Before SITFY 2026: Where to Stay, Eat and Go Out in Sharm
Sharm gets its theatre crowd ready for November
Sharm El Sheikh is heading into another culture-heavy autumn. The 11th edition of the Sharm El Sheikh International Youth Theater Festival is scheduled for November 1 to 5, 2026, and the event has already released new shortlists across its competitions under festival founder and president Mazen El Gharabawy (@mazenelgharabawy_official on Instagram). Recent local coverage also confirmed that Romania is the guest of honor for this edition, with preparations tied to 120 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Romania. Festival reports named Romanian ambassador Olivia Toderean, Sibiu International Theatre Festival president Constantin Chiriac, and festival managing director Dr. Engy El-Bestawy among the figures involved in the build-up.
For Egypt-based readers planning a few days in Sharm before opening night, that matters because SITFY is not just a stage event. It is also a city event: the kind that turns hotel lobbies, promenades and late-night cafés into unofficial meeting points for actors, directors, critics and audiences.
What the new SITFY 2026 shortlists tell us
The newly announced shortlist for the main productions competition includes 57 shows from 15 countries. Egyptian titles on the list include Metwally wa Shafik, Temporary Suicide, What If?, The Crime and Punishment, The Elephant Man, Shakespeare’s Women and Bags. Arab entries named in recent reports include works from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and Algeria.
Internationally, Romania stands out not only as guest of honor but also on the shortlist itself, with productions including Barbarian Nights (After 1001 Nights), Electra, PUZZLE, Beyond Forgetting and Tipografic Majuscul. Separate coverage on the monodrama shortlist also named the Romanian production Do Fish Sleep?. Earlier reporting on the Romania program said the guest-of-honor package would include a Romanian gala performance, a competing main-show entry, workshops and a masterclass led by Constantin Chiriac, with a post-festival Cairo presentation of Electra also discussed.
That international spread is exactly why it makes sense to base yourself in a part of Sharm where getting around is easy after sunset.
Where to stay before the festival
1) SOHO Square and White Knight Beach: best for convenience
If you want a polished, easy, low-friction stay, the SOHO Square zone is one of the smartest choices. Official destination material describes SOHO Square as an entertainment and lifestyle hub in the heart of the Savoy resort area on White Knight Beach, with restaurants, cafés, bars and activities all in one cluster. The Savoy Sharm El Sheikh (@savoysharmelsheikhhotel on Instagram) sits directly by the square, while Sierra is another practical nearby option.
For festivalgoers, this area works because you can finish dinner, walk for coffee, and still have somewhere lively for a late conversation without needing a long transfer across town. Pricing naturally fluctuates, but live hotel search snapshots for early November 2026 showed the Savoy in the low-to-mid €220s to €270s per night around November 1 to 5, which gives readers a realistic current benchmark rather than a vague “luxury” label.
2) Naama Bay: best for classic Sharm energy
Naama Bay remains the easiest all-rounder for visitors who want promenade life, beach access and a wide range of hotels. Official Sharm tourism material still positions Naama Bay as the city’s classic nightlife and walking district. If you expect to split your time between festival events and casual evenings out, this is the area with the least explanation needed: everyone knows where to meet, and taxis are straightforward.
Booking pages for the district currently show everything from large all-inclusive properties to more central resort stays, making Naama Bay a good middle ground for readers who want flexibility rather than a destination resort bubble.
3) Sharks Bay and Nabq: best for upscale resort stays
If the trip is partly a break and partly a festival visit, Sharks Bay and Nabq Bay are the resort-led alternatives. Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh in Sharks Bay is the premium end of the spectrum, with a one-kilometre private beachfront and multiple dining venues including Reef Grill. In Nabq, Rixos Sharm El Sheikh Adults Only 18+ markets itself as an ultra-all-inclusive resort with 10 restaurants and 9 bars. These are strong picks if your plan is to dip in and out of the festival while treating the rest of the stay like a November Red Sea escape.
Where to eat in Sharm before the curtain goes up
SOHO Square for reliable variety
For a group with mixed tastes, SOHO Square is the easiest answer. Official listings there currently feature restaurants including Luxor for Egyptian food, Bombay for Indian, Zen for Chinese, Mai Thai, Koutouki, L’Entrecôte, Sushi Lounge, Teppanyaki and Café Chino. That matters on festival trips because everyone keeps different hours: some people want a proper dinner, others just want coffee and a quiet table after an evening show.
For a splurge, book a resort dinner
If you want one strong meal before the festival opens, Reef Grill at Four Seasons is a serious candidate. The resort describes it as a seafront venue focused on charcoal-grilled meats and local seafood, with dinner service and Red Sea views. It is ideal for a quieter, more polished night than the busier city promenades.
For all-inclusive guests, use the restaurants you already paid for
If you stay in Nabq at Rixos, lean into the package rather than paying twice elsewhere. The property publicly lists venues such as Gusto for Italian and Lalezar for Ottoman-inspired cuisine, alongside a broader multi-restaurant setup. For couples or friends turning SITFY into a long weekend, that can be the most economical high-comfort option.
Where to spend your evenings in Sharm
SOHO Square for polished nights out
SOHO Square (@sohosquare on Instagram) is the most practical pre-festival evening address if you want a clean, organized and walkable night. The official site highlights not just dining but also live entertainment, cafés, bars, bowling and even ice skating. For families, couples and mixed-age groups, it is the safest recommendation because it gives you several options in one stop.
Old Market for a more local-feeling night
Official tourism guides still position the Old Market as the place for local flavours, shopping and a livelier evening atmosphere. If you are coming from Cairo or Alexandria and want at least one night that feels more street-facing and less resort-contained, this is the obvious counterpoint to SOHO.
Farsha for the view-first evening
If your Sharm evenings need one unmistakable visual moment, it is still Farsha Mountain Lounge (@farsha_mountain_lounge on Instagram). Its reputation is built around the cliffside setting and layered décor rather than a formal dining menu, so think of it more as a sunset-and-late-drinks stop than your main dinner plan.
How to plan your SITFY stay smartly
- Arrive at least a day early: November 1 comes quickly in a city where people often want a beach day before culture mode starts.
- Choose your district by evening habits: SOHO for convenience, Naama for classic bustle, Nabq or Sharks Bay for resort comfort.
- Book one standout dinner in advance: Especially if you want a resort restaurant rather than casual promenade dining.
- Keep one flexible evening free: Festival schedules, networking dinners and late invitations tend to reshape plans.
The key point for Egypt readers is simple: SITFY 2026 already has the makings of a bigger-than-usual edition, thanks to its newly released shortlists, broad international slate and the expanded Romanian guest-of-honor program. If you are heading to Sharm for the festival, build your trip around places that make evenings easy. In early November, that usually means staying somewhere you can step out, eat well and keep the night going without overplanning every move.