer Asala Nasri performed in Damascus on 17 September 2026, her first concert in Syria in more than 15 years. The show took place at Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall in the capital, and a second concert was scheduled for 19 September. Her previous appearance in the country was reportedly at the Damascus Opera House in 2010.

Nasri, one of the Arab world's best-known singers, had stayed away from Syria because of her opposition to former president Bashar al-Assad. His government fell in December 2024, which opened the way for exiled artists to return. Media reports described a sold-out hall of about 5,000 people and a warm welcome, with the culture minister greeting her on stage.

The concert was widely covered across the region as an emotional moment and a symbol of Syria's cultural reopening after the fall of the Assad government. Reports said she sang for around four hours, including songs from a new album inspired by Syria's governorates. It was the start of a busy period for Nasri, whose later touring included the US.