Naguib Mahfouz Museum to Offer Free Entry on April 16th

In celebration of Egypt’s only Nobel Laureate in Literature, the Ministry of Culture has announced free public entry to the Naguib Mahfouz Museum on April 16th. The initiative, titled ‘Mahfouz in Our Hearts: Pride for Egyptian Identity’, aims to honour the iconic writer’s cultural legacy and reaffirm his impact on Egyptian identity, literature, and intellectual life.

The initiative is part of a broader cultural programme by the ministry spotlighting the work of prominent Egyptian artists and intellectuals. Previous iterations have paid tribute to figures such as filmmaker Shadi Abdel Salam and poet Salah Jahin through dedicated events and exhibitions exploring their contributions to Egyptian culture.

Located in Cairo’s historic Al-Gamaleya district near Al-Azhar Mosque, the Naguib Mahfouz Museum is housed in an 18th-century Ottoman-era building restored and opened to the public in 2019. The museum contains a rich collection of personal belongings, handwritten manuscripts, and awards Mahfouz received over the course of his life—including the State Prize for Literature, the Grand Necklace of the Nile, and his Nobel Prize in Literature awarded in 1988.

Exhibition spaces also recreate scenes from Cairo’s working-class neighbourhoods, which featured prominently in Mahfouz’s literary universe. Visitors can explore recorded interviews and a research library that includes critical studies and archival material related to his work. The museum’s layout includes a discussion room and multiple reading spaces, making it a hub for reflection and scholarship.