AGP Executive Report

Rural Traditions: Lebanon’s olive season is being disrupted by drones and warplanes, putting a beloved harvest and rural livelihoods under pressure. Lebanese Art: A painting Paul Guiragossian refused to leave behind is now on show in Abu Dhabi, bringing renewed attention to the Lebanese artist’s legacy. Food & Class: Beirut’s $13 chicken sandwich has become a symbol of the country’s widening divide over who can afford the city’s new food trends.

Lebanese Art: A self-portrait Paul Guiragossian once carried to shelter during the Civil War is featured in an Abu Dhabi exhibition marking a century of his work. Food & Inequality: Beirut’s $13 chicken sandwich has become a symbol of the city’s widening wealth divide. Rural Life: Lebanon’s olive harvest is being disrupted by drones and warplanes, threatening a longstanding seasonal tradition. Books & Culture: Beirut’s book fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis.

Art and Memory: A self-portrait by Lebanese artist Paul Guiragossian—so precious he carried it with his family to shelters during the civil war—is on view in Abu Dhabi as part of a centenary exhibition. Food and Class: Beirut’s $13 chicken sandwich has become a flashpoint over the city’s widening wealth divide. Rural Life: Olive growers in Lebanon are trying to harvest under drones and warplanes, putting a cherished seasonal tradition under strain. Books and Culture: Beirut’s book fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis.

Southern Lebanon: Olive harvesting has become a permit-dependent task under drones and warplanes, as farmers try to reach groves near the border amid restrictions and widespread destruction. Beirut’s Class Divide: A $13 chicken sandwich has become a symbol of the widening gap between the well-off and people struggling to get by. Culture Under Pressure: Beirut’s Book Fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis, while a new look at contemporary Palestinian theatre traces how performance carries stories of resistance and identity. Faith and Tradition: Fatimid mourning assemblies in Beirut joined commemorations of Lady Fatima al-Zahra held in Qom.

Architecture & Education: Lebanese architect Hashim Sarkis will step down as dean of MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning in June 2027, after 12 years leading the school. Lebanese Sport: Two Lebanese pairs reached the Arab Beach Volleyball Championship semifinals, with Jad Abi Karam and Hadi El Chabib set to face Bahrain A, and Joe El Azzi and Salba Chafic facing Bahrain B. Beirut Lifestyle: A $13 chicken sandwich has become a talking point about the city’s widening divide between the well-off and people struggling to get by. Theater: A feature on contemporary Palestinian theater traces how artists are shaping the form amid pressure and conflict. Books & Community: Beirut’s Book Fair is being presented as a cultural lifeline amid the country’s overlapping crises.

Food & Class: Beirut’s $13 “Chic Taouk” sandwich has become a flashpoint over Lebanon’s widening wealth divide: the restaurant sold 20,000 in 11 days, even as households struggle with basic costs and restaurants close. Books & Culture: Beirut’s Book Fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis, bringing readers together around literature and ideas. School Health: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, putting students’ diets and access to healthy meals in focus.

Southern Lebanon: Israeli forces have flattened 48 of about 60 occupied villages since the ceasefire, including homes, schools and mosques, deepening fears that residents may not be able to return. Music and solidarity: Australian singer Tones And I joined Macklemore on his Free Palestine tour; proceeds from its Dublin, Paris and London dates are going to Palestinian charities, and Macklemore voiced support for Lebanon. Beirut culture: The Beirut Book Fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis, while a $13 chicken sandwich has become a symbol of the country’s divide. Arts: Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad was named best actress for “Owl.” Education and faith: A Lebanon-led project has released five Arabic Bible commentaries, aiming to fill a shortage of detailed theological scholarship for churches and seminaries.

Food & Society: Beirut’s $13 chicken sandwich has become a flashpoint over affordability: the upscale “Chic Taouk” sold 20,000 in 11 days even as critics decried its price, reflecting a widening gap between Lebanese households. Books & Culture: Beirut’s Book Fair is being described as a cultural lifeline amid war and economic crisis, offering readers and publishers a space to keep local cultural life going. Schools & Health: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, a step toward understanding what students eat and how schools can support healthier choices. Music & Identity: A conversation titled “Queering Tarab” explores how Arab musical tradition intersects with queer identity.

Arab Cinema: Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad won Best Actress at the El Gouna Film Festival for Owl, where Palestinian films also took top honors in feature and documentary categories. Beirut Books: The Beirut Book Fair is offering a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis, keeping a space for readers and publishers open when public life is under strain. Music and Identity: In a recent conversation, Clarissa Bitar explored “Queering Tarab,” bringing questions of gender and belonging into dialogue with Arab musical traditions. Cultural Tourism: Lebanon Faith Tours is inviting visitors to discover the country’s beauty despite the pressures of conflict.

Screen & Film: Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad won Best Actress at the El Gouna Film Festival for Owl; Palestinian films also took top Arab feature and documentary honors. Books: Beirut’s Book Fair is being described as a cultural lifeline amid war and crisis, keeping literature and public life in focus. Heritage: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame warned that restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation. Food & Schools: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, a step toward understanding what students eat. Tourism: Lebanon Faith Tours is seeking to showcase the country’s beauty despite the war.

Books in Beirut: The Arab International Book Fair drew about 100,000 visitors, with 160 publishers and 91 discussions, offering a cultural gathering point amid Lebanon’s crisis and renewed war fears. Art and storytelling: Lebanese curator Haya Khoury and photographer Mohamed Badame spoke about creating space for Palestinian images and narratives beyond Western media. School life: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, focusing attention on what students eat and the conditions shaping their choices. Heritage at risk: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame warned that restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation. Music and identity: A conversation titled “Queering Tarab” brings questions of queer identity into dialogue with Arab music and culture.

Cost of Living: Rising energy costs are deepening hardship for people across Lebanon, adding to an already severe cost-of-living squeeze. School Health: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, putting students’ diets and access to healthy food in focus. Heritage and Arts: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame says restoring war-damaged heritage could take a generation; a new Beirut documentary also spotlights the human toll of Israeli attacks. Culture and Community: A conversation on queer expression in tarab and a Beirut rally supporting hijab-wearing students in Azerbaijan highlight cultural identity and solidarity.

School Nutrition: Lebanon has launched its first national assessment of nutrition and food environments in public schools, a step toward understanding what students eat and how schools can support healthier choices. Cost of Living: Rising fuel prices are squeezing families across Lebanon, raising the cost of heating, transport, school trips and food. Displaced father Hassan Abu Hmein is gathering firewood to keep his children warm. Film: “Beirut Fragments” turns to documentary to capture the human cost of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Music and Identity: In a conversation about “Queering Tarab,” Clarissa Bitar explores the meeting point of queer identity and the Arab musical tradition.

School Nutrition: Lebanon’s first national assessment of food in public schools, covering 528 schools and 6,712 students, found low dietary diversity, widespread unhealthy food choices and limited chances for physical activity; 57% of students fell short of global dietary recommendations. Women’s Rights: A new analysis of feminist activism in Lebanon examines how shrinking donor support and political backlash are straining movements and their ability to work together. Lebanese Design: Kate Middleton wore a yellow Elie Saab gown to a state banquet at Windsor Castle, pairing the Lebanese designer’s flowing Spring/Summer 2025 look with royal jewels. Heritage: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame says restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation. Arts and Solidarity: A California gala for SEAL raised nearly $800,000 for Lebanese farmers, with violinist Maria Bassil performing a program of French, English and Arabic music.

Music & Identity: In a new conversation, oud player Clarissa Bitar reflects on queer Arab community and how identity shapes the music they make. Cultural Ties: Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salame met Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Oct. 21, with both sides backing closer cooperation in culture. Heritage at Risk: Salame warned that restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation, underscoring the scale of the work ahead. Life in Beirut: A feature on Shahla’s daily struggle to make ends meet captures the pressure of Lebanon’s cost-of-living crisis.

Regional Music: Dubai’s Sole DXB festival named Lebanese-Egyptian indie duo Maii & Zeid among its first 2026 headliners, alongside Lola Young and Fatoumata Diawara. Lebanese Diaspora: A new New York monument celebrates Little Syria’s Arabic-speaking writers, including Kahlil Gibran and the Pen League, bringing the neighborhood’s literary legacy into public view. Arts and Memory: Lebanese photographer Abdul Kader Al-Bay won the top prize at the Stenin photo contest for “Lebanon, 2024–2025: Life Between Airstrikes,” documenting daily life through war. Heritage: Culture Minister Ghassan Salame warned that restoring Lebanon’s war-damaged heritage could take a generation. Life Amid War: A report on the cost-of-living crisis follows displaced families struggling with soaring essentials and limited social support.