Essaouira is about to pulse with global rhythms once again. From June 19 to 21, the Gnaoua Festival will turn the historic coastal city into an open-air stage where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern creativity in a whirlwind of sound that knows no borders.
The festival kicks off with a vibrant street parade featuring all the Maâlems—the Gnaoua master musicians—leading a jubilant crowd in a shared ritual that captures the soul of the event. The procession culminates in a powerful opening concert on the iconic Moulay Hassan stage. There, legendary Moroccan artist Hamid El Kasri will join forces with Senegal’s Bakalama ensemble, accompanied by vocalists Abir El Abed and Kya Loum. It’s a bold opening that sets the tone—where spiritual heritage meets West African rhythms and socially conscious voices.
What follows is a lineup driven by raw musical intensity and unexpected encounters. Moroccan artist Houssam Gania will collaborate with acclaimed New York drummer Marcus Gilmore, while Morad ElMarjan teams up with genre-defying Tunisian musician Dhafer Youssef. Elsewhere, Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou will merge their sound with the commanding voice of Malian singer Rokia Koné. A standout moment of the festival will be a special creation led by Maâlem Mohamed Boumezzough, bringing together seven musicians from three countries in a daring blend of guembri, balafon, and brass.
The festival also highlights major figures from the Afro-diasporic scene. Artists like Cimafunk, CKay, and Tiken Jah Fakoly will take the stage, bringing messages that speak across generations. Meanwhile, the new wave of Gnaoua musicians will perform side by side with the genre’s masters—especially on the beach stage, a space dedicated to creative transmission.
Innovation will have its moment, too. Acts like Fehd Benchemsi & The Lallas, DuOud, the Nishtiman Project, The Leila, and Ribab Fusion will offer fresh, genre-crossing performances that push boundaries while honoring deep-rooted sounds.
Across three days, 350 artists—including 40 Maâlems—will take part in 54 concerts held in public spaces and historic venues, offering music day and night in every corner of the city.
But the Gnaoua Festival is more than just a musical celebration. Its 12th Human Rights Forum will explore migration and the movement of cultures. Scholars, filmmakers, artists, and thinkers will gather to discuss stories, identities, and creative expression in a world in flux.
This year also marks the second edition of “Berklee at Gnaoua,” an educational partnership with Berklee College of Music. Young musicians from 23 countries will participate in a rigorous training program guided by seasoned performers—an effort to pass on knowledge across borders and generations.
A new academic initiative, a cultural exchange chair co-developed with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, will host two roundtables focused on shared spiritualities and the evolution of musical languages.
The festival will extend into the city itself, with tree-shaded debates at the Arbre à Palabres, a visual art exhibition at Borj Bab Marrakech, impromptu street concerts, and interactive public workshops.
For three days, Essaouira will become a crossroads of sound and spirit—a place where music reweaves the social fabric and art reconnects what the modern world has scattered.
