The winners of the programming competitions, broadcast exchange competitions, and joint Arab television production awards were announced Wednesday in Hammamet as part of the 26th Arab Radio and TV Festival, currently being held in Tunisia with broad participation from Arab media institutions.
In the 2026 annual radio competition, the first prize in the “Through Arab Eyes” category, dedicated to the theme “Cities Speak,” went to Zaytouna City: Tunis, a Jewel of Knowledge and Civilization, produced by Tunisian Radio. The second prize was awarded to Whispers from Babylon, produced by the Iraqi Media Network.
In the “Arab Media” category, which focused on “Protecting the Arabic Language,” the first prize went to The Pulse of Identity and the Knight of Arabic, Mahmoud Al-Messadi, produced by Tunisian Radio, while the second prize was awarded to The Nation of Letters, produced by the Syrian General Organization for Radio and Television.
In the 2026 television programming competitions, Threads of Memory: The Fabric Market, produced by Tunisian Television, won first prize in the “Across the Arab World: Arab Markets” category. The second prize went to Souq Waqif: A Renewed Memory, produced by the Qatar Media Corporation.
In the documentary category “Old Arab Houses,” the first prize was awarded to Al-Azma Palace, produced by the Syrian General Organization for Radio and Television, while Algerian Houses: Place and People, a Tale of Brick and Stone, produced by the Algerian Public Television Establishment, received the second prize.
In the 2025 radio exchange competitions, Tunisian Radio won first prize in the Radio Programming Exchange Award, which carries a financial prize, while the second, honorary prize went to Qatar Radio.
In the Radio News Exchange Award, the first prize, which carries a financial award, was presented to the Iraqi Republic Radio, while the second, honorary prize went to Voice of Palestine Radio.
In the 2025 television exchange competitions, Iraq Television won first prize in the Television Programming Exchange Award, while Qatar Television received the second prize. In the Comprehensive Television Programming Exchange Award, the first prize went to Saudi Television, with the second prize awarded to Iraq Television.
In the 2025 News Coordination Award, the first prize, which carries a financial award, went to the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, while the second prize, also carrying a financial award, was presented to the Iraqi Media Network.
Under the eighth edition of the Joint Arab Television Production Award, themed “Volunteering,” the Best Documentary Award went to Salute to the Flag, based on an idea, screenplay and preparation by journalist Khadija Soua and produced by Tunisian Television. A special mention was awarded to The Green Dream, by journalist Henda Taboul and produced by Algerian Public Television.
In the ninth edition of the Joint Arab Television Production Award, themed “Theatre: A Force for Change and Influence,” the Best Documentary Award went to Dream, directed by Faisal Cheibani and produced by Algerian Public Television.
Special mentions were awarded to A Stage Under Siege: Al-Hakawati Theatre, produced by Palestine Television, and Shelter, by producer Hadia Hussein and produced by Tunisian Television.
The ceremony also featured tributes to members of the festival’s radio and television judging committees in recognition of their contributions to evaluating the participating works. The honorees included two members of the main radio competition jury from Jordan and Kuwait, as well as a member of the parallel competitions jury from Algeria.
In the television field, the festival honored Hosni Saleh of Egypt and Ahmed Al-Fardan of Bahrain for their work on the Television Drama Jury; Yassin Ibrahim of Sudan and Mohamed Mahmoud Abu Al-Maali of Mauritania for the Television Programming Jury; Sami Bennour of Tunisia for the Documentary and Exchange Programs Jury; and Khaled Sukkar of Palestine and Abdullah Al-Humaidi of Saudi Arabia for the Television News Jury. Abdel Majid Al-Maraiehi and Mokhtar Al-Obeidi of Tunisian Television were also honored.
President of the Arab States Broadcasting Union Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Harthi said radio and television exchanges constitute an integral part of the Union’s work, noting that the growing volume of exchanges is a positive indicator of professional development and greater mutual benefit among Arab broadcasters and television channels.
Al-Harthi reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to continuously expanding these exchanges and ensuring their sustainability. He also praised the efforts of the judging committee members, stressing that awards often generate sensitivities and questions, but that entrusting their selection to specialized committees comprising highly experienced and qualified professionals helps safeguard the credibility, transparency and continuity of the awards.
TunisianMonitorNews ( Douha Essaafi)
