SWANA & Arab Events in NYC This Weekend
What's on across the SWANA (Middle Eastern / North African) and Arab NYC scene over the next few days. This list refreshes with every site rebuild — venue, neighborhood, price, and a one-line hook for each event.
Last updated: Jul 19, 2026
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BE-IN: A Benefit Concert for El Hakawati Theater
Broadway Voices for Palestine presents BE-IN, a benefit concert supporting Palestinian liberation and cultural resistance
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Collection in Focus | Zidane, a 21st century portrait
Zidane, a 21st century portrait is shown on the occasion of the artwork's twentieth anniversary and the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted in North America
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CINÉMA SOIRÉE: An Anti-War Silent Film Screening
A screening of Abel Gance's J'accuse (1919), an anti-war silent film, with live music by Max Feldman
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Cenote Project [Open-Air Sunset Party] x Haus of Joon
Cenote Project presents "Sun Down Moon Rise," a seasonal open-air rooftop party series running from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend
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WC Afterparty w/ Omar ؏, Maddylane, J.Surena
A World Cup afterparty celebration on the rooftop featuring Omar ؏, Maddylane, and J.Surena with global drink specials and skyline views
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Mehrnam Rastegari Live at Barbès
NYC-based Persian musician Mehrnam Rastegari — master Kamancheh player, singer, violinist, and award-winning composer — performs live at Barbès in Brooklyn
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Kurdish Picnic and Seed Sovereignty Film Screening
Join us for a gourmet multi-course Kurdish lunch and film screening on seed sovereignty in Kurdistan
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Happy Birthday
Eight-year-old Toha works as a maid for a wealthy family in Cairo, and is set on hosting a successful birthday party for her best friend: her employer's daughter
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The Stories
When aspiring Egyptian pianist Ahmed finds a pen pal in Austrian Liz, their blossoming relationship encourages him to focus on his ambition of performing a concert during a tumultu…
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Greater New York 2026 ft Dean Majd + Farah Al Qasimi
Our signature survey of artists living and working in the New York City area returns for its sixth edition this spring, coinciding with MoMA PS1’s 50th anniversary
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Bouchra
Feature debut from visual artists Meriem Bennani and Orian Barki follows Bouchra, a queer Moroccan jackal living in NYC wrestling with writer's block while having difficult phone c…
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Samir LanGus Gnawa Jazz Quartet
Experience an evening where the hypnotic rhythms of Gnawa music meet the freedom and spontaneity of jazz
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Gabe Lavin & Insia Malik at Sisters Brooklyn
Brooklyn Maqam presents oudist and composer Gabe Lavin and violinist Insia Malik in an evening of Arabic music
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Hijra
A journey to Mecca for a grandmother and her two granddaughters is interrupted when the eldest sister disappears, sending the remaining duo on a search across the Kingdom in this i…
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American Doctor – Film Screening at IFC Center
A vérité non-fiction film following three prominent American physicians—Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian—friends who couldn't be more different but are bound by their shared oa…
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Academy Award nominee Kaouther Ben Hania's powerful documentary combines archival audio with dramatic recreations to tell the story of 5-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, who c…
Frequently asked
- How often is this list updated?
- The events listed here are drawn from Menna's live event database and refresh every time the site rebuilds — typically daily. Each roundup page displays a 'last updated' date at the top so you can see exactly how current it is.
- Are these events free?
- Both free and ticketed events are listed. Each entry shows the price alongside the venue, neighborhood, and a one-line description so you can quickly filter for what fits.
- How do I submit a SWANA event for Menna to list?
- Visit the Submit Event page at itsmenna.com/submit/. If your event has a Luma or Eventbrite URL, Menna's team can often auto-fill the details.