Qaitbay Citadel starts sound and light shows on 30 October

Qaitbay Citadel (Qaitbay Fort) in Alexandria began a new sound and light programme on 30 October 2026, linking the Mamluk fortress to an evening presentation for visitors. The programme covers the winter 2026/2027 season and places the attraction itself at the centre of a current cultural event in Egypt.

Sound and light shows begin at Qaitbay Citadel

The Chamber of Tourism Companies and Travel Agencies announced that the Alexandria presentations would start on 30 October 2026 as part of the winter operating programme for several Egyptian archaeological sites. The chamber's notice names Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria and sets the presentation for 6.30pm, with the language selected from Arabic or English according to the audience.

The notice also says that the Alexandria presentation has no minimum number of visitors. It describes the arrangement as part of the seasonal operating schedule, rather than as a one-off performance. The winter programme notice gives the start date, venue and evening time together on the same page.

A separate report published on 26 October also names the chamber's notification, the 30 October start and Qaitbay Citadel as the Alexandria venue. It confirms the Arabic-or-English format and the absence of a minimum audience requirement, providing an independent account of the scheduled change for visitors.

How the evening programme relates to the fortress

The event uses a building whose present form dates from the late fifteenth century. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities says the Mamluk sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay built the fort between 1477 and 1479 over the ruins of Alexandria's Lighthouse.

The ministry describes a limestone complex with an outer defensive wall, an inner wall around the courtyard and a main square tower with three floors. Four half-circular corner towers carry projecting balconies, while rooms inside the inner enclosure were used for functions including barracks and storage. The official monument record for Qaitbay Fort states that the site covers approximately 17,550 square metres.

That history gives the new evening programme a specific setting: the presentation is scheduled at a former coastal defence, built on the site associated with the ancient lighthouse. The fort's walls, courtyard and towers therefore provide the physical context for a programme that extends the visitor experience beyond a daytime archaeological visit.

Visiting Qaitbay Citadel: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The sound and light programme began at Qaitbay Citadel in Alexandria on 30 October 2026 and belongs to the winter 2026/2027 schedule.
• The evening presentation is planned in Arabic or English and has no minimum visitor requirement according to the chamber notice.
• The fort stands at the eastern harbour of Alexandria on the site associated with the former Lighthouse of Alexandria.
• The limestone structure includes defensive walls, a courtyard, a three-floor main tower and half-circular corner towers.
• Arabic is the official language of Egypt, and the national currency is the Egyptian pound.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Qaitbay Citadel

When did the sound and light programme begin at Qaitbay Citadel?

The winter 2026/2027 programme began on 30 October 2026, with the Alexandria presentation scheduled for 6.30pm.

Where is Qaitbay Citadel and how do you get there?

The fortress is in Alexandria at the eastern harbour, on the site associated with the former Lighthouse of Alexandria.

What is Qaitbay Citadel?

It is a limestone Mamluk fortress built by Sultan al-Ashraf Abu al-Nasr Qaitbay between 1477 and 1479. The complex includes defensive walls, a courtyard and a three-floor main tower.