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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: Sep 2, 2026

All upcoming events ↗
  1. Painter's Open Studio Wed, Sep 2 · Atelier Dalal, Williamsburg · $40

    An oil painting workshop for intermediate painters (prerequisite: Oil Painting for Beginners)

  2. Book Launch Party: Maha Hashwi in Conversation with Mahogany L. Browne Wed, Sep 2 · Mayday Space, 176 St Nicholas Ave, Brooklyn, NY, Bushwick

    A book launch party for Maha Hashwi's poetry collection 'The Pomegranate is a Grenade.' The event features a conversation between Maha Hashwi and Mahogany L

  3. Mehrnam Rastegari Live at Barbès Wed, Sep 2 · Barbès, Park Slope · $22

    NYC-based Persian musician Mehrnam Rastegari — master Kamancheh player, singer, violinist, and award-winning composer — performs live at Barbès in Brooklyn

  4. Weavers Thu, Sep 3 · Barzakh Cafe, Crown Heights · $11

    Gideon Forbes Quartet showcases original music and arrangements drawing on jazz and Arabic music traditions

  5. AMEJA Presents: Keep the Meter Running with Kareem Rahma Thu, Sep 3 · Tribeca Screening Room, Tribeca · $0

    AMEJA presents a special screening of Kareem Rahma's documentary 'Keep the Meter Running' at the Tribeca Screening Room

  6. The Cemetery of Cinema Thu, Sep 3 · Arverne Cinema, Queens · $10

    A documentary by Thierno Souleymane Diallo about the search for Mamadou Touré's 1953 short film Mouramani, rumored to be the first film made by a Black African director

  7. Savannah Harris presents DUAL: Miriam Elhajli, Savannah Harris, Malik Abdul-Rahmaan Thu, Sep 3 · Public Records, Gowanus

    Jazz drummer Savannah Harris presents DUAL featuring Miriam Elhajli, as part of her Continuum Fellowship residency with the Jazz Generations Initiative

  8. Speed Sisters Fri, Sep 4 · Ridgewood Commons, Queens · $0

    Speed Sisters (2015, dir

  9. Immigrant Jam Fri, Sep 4 · Caveat, Lower East Side · $18.76

    Lucie Pohl's Immigrant Jam Comedy features NYC's funniest immigrant and 1st generation comedians

  10. Atlantics Fri, Sep 4 · BAM Rose Cinemas, Fort Greene · $19

    Mati Diop's award-winning debut feature and Cannes Grand Prix winner is a neocolonialist ghost tale set in Dakar, following Ada as she sacrifices her passion for a construction wor…

  11. Mutts / Man Push Cart Fri, Sep 4 · MoMA, The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1, Midtown · $0

    A double feature screening: Halima Ouardiri's Mutts (2019, 18 min), filmed in a Moroccan dog sanctuary as metaphor for refugee struggles, paired with Ramin Bahrani's Man Push Cart …

  12. Ulysses, New York Fri, Sep 4 · Arverne Cinema Outside, Queens · $10

    A work-in-progress screening of Caveh Zahedi's film documenting a chaotic 2022 production of James Joyce's Ulysses staged with minimal resources

  13. Leila and the Wolves Fri, Sep 4 · Arverne Cinema Inside, Queens · $10

    A newly restored political fable by Heiny Srour (1984, Lebanon, 90 min) that weaves together folklore, oral testimony, archival footage, and fantasy sequences to uncover the collec…

  14. Immigrant Jam Fri, Sep 4 · Caveat, Lower East Side · $18.76

    Lucie Pohl's Immigrant Jam Comedy features NYC's funniest immigrant and 1st generation comedians

  15. Papi Juice (Oscar Nñ and Adam R.) Fri, Sep 4 · The Play Ground, Tribeca · $0

    Brooklyn's favorite nightlife stars Papi Juice make their grand return to Little Island for six signature evening parties with featured guests

  16. 33°30′36″ N, 36°17′28″ E by Muna Alfadl Exhibition Opening Reception Sat, Sep 5 · 27-02 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria · $0

    We are pleased to announce the opening reception of 33°30′36″ N, 36°17′28″ E by Muna Alfadl at Astoria Art Center on Saturday September 5th from 6-9 pm.

  17. CAFE AMAN: GREEK NIGHT Sat, Sep 5 · Barzakh Cafe, Bed-Stuy · $0

    Barzakh Cafe presents CAFE AMAN PROJECT as a new monthly residency celebrating Greek Anatolian music and dance

  18. KAN YAMA KAN w/ Arman Salem + Mohammed Hakima + Marcos de la Fuente + MORE Sat, Sep 5 · Blinky's, Williamsburg · $10

    A literary reading event featuring Arman Salem, Mohammed Hakima, Marcos de la Fuente, Paula Serrano y Alejo de los Reyes, and Miguel Marqués, with an open mic for audience members …

  19. YASMINA Sat, Sep 5 · Althea's Hideaway Lounge, Nightclub & Rooftop, Hell's Kitchen · $23.18

    Labor Day celebration featuring arab-house and afro-house music with surprise guest YASMINA

  20. Delirium: The Arab Jazz Rendition Sat, Sep 5 · Barzakh Cafe, Crown Heights · $11.50

    An intimate live performance by Egyptian/Syrian singer-songwriter Mira Bahgat, bringing her debut EP to life through a fusion of old-school jazz, neo-soul, and Arabic musical herit…

  21. Asal: Kiss the Sun Tour Sat, Sep 5 · Irving Plaza Powered By Verizon 5G, New York, NY, Flatiron · $41 – $110

    Iranian-Canadian singer-songwriter Asal (Asal Karimzadeh) performs at Irving Plaza on her Kiss the Sun Tour, supporting her recently released studio album "Missing Something." The …

  22. BIRTHDAY PARTY Sat, Sep 5 · Barzakh Cafe, Bed-Stuy · $0

    Cafe Kadhem is celebrating their first anniversary with a birthday party featuring various birthday cakes and treats

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.

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