Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh announced on 1 November 2026 that Hamoud has been named the Jordanian City of Culture for 2027. This designation aims to recognize the town’s cultural significance within the Karak Governorate. During the announcement, Minister Al-Rawashdeh addressed the resilience of the local community. He stated, "The wound suffered by the town was a wound in the heart of Jordan as a whole, stressing that the values of belonging, citizenship and fraternity that unite Jordanians are stronger than attempts to spread hatred and division." The selection of Hamoud follows the ministry's mandate to highlight regional heritage and support local development through cultural programming. The town will host a series of events throughout the 2027 calendar year as part of this national initiative.
Festival Launch and Announcement
Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh delivered the announcement concerning the status of Hamoud during the launch of the 20th edition of the Jordanian Family Library Project – Reading for All Festival. This event serves as a platform for the Ministry of Culture to promote national literacy and access to literature. The Jordanian Family Library Project – Reading for All Festival remains scheduled to run from 1 November to 5 November 2026. The launch event in Amman brought together regional officials and cultural representatives to witness the declaration of Hamoud as the chosen site for the upcoming year of cultural focus.
Plans for the 2027 calendar year include several infrastructure and literary developments managed by the Ministry of Culture to honor the designation of Hamoud. Officials intend to open a new library facility within the town to support local reading initiatives. Project organizers also aim to establish a Culture Street designed to serve as a central hub for arts and community gatherings. This street is expected to provide space for ongoing exhibits and public performances throughout the duration of the 2027 calendar year.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the ministry intends to launch the Hamoud Prize for Arabic Fiction to encourage literary contributions from writers. This initiative seeks to foster a deeper engagement with the written word among the local population. A memorial will also be erected in Hamoud to commemorate the town. These projects form the primary components of the government's cultural programming for the area throughout 2027. The Ministry of Culture has confirmed that these developments are part of a broader effort to integrate the town into the national cultural landscape. By focusing resources on these specific projects, the Ministry of Culture aims to ensure that the designation of Hamoud as the Jordanian City of Culture leaves a lasting impact on the community. The planned library, the new Culture Street, the Hamoud Prize for Arabic Fiction, and the memorial will serve as the pillars of this cultural strategy. The Ministry of Culture remains committed to overseeing the execution of these plans to ensure that the 2027 programming meets the objectives set forth by Minister of Culture Mustafa Al-Rawashdeh during the festival launch.
