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Syrian artist Assala Nasri has returned to Damascus after more than 15 years of absence. On Thursday evening, she performed a concert at the Al-Fayhaa Hall in the Syrian capital, marking her first appearance on her homeland’s stage since 2010. The concert was distinguished by a large audience attendance and was broadcast live on Syrian television. Assala opened the show with the song "Syria is a Paradise" and performed a selection of her most famous works, along with songs from her new album, which features a traditional song dedicated to each of Syria’s fourteen provinces. Assala expressed how deeply moved she was by her return, emphasizing that she couldn’t believe she was standing once again among Syrians after many years of absence. She hoped her return would coincide with Syria’s healing process, believing that art and music are fundamental to this recovery. Additionally, Assala was honored with a plaque from the Syrian Minister of Culture. She affirmed that her return symbolizes the return of every honest and free Syrian to their homeland, especially after she previously refused the Assad regime, particularly following its fall in December 2024. In tandem with her comeback, Assala also retrieved her father’s lost guitar—belonging to the late artist Mustafa Nasri—which had been kept safe for over 13 years. She received it in Damascus after a process that took years; it was handed to her by an Eastern merchant who kept the guitar as a trust and attached a message confirming its identity. During the performance, Assala appeared seated on a chair specially designed for her, inspired by Old Damascus heritage. The chair was hand-crafted to reflect the city’s cultural identity and took 12 weeks to complete. Her return to Syria is a significant milestone in her artistic career, as she had not performed on her home country's stages since 2010. Her concert in September 2026 was warmly welcomed by the Damascus audience, and she restored many of her familial and artistic ties to the city of Damascus.
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