Syrian singer Assala Nasri has returned to her homeland after an absence of about 15 years. She arrived in Damascus with her family before performing before a large audience at Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall on September 17, marking her first artistic appearance on a Syrian stage in many years.
Assala takes the stage in Damascus after 15 years
Assala Nasri’s return to Damascus attracted widespread attention. The singer arrived at Damascus International Airport with members of her family on September 15 before beginning preparations for her much-anticipated concert in the Syrian capital.
On September 17, thousands gathered at Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall for her concert, titled “Return of Authenticity.” The Syrian singer performed before her audience in Damascus again after an absence of about 15 years.
She left Syria after the events of 2011
Assala Nasri was born in Damascus and left Syria in the years following the outbreak of protests in 2011 after declaring her opposition to the government of Bashar al-Assad at the time and expressing her support for the protests.
During that period, Assala continued her artistic career outside Syria and lived for extended periods in several Arab countries, becoming one of the most prominent voices in the Arab music scene.
Her last concert in Syria was in 2010
Assala’s last artistic appearance on a stage in Syria took place in February 2010, when she participated in a charity concert held at the Damascus Opera House.
Her new Damascus concert therefore marks the singer’s return to the Syrian stage after more than a decade and a half away.
A special program to mark her return
Assala’s concerts in Damascus are part of the “Summer of Syria 2026” events, with the support of the Syrian Ministry of Culture and the Syrian Artists Syndicate.
Following her first concert on September 17, Assala is scheduled to perform a second concert at Al-Fayhaa Sports Hall on September 19.
Before returning to Damascus, Assala released a new song titled “Assala,” in which she reflected on her relationship with her homeland and her longing for Syria. The song received widespread engagement on social media platforms.
