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Mawazine 2026 concludes record-breaking edition, solidifying international ambition
via Le Matin2 min read
The 2026 Mawazine festival concluded a record-breaking edition, showcasing a diverse artistic lineup that included international headliners, Arab music icons, major African artists, and numerous Moroccan performers. The festival attracted an intergenerational audience from across Morocco and abroad. This year marked the expansion of performance venues, with the Royal Theater of Rabat and the Prince Moulay Abdellah Grand Stadium hosting concerts for the first time. The Grand Stadium featured performances by Douzi, Cheb Khaled, Morad, and ElGrande Toto on June 26 and 27. The Royal Theater hosted American jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Mohammed V National Theater presented Moroccan, Arab, and international repertoires, featuring Mayada El Hennawy and Dionne Warwick. The Salé stage highlighted Moroccan musical heritage, showcasing established artists and new talents across various genres, including popular, contemporary, and Amazigh music. Nearly half of the programming was dedicated to Moroccan artists. The Bouregreg stage offered a panorama of African music, while Nahda hosted prominent Arab singers like Hassan Chakkouch, Saad El Soghayar, and Tamer Hosny. Intimate concerts celebrating global musical traditions were held at Chellah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The OLM Souissi stage remained a key venue for urban and contemporary music, hosting international stars. This 21st edition marks a new phase for Mawazine, diversifying its stages, enhancing international appeal, an
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Morocco has initiated the construction of the "International Cinematic Production City of Ouarzazate," a project valued at 240 million dirhams. The launch ceremony was led by Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. This initiative aims to enhance Ouarzazate's appeal as the "Hollywood of Africa" and solidify Morocco's standing as a regional and international hub for audiovisual production. The Minister highlighted that the project is the culmination of years of planning to complete Ouarzazate's cinematic ecosystem, particularly by establishing a post-production center, which has been a missing link in the industry's value chain. This new infrastructure will enable international productions to complete all operations on-site, extending their stay and generating economic benefits for local hospitality, catering, transport, and service sectors. The national film sector has seen significant growth, with foreign investments reaching nearly 1.24 billion dirhams in 2024, underscoring Morocco's increasing attractiveness to major international studios. The integrated city will feature eight complementary hubs, including state-of-the-art filming studios, a post-production center with digital labs and editing suites, broadcasting and training facilities, and a three-to-five-star hotel complex for production teams. Film producer Khadija Alami noted that the project addresses long-standing constraints, such as studio capacity, and will boost Morocco's comp
The 27th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira featured a tribute evening for Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou on Friday, June 26, nearly a year after his passing. The Moulay Hassan stage hosted the event, celebrating the guembri master who had attended every festival since its inception. The tribute included a film about his career, testimonials from his family and disciples, and a concert led by his son, Hamza Baqbou. The audience remained engaged until the final notes of the performance.
The 27th Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira held an emotional tribute to Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou, who passed away on September 8, 2025. The event, organized on the Moulay Hassan stage, honored a figure integral to the festival's history, having participated in its first 26 editions. The tribute began shortly after 12:30 AM with a film detailing Baqbou's life. Born in Marrakech in 1953, he was introduced to Gnaoua zaouïas by his father, Maâlem El Ayachi Baqbou, and became a prominent guembri figure and a pioneer in integrating Gnaoua tradition with other musical styles. Neila Tazi, the festival's founder and producer, highlighted Baqbou's significant role in the festival and in promoting Gnaoua culture beyond Morocco. His brother, Ahmed Baqbou, discussed his early immersion in the art. Mohamed Derham spoke about Baqbou's time with Jil Jilala in the 1970s. Mehdi Nassouli, one of his disciples, shared insights into learning from him. Following the testimonials, music filled the stage. Hamza Baqbou, his son, performed, carrying on his father's legacy. He was joined by other maâlems, including Maâlem Abdesslam Alikane, Maâlem Abdelkbir Merchane, and Maâlem Mohamed Kouyou, all respected figures in the Gnaoua scene. Maâlem Najib Oubelquas, a student of Baqbou, also participated. Together, they performed several of the Marrakech artist's well-known pieces to an enthusiastic audience. Despite the late hour, the audience remained until around 2 AM, participating in a collectiv