The President of the National Egyptian Theater Festival, Mohamed Riyad, has explained the reasons why the opening ceremony of the festival's 17th edition was postponed. He confirmed that the festival had not been postponed, and that activities had started with six workshops on acting, directing, scenography, and playwriting. Only the opening ceremony had been delayed to ensure it was presented in the best possible way. Riyad thanked the Minister of Culture, Dr. Ahmed Hano, for responding promptly to his request to postpone the ceremony by 15 days. He emphasized that neither the recent cabinet reshuffle nor the Al-Alamein festival, which will take place at the same time as the opening ceremony, were responsible for the delay. The opening ceremony will be broadcast worldwide via Al-Hayat TV channel, and it will feature Egypt's best actors and artists. The festival is dedicated to the late actress Samiha Ayoub, and it will take place from July 15 to July 30 at the Egyptian Opera House. The closing ceremony will feature an awards ceremony.