News & Events
The National Storytelling Festival 2026 | Layali Ramadaniye
Each Ramadan, stories travel across Palestine. Layali Ramadaniye, Seraj Libraries’ annual national storytelling festival, now in its ninth year, brings storytellers, musicians, poets, teachers, and families together in libraries, schools, streets, theaters, and public spaces, turning the country itself into a living storytelling circle.
n a time when daily life is heavy and difficult, the festival creates beautiful spaces for connection, for shared memory, and for joy and sorrow to sit side by side. Through storytelling, we remember who we are, where we come from, and the future we continue to hope for together.
At the heart of this year’s festival is a return to folktales. What are folktales if not living companions, passed from one generation to the next, carrying people’s fears, dreams, humor, grief, hope, and values? Stories that stand beside the oppressed, strengthen the steadfast, and keep alive the cultural memory of this land.
Across Palestine, Layali Ramadaniye includes:
storytelling performances led by trained teachers in approximately 80 locations
performances by graduates of the Seraj Storytelling Academy
a 30 episode national radio storytelling program
three live storytelling and music performances funded by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)
poetry readings and community storytelling gatherings
From Khan Younis to Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarem, Jenin, the Jordan Valley, and Beit Hanoun, communities gather through story, music, food, and shared presence. Our stories continue to travel, carrying love, resilience, and imagination forward.
From Khan Younis to Jerusalem, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarem, Jenin, the Jordan Valley, and Beit Hanoun, communities gather through story, music, food, and shared presence. Our stories continue to travel, carrying love, resilience, and imagination forward.
The full program and schedule
The full program and schedule
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We blend guided moments, open exploration, and space to reflect—so the experience feels both focused and fluid.
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Connection is a core part of the process. You’ll learn just as much from the group as from the content itself.
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Led by experienced guides who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose.
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Our events prioritize comfort, safety, and respect—so you can show up as you are and fully engage in the process.
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We often include optional check-ins, next steps, or community resources to help you keep the momentum going.
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We often include optional check-ins, next steps, or community resources to help you keep the momentum going.
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We often include optional check-ins, next steps, or community resources to help you keep the momentum going.