The Festival of Fez of World Sacred Music has chosen Germany as guest of honour for its 2026 edition. The choice marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Germany, which began in 1956 after Morocco’s independence.
The festival’s 29th edition will focus on Germany’s cultural heritage, including composers like Bach and Beethoven, and thinkers such as Kant and Goethe. It will also highlight cultural exchange with Fez’s own spiritual traditions.
A main event will take place on Friday, 5 June 2026 at 9:00 PM at Bab Makina in Fez. It will be called Voices of Women from East and West and will bring together artists from different countries.
German singer Kat Frankie, based in Berlin, will perform B O D I E S, a piece for eight female voices mixing pop and classical styles. She will perform with Morocco’s Ahwach Isaffen, a traditional group from the High Atlas mountains.
Other performers include Lebanon’s Ghada Shbeir, singing Syriac and Aramaic chants, Morocco’s Nabyla Maan performing Judeo Arabic Andalusian songs, and India’s Kaushiki Chakrabarty, making her first appearance at the festival with Hindustani classical music.
Organisers say the event reflects strong cultural ties between Morocco and Germany. It is organised by the Esprit de Fès Foundation, the German Embassy in Rabat, and the Goethe-Institut Marokko.
Abderrafie Zouiten, head of the Esprit de Fès Foundation, said: “Culture being one of the best symbols, we have chosen to celebrate this anniversary through a common event. It will be on Friday, June 5 in Fez, at Bab Makina, during a unique artistic fusion between the ensemble ‘Bodies’ composed of eight exceptional women’s voices and the group Ahwach.”
German Ambassador Robert Dölger said: “Our bilateral relations are based on a solid foundation of mutual trust. This 70th anniversary is a good opportunity to highlight what both countries have achieved over the decades. The evening of June 5 will clearly show this friendship.”
