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Marrakech to host 55th National Popular Arts Festival celebrating Moroccan traditions
via Le Matin2 min read
Marrakech is preparing to host the 55th National Popular Arts Festival from July 2 to 6, 2026. This edition, themed "Popular Arts, Treasures of Yesterday and Today," will celebrate the rich living traditions of Morocco. The festival aims to highlight the ability of traditional artistic expressions to transcend generations while reinventing themselves. Invited troupes from across Morocco, from the North to the Sahara, will present a panorama of the Kingdom's intangible heritage through dances, songs, and costumes. Examples include the Ahidous of the Atlas, Gnaoua rituals, and Taskiwin performances from Souss. The festival emphasizes a philosophy of living heritage, where each generation actively participates in its transmission. The El Badi Palace, a 16th-century monument, will host major performances, transforming into an open-air theater where heritage and contemporary creation interact. Jemaâ El-Fna square, a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site, will continue to feature storytellers, musicians, and acrobats. This 55th edition will also pay tribute to singer Zina Daoudia during the "Night of Stars." Organizers view the festival as an act of remembrance and recognition for the guardians of intangible heritage. Mohamed Knidiri, president of the Festival, states that "popular arts are not a frozen heritage, but a promise kept to each generation." The festival reaffirms Marrakech's central role in preserving and celebrating Moroccan intangible heritage.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
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