[3][4] It is a non-profit and the first major festival in Lebanon dedicated to classical music.
[5] The Al Bustan Festival of Music and the Performing Arts was founded in 1994 by Myrna Bustani[6][7] to revive the country's cultural scene after seventeen years of civil war.
[11] Most performances are held at the Emile Bustani Auditorium of the Al Bustan Hotel in Beit Mery, with the rest occurring in churches and cultural venues across Lebanon, such as the Sursock Palace and the Jeita Grotto.
Public master classes and workshops are organized with visiting artists to keep up with the festival's cultural vocation.
[17] The festival is also known for spotting rising stars and showcasing them early in their careers.