This year, the National Festival of Popular Arts is returning to its original home—Marrakech’s storied El Badi Palace—for its 54th edition. After years of moving through various corners of the city, the event is finally circling back to the monumental space where it was first born, bringing with it a renewed sense of tradition and cultural continuity.
From July 3 to 7, the festival will once again pulse through the red city, thanks to the efforts of the Grand Atlas Association and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in collaboration with local authorities. The historic ruins of El Badi, shaped by centuries of dynastic rule, will form the beating heart of the festival, where music, rhythm, and storytelling will echo off the ancient walls as folk troupes from across the country perform.
But this edition isn’t only about revisiting the past. The festival is also expanding outward, spilling beyond the palace into the city’s everyday life. Three outdoor stages—at Moulay El Hassan Esplanade, El Guerguerate Square in Hay Massira, and the 7th Art Square in Agdal—will bring the festival directly to local neighborhoods. These spaces will become live arenas for cultural exchange, where traditional music and dance meet the vibrant pulse of urban Marrakech.
This year’s goal is unmistakable: to bring culture out into the open, to make it tangible, participatory, and rooted in daily life. It’s an effort to dissolve the line between performer and audience, and instead, let the city itself breathe with the rhythm of Morocco’s living heritage.
The theme of this 54th edition, “Living Intangible Heritage in Motion,” perfectly captures the essence of the event. It reflects a dynamic interplay between memory and change, heritage and reinvention—the driving force behind Morocco’s folk arts.
The closing night, also held at El Badi Palace, will feature a special tribute to singer Saïda Charaf, who is this year’s guest of honor. Her powerful voice will resonate through the historic venue in a concert that celebrates not only her artistic journey and dedication, but also the 40th anniversary of the Grand Atlas Association, which has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Moroccan cultural traditions.
Marrakech won’t just host the festival—it will become its heartbeat.
