Marrakech Poetry Festival 2026
.jpeg)
Published: October 16, 2026
Quick answer: The 8th Marrakech Festival of Moroccan Poetry runs from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI. It opens Friday at 6pm at the Meydene theatre (M Avenue) with singer Fouad Zbadi, and the evening sessions on Saturday and Sunday at 6pm take place in the Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam), a short walk from the Koutoubia. Poetry in Arabic, Amazigh and Hassani, with Gnawa music, tributes and dance. Book on WhatsApp: +212 614 905 398 to explore the Medina by day and catch the readings at night.
Marrakech has always been a city of storytellers. For centuries, poets and hlaykia (traditional storytellers) gathered crowds in Jemaa el-Fna with nothing but a voice and a good tale, and some of them still do. This weekend, poetry gets a stage of its own: three days of verses in three languages, a Gnawa guembri under the palm trees, and the kind of evening where you don't understand every word but still feel every line. And unlike the snake charmers, nobody will ask you for 20 dirhams after the photo.
Our tours are recommended by travel writer Rick Steves and featured by Daniel Jacobs in The Rough Guide to Morocco, and after more than 20 years in the Medina, we know how to fit the best of Marrakech around a festival weekend.
Choose your tour:
• Medina Walking Tour: history, hidden neighborhoods and the stories behind the walls, before the evening readings
• Marrakech Shopping Tour: the souks with a local insider, real artisans and fair prices
• Rug Shopping Tour: find an authentic Moroccan rug with expert advice and no pressure
• Marrakech Luxury Shopping: private showrooms, master artisans and made-to-measure pieces, with total discretion
• Argan Oil Shopping Tour: real argan oil from our certified lab partner
The Festival at a Glance
• Edition: 8th Marrakech Festival of Moroccan Poetry
• Dates: Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026
• Patronage: under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI
• Organizer: the House of Poetry in Marrakech (Dar al-Shi'r), with the Sharjah Department of Culture
• Venues: Meydene (M Avenue), Cadi Ayyad University Digital Library, the Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam) and Adam Park Marrakech
• Languages: Arabic, Amazigh and Hassani
• Guest countries: Saudi Arabia and Egypt
• Honorees: poet, translator and critic Idriss El Meliani, Amazigh and Arabic writer Khadija Yaken, and Hassani poet Mohamed El Ghaith Kane
• Sessions: 6 sessions over 3 days, with readings, a forum, a book signing, Gnawa music, choreography and awards
What Is the Marrakech Festival of Moroccan Poetry?
It is the yearly festival of the House of Poetry in Marrakech, a cultural house created with the support of the Sharjah Department of Culture, which also runs poetry workshops, awards and events throughout the year. The festival celebrates Moroccan poetry in all its voices:
• Arabic poetry, classical and modern
• Amazigh (Berber) poetry, the oldest oral tradition of the Atlas and the south
• Hassani poetry, from the Moroccan Sahara
• Zajal, poetry in Moroccan Darija, the spoken language of the street and the souk
The 7th edition took place in October 2025. This 8th edition also marks the House of Poetry's ninth cultural season.
Full Program, Day by Day
Friday, October 16: Opening Night at Meydene
6:00pm, Meydene theatre, M Avenue
• Poetry readings by Latifa El Maskini and Said El Tachfini, plus the winner of the 2026 Best Poem prize
• Awards for young poets and critics
• A short film on the House of Poetry's ninth cultural season
• Tributes to the three honorees: Idriss El Meliani, Khadija Yaken and Mohamed El Ghaith Kane
• Music by singer Fouad Zbadi and Lamia Zaidi, with the Aseel ensemble led by Ezzedine Diyani
Saturday, October 17, Morning: Poetry at the University
10:30am, Marrakech Digital University Library, Cadi Ayyad University
• Forum: "The Identity of the Poetic Text in Morocco", moderated by Mustapha Laârissa, with researchers Mohamed Salhi, Khalid Dhiba and Abdel Fattah Chahid
• Presentation and signing of the book "Poetry and Identity" by Dr Abdel Fattah Chahid
11:30am, same venue
• Reading: "The Pulse of the Poem", with Layla Bari, Mohamed Boukrim, Ali Alaoui and Ibrahim Lbihi, hosted by Badr Habboul
Saturday, October 17, Evening: Poetry and Guembri in the Cyber Park
6:00pm, Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam)
• Reading: "Residence in the Poem", with Tahani Al Subaih (Saudi Arabia), Khalid Dhiba, Emad Ghazali (Egypt) and Thuraya El Kour, presented by Hanan Madari
• A special moment: zajal poet Ahmed Lemsyeh reads alongside Gnawa musician Abdeljalil Qodsi on the guembri (hajhouj), the three-string bass lute of Gnawa music
Sunday, October 18, Morning: The Next Generation
10:30am, Pergola room, Adam Park Marrakech
• Reading: "Poets Coming to the Future", with Abdelrahim Asban, Taha Fares, Mariam Atouif and Zouhaira Saadi, presented by Khadija Saadi, with music by Idriss Jara
• A conversation with the three honorees
• Certificates for the ninth group of House of Poetry writing workshops (children, teenagers and young adults)
Sunday, October 18, Evening: Closing Night in the Cyber Park
6:00pm, Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam)
• Reading: "Poetic Visions", with Mohamed Salhi, Fatima Zahra Bennis, Halima El Moujahid and Hassan Amouloud, presented by Anas El Melhouni
• Poetry and choreography by Hania Charrami and Ibrahim Lbloul
• Closing performance by the artistic group Lersad
Programs can change at the last minute, so check with the organizer before each session.
Which Sessions Are Best for Visitors?
• Best atmosphere: Saturday evening in the Cyber Park, with poetry and the Gnawa guembri under the palm trees
• Best show: Friday's opening night at Meydene, with music by Fouad Zbadi and the Aseel ensemble
• Easiest from the Medina: the two evening sessions in the Cyber Park, about 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Jemaa el-Fna
• For readers and writers: Saturday morning at the university, with the forum on Moroccan poetic identity and the book signing
• For families: Sunday morning, when young poets and workshop students take the stage
Where Are the Venues and How to Get There?
• Meydene, M Avenue: in the modern city near Hivernage. About 10 minutes by taxi from Jemaa el-Fna
• Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam): a historic garden on Avenue Mohammed V, between the Koutoubia and Bab Nkob. About 10 to 15 minutes on foot from Jemaa el-Fna. The sessions are outdoors
• Marrakech Digital University Library, Cadi Ayyad University: on the university's Marrakech campus. Best reached by taxi
• Adam Park Marrakech: a hotel in the Agdal area, south of the Medina. Best reached by taxi
Agree on the taxi price before you get in, or ask the driver to use the meter.
Is the Poetry Festival Free?
No ticket prices or booking links have been published for the festival. Cultural events like this are often free or low-cost, but confirm access with the organizer or at the venue, especially for the opening night at Meydene.
Do You Need to Speak Arabic to Enjoy It?
Not really. Most readings are in Arabic, Amazigh, Hassani or Darija, but the music, the voices and the atmosphere speak for themselves. The Gnawa guembri on Saturday night and the dance and closing show on Sunday need no translation. A local guide can also explain the traditions behind Moroccan poetry, from the storytellers of Jemaa el-Fna to Amazigh oral poetry, before you go.
How to Plan Your Festival Weekend in Marrakech
The festival's main sessions are in the evening, which leaves your days free:
• Morning: a Medina walking tour through the souks, fondouks and hidden neighborhoods
• Afternoon: mint tea, a hammam, or a shopping tour for rugs, leather and lanterns
• 6pm: walk to the Cyber Park for the evening poetry session
• Night: dinner near Jemaa el-Fna, where storytelling has lived for centuries
Check the souk opening hours to plan your shopping around the festival.
Want a guide for the day before the readings?
Tips for Attending
• Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early, especially on opening night
• Bring a light jacket for the outdoor evening sessions in the Cyber Park, October nights get cool
• Carry small cash in dirhams for taxis and drinks
• Dress modestly, as you would for any cultural event in Morocco
• Ask before filming poets and performers
• Check the program with the organizer on the day, as times can change
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Marrakech Poetry Festival 2026?
From Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Where is the opening night?
At the Meydene theatre, M Avenue, on Friday, October 16 at 6pm, with music by Fouad Zbadi and the Aseel ensemble.
Which venue is closest to the Medina?
The Cyber Park (Arsat Moulay Abdessalam) on Avenue Mohammed V, near the Koutoubia. It hosts the Saturday and Sunday evening sessions at 6pm.
Who organizes the festival?
The House of Poetry in Marrakech (Dar al-Shi'r), with the Sharjah Department of Culture, under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI.
Who is honored this year?
Poet and critic Idriss El Meliani, Amazigh and Arabic writer Khadija Yaken, and Hassani poet Mohamed El Ghaith Kane.
In which languages are the poems?
Arabic, Amazigh, Hassani and Moroccan Darija (zajal).
Is the festival free?
No ticket details have been published. Check with the organizer or at the venue.
Is there music?
Yes. Fouad Zbadi and the Aseel ensemble on Friday, Gnawa guembri with Abdeljalil Qodsi on Saturday evening, music by Idriss Jara on Sunday morning, and the group Lersad at the closing.
What else can I do in Marrakech that weekend?
Explore the Medina and the souks by day, then enjoy the poetry in the evening. See our guide to things to do in Marrakech.
Poetry by Night, the Medina by Day
Three evenings of poetry in a city built on stories. Spend the days discovering the Medina with a local, and the nights listening to Morocco's poets.
Book your Medina tour on WhatsApp or use our booking form.
Discover our full range of authentic Marrakech tours on our Visit Marrakech Medina homepage.