29 January 2026. An upsurge in foreign tourists and expatriates visiting their homeland occurred between the December 2024 victory and December 2025. Officials cited improved security, revived cultural events, and growing regional and international interest in Syria.Read more at: LEVANT24
Largely unnoticed in the West until recently, Syria played an important role in shaping European architecture through a remarkable 12thcentury cultural exchange between Islamic builders and Knights Templar. The Islamic impulse contributed significantly to the Gothic architecture of Western Europe, starting in the 12th century. It later made its influence felt in India through the distinctive Mughal style of architecture displayed in the Taj Mahal (1648) and also influenced figures like Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
26 January 2026. The Ministry of Culture inaugurated the Damascus Heritage House as a multipurpose cultural space to strengthen collective national identity by establishing a cultural hub showcasing Syrian heritage and reconnecting it with everyday social life.Read more at: SANA
12 January 2026. “Spring Sonata” celebrates the peoples’ spirit of resilience during the revolution. The actor, Mazen al-Natour, described the play as a reflection of Syrians’ collective suffering, remarking “It comes from an internal cry shared by all Syrians.”Read more at: SANA
28 December 2025. The “Jasmine Meets Olive” event featured the riches of cultural diversity, highlighting present collaborations between Arab and Kurdish youth and a shared commitment to free cultural expression and national unity.Read more at: SANA
25 December 2025. As Syria celebrates its liberation, an exhibition opened with 45 artworks by 34 artists, many depicting life during the years of civil war. An official called artists integral to society as their work visually documents the life, emotions, and experience of the people in pivotal times.Read more at: SANA
18 December 2025. Damascus artisans are preserving an entirely handmade process for creating hand-printed fabrics embroidered with silk, which can be worn or used as table linen. The craft’s artistic and cultural value has created a growing demand in European and American markets.Read more at: SANA
12 December 2025. Tamer Turkmane was honored for a personal initiative that became the largest archive in the nation capturing the events, sacrifices and struggles of the Syrian revolution. Despite security threats, he tirelessly collected several million video clips, articles, media reports, books, journals and pamphlets.Read more at: SANA
12 December 2025. UNESCO added elements to Syria’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage,” spotlighting craftsmanship, music, communal practices and traditions that have shaped the region for thousands of years and still serve to anchor the country’s identity.Read more at: SANA
2 December 2025. The library has launched a digital platform to make its resources accessible to researchers both in Syria and across the globe. The thousands of books and artifacts housed by the library offer valuable insights into human civilization while reinforcing Syria’s unique cultural identity.Read more at: SANA
20 November 2025. The 2026 expo seeks to reestablish and build on Syria’s centuries old legacy in textile manufacturing and trade by fostering innovation and expanding markets, creating opportunities for Syrian professionals to contribute to the nation’s renewal and global presence.Read more at: SANA
9 November 2025. Pedro Nadaf, an 18-year-old artist, reshapes fragments of destruction he gathered into living art, turning scars of war into symbols of transformation and renewal. His 37 sculptures reflect Syria’s spirit of endurance, resilience, and capacity to turn despair into fuel for creativity.Read more at: LEVANT24
9 November 2025. The Arab Writers Union established a new unit to document the literature of Syria’s revolution, preserving the poetry, novels, short stories and theatre born of the struggle. In 2026, the union plans to train 5,000 young Syrians to write about war, victory, heroism, and the daily lives of Syrians during the revolution.Read more at: LEVANT24
9 November 2025. Sponsored by the White Heart Foundation for Development and local organizations, the market attracted 230 artisans and entrepreneurs who shared their crafts, foods, and innovative projects. The event supported local businesses, revived traditions, and showcased cultural diversity.Read more at: SANA
31 October 2025. “Melodies from the North” echoed through the Damascus Opera House weaving the deep heritage of Arabic, Kurdish, and Syriac folk music of the Jazira region into a sonorous tapestry of unity in diversity.Read more at: SANA
20 October 2025. Syria’s Arabic Encyclopedia, a leading scientific, cultural and educational organization, is digitizing its archives to share Syria’s intellectual legacy with global researchers and future generations. It is also documenting the Syrian Revolution and launching an initiative for youth, “Little Encyclopedia.”Read more at: LEVANT24
14 October 2025. Japanese experts in urban planning visited Damascus to discuss an initiative for rebuilding two cities of major historical significance that were badly damaged in Syria’s civil war. The goal is to preserve their architectural heritage while improving urban life.Read more at: LEVANT24
30 September 2025. Expressing deep gratitude to the Syrian-American community for their warm welcome in New York, President al-Sharaa praised their “deep-rooted belonging to their homeland and firm belief in the duty to revive it.” He lauded their loyalty, values, and pride, stating, “You have proven that wherever Syrians reside, they remain loyal to their roots.” He said that Syria would never forget their “noble stance,” reflecting their authentic character and patriotism.Read more at: SANA
In these turbulent times, as the world appears to slip further into chaos, people are turning to end-times prophecies for guidance or for comfort. Such prophecies exist in several major world religions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the three Abrahamic religions—and some lesser-known ones such as Zoroastrianism. All of these ancient revelations predict the appearance of a messianic figure who will raise humanity from the depths of darkness and inaugurate a new era of light.
The Home that Was Our Country is a deeply insightful and engaging memoir that interweaves the textures of Syrian history, during the time of the author’s great-grandfather, with her personal experience of Syria in the years following the Arab Spring. Born in the US, she decided to move to Damascus in 2011 when hopes of freedom filled the air, to reclaim the apartment of her grandmother that was lost to the family during the first Assad regime.
21 August 2025. Syria’s Ministry of Culture and the Islamic World Culture Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are preparing to launch Damascus as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2027. The collaboration stresses the importance of safeguarding Syria’s cultural heritage as part of global human history. Plans focus on restoring archaeological sites, training experts, and boosting global cooperation.Read more at: SANA
20 August 2025. The “Gate of the Sun,” a two-day cultural festival in Damascus held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, spotlighted art, poetry, and storytelling from Idlib during revolution. It featured 70 paintings by 18 artists created under siege and bombardment, presenting a visual record of the struggle for freedom and honoring martyrs and voices of resistance. Award-winning literature emphasized the power of the pen.Read more at: LEVANT24
In Syria, where the culture has traditionally revolved around sharing food, gracious hosting and generosity have always been highly valued. Meals are seen as occasions for familial and communal closeness. The content of the cuisine was historically influenced by Syria’s unique geography. Lying at the crossroads of trade in the ancient world, interactions with neighbouring countries—along with those as distant as China and Rome—continuously fed into what became the national cuisine.
9 July 2025. The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) launched a $5 million, two-year program to safeguard Syria’s cultural heritage. The initiative will restore archaeological sites, historical neighbourhoods, religious structures, museums, and monuments, and will train heritage experts. In partnership with Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), ALIPH plans to rehabilitate Palmyra, whose destruction was a key factor in founding ALIPH.Read more at: ENAB BALADI
To understand any nation, especially one whose origins date back many thousands of years, we need to know something about the forces that shaped it. A positive outcome of the long history of trade, turmoil, and constant population shifts is that ancient Aram/Syria became a true melting pot, laying the foundations for a pluralistic civilization. Syria is one of the most multicultural nations in the Middle East, if not the world.
