Morocco's 2025 festival season : Dates, headliners, and highlights
The festival season is kicking off in Morocco this mid-May and will run through the summer. With a diverse lineup of music genres ranging from pop and jazz to rap and traditional Gnaoua, the 2025 festival season offers something for every music lover.
Whether you're a casual festival-goer, a music enthusiast, or a tourist planning your summer holiday around music festivals, this article is for you. Yabiladi will be listing some of the major festivals taking place this season, their locations, and their headliners.
A Strong Start
This festival season kicks off with several events in mid-May. The first major event is the Timeless Festival in Casablanca, blending nostalgia, especially for millennials and early 2000s teens, with today's music scene.
The Timeless Festival takes place on May 16 and 17, 2025, at Anfa Park. It promises «iconic sounds from the 1980s to today in an electrifying atmosphere», according to the organizers.
The first day, starting at 6 p.m., will feature French-Moroccan rapper La Fouine followed by early 2000s R&B star Craig David. The second day will showcase global dancehall icon Sean Paul and Moroccan-Canadian artist Beny Adam, known for his blend of R&B, pop, and urban sounds.
The festival will also feature DJ sets, interactive zones, and a food court to keep the vibes alive. Tickets start at 600 MAD for one-day passes.
Not far from Casablanca, the Timelapse Festival 's third edition will be held on May 23-24 in Bouznika. This electro music festival boasts a stellar lineup, with Italian DJ Moblack, a pioneer of Afro-house, on the first day. The second day will feature Casablanca duo DJs Nomads, known for «blending deep, soulful beats with the pulse of Morocco».
The festival will also showcase local talent with DJs Didiss and Bouta in a back-to-back session and a B3B trio featuring DJs Caiiro Da Capo and Enoo Napa.
Tickets for Timelapse Fest start at 600 MAD for a one-day pass, and accommodations are available at The View Bouznika Hotel.
A Spiritual Experience in Fès
If you're looking for a spiritual musical experience, we recommend the 28th edition of the Sacred Music of the World Festival in Fès, from May 16 to 24. This year's theme, «Renaissances», celebrates cultural, spiritual, and artistic renewal.
The festival will host over 200 artists from 15 countries, including Turkey, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Sultanate of Oman, and several African nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
The program includes performances like Azerbaijani Mugham and Kazakh Songs of the Steppes (May 21), Armenian music by The Naghash Ensemble (May 23), Senegalese Sufism with Mouride Khassaide chants (May 19), and Moroccan master Jojoukas (May 18). Other highlights include Tariqa Tijjanya (May 20) and Aissaoua (May 21).
While most concerts are free, some are paid, with prices ranging from 150 MAD to 500 MAD.
As May wraps up, Rabat will host the second edition of the Summer Sound Festival from May 29 to 31. Held at Club Wifaq in the leafy Ambassadors district, the festival promises a diverse musical lineup, including headliners: Eliades Ochoa (May 29), a legendary Cuban musician and member of the Buena Vista Social Club; Franglish (May 30), a rising star blending Afropop and R&B and Ninho (May 31), one of the most influential names in contemporary French rap.
Ticket prices range from 400 MAD for a one-day pass to 1300 MAD for a three-day pass.
Rap fans will also have their own festival in Morocco this season: the 212'FlowFest, taking place on May 15-17 at Salle Renaissance in Rabat. The lineup will feature top Moroccan rap stars such as L'Morphine, Mister You, Snor, Shobee, and Dada, alongside rising local talents.
Tickets for this festival start at 400 MAD for a one-day pass and can go up to 5000 MAD for a VIP all-access three-day pass.
Nostalgia in Casablanca
For fans of retro music, the Nostalgia Lovers Festival returns for its second edition in Casablanca from July 3 to 5. The event will take place at the city's converted Velodrome, bringing back the energy of the 80s and 90s with legendary artists and DJs.
The first day will feature electrifying performances by 1990s British dance-pop band Londonbeat and electronic music star Rozalla. The second day will keep the party going with Lou Bega, known for his 1999 hit «Mambo No. 5». The third day promises an explosive finale with Brazilian diva Salomé de Bahia and American group C+C Music Factory.
Tickets range from 590 MAD for a one-day pass to 1590 MAD for a three-day pass.
Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira
June brings another major festival: The 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, taking place from June 19 to 21 in Essaouira. This year's edition will feature 33 Gnaoua Maâlems alongside international artists.
Maâlem Khalid Sansi from Casablanca will perform with Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, while Maâlem Morad ElMarjan will collaborate with Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef. Other highlights include Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou with Malian singer Rokia Koné, and Nigerian singer Ckay, embracing Afrobeat.
Tickets for VIP access are available for 1200 MAD for a three-day pass.
Mawazine Returns to Rabat
From June 20 to 28, Rabat will host the 20th edition of the Mawazine Festival. Spanning six stages, five in Rabat and one in Sale, the festival promises a diverse lineup, including American rapper 50 Cent (June 21), reggae icon Julian Marley (June 28), Egyptian pop star Ruby (June 20), and K-pop group aespa (June 24).
Other headliners include Will Smith (June 25), Kid Cudi (June 23), and Moroccan rap star El Grande Toto. The concerts are for free with paid VIP access available.
Back to Casablanca, Jazzablanca 2025 is set to light up the city from July 3 to 12. This year's lineup includes big names like the Black-Eyed Peas, the soulful Seal, the legendary Kool & the Gang, and Grammy-nominated Lebanese trumpet virtuoso Ibrahim Maalouf.
But that's not all – Moroccan stars like Oum, Hamid El Kasri, and Mehdi Nassouli will also take the stage, showcasing the rich local talent. The festival will be held at the Anfa Park with tickets ranging from 600 MAD per day to a 3000 MAD full pass.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Morocco World
Taza Hosts Cultural Week Reclaiming Its Place on Cultural Map
Fez – From May 24 to 30,, the city of Taza witnessed the launch of an unprecedented event: the first edition of Taza Cultural Week, organized by the Forum Friouato for Cinema, Culture and Creation, in partnership with the Bahitoune Foundation and with the support of the Ministry of Culture's provincial delegation. This week-long celebration aimed to reposition Taza as a vibrant center of artistic and intellectual life in Morocco. According to Dr. Boujema El Aoufi, university professor, poet, art critic, and president of the organizing association, the timing was no accident. 'We felt it was the right moment to make culture heard in Taza,' he said to Morocco World News. 'This city is rich in history and talent, yet it has remained on the sidelines of Morocco's major cultural dynamics for too long.' The ambition of the inaugural edition was clear: not to create a fleeting event, but to lay the groundwork for a long-term cultural movement. The program included cinema screenings, visual art exhibitions, musical performances, and literary discussions, all with a strong focus on inclusion and participation. Local artists and intellectuals were given space to express themselves, while guests from other Moroccan regions brought outside perspectives to enrich the exchange. 'This week was a call to meet, create, and reflect,' El Aoufi said. 'We wanted to break the symbolic silence surrounding Taza and present it as a living cultural hub, not a forgotten city.' One of the event's primary goals was to stimulate the local cultural scene and create a ripple effect across the city. El Aoufi and his team hope that the week will encourage the emergence of new projects, inspire young people, and persuade institutional and economic actors to view culture as a necessary pillar of development, not a luxury. 'Strong, silent, longing for a cultural space like this' The event also served as a response to a longstanding problem: Taza's marginalization in the national cultural narrative. 'Through this manifestation, we wanted to say that Taza has something to contribute, something to share,' El Aoufi explained. The initiative spotlighted not only the city's tangible heritage but also its intangible cultural wealth, including ancestral knowledge, intellectual legacies, and untold stories. Thematic coherence played a key role in the success of the week. Every lecture, book presentation, and guest selection was curated around two ideas: memory and engaged creativity. The aim was to create dialogue between disciplines and generations: writers, researchers, and citizens engaged in discussions about identity, history, and social transformation. The path, however, was not without challenges. Convincing partners to support a first edition proved difficult. Coordinating diverse venues, participants, and audiences required intense logistics. 'It took persuasion, patience, and collective passion,' El Aoufi admitted. But the turnout, energy, and feedback from the community made the effort worthwhile. The most valuable takeaway? 'A collective momentum,' said El Aoufi. 'People responded with enthusiasm. There was a strong, sometimes silent, longing for a cultural space like this.' Looking ahead, the organizers aim to strengthen partnerships, establish a permanent cultural coordination committee, expand programming throughout the year, especially in schools and rural areas, and increase media outreach to secure a lasting impact. In Dr. El Aoufi's words: 'This first edition was a founding stone. The next step is to build a solid, inclusive, and future-oriented cultural architecture around it.' Tags: Cultural activitiesCulture in TazaTaza' Cultural Week
Morocco World
10 hours ago
- Morocco World
Hakimi, LeBlanc Pendant Speaks to Moroccan Hearts and Heritage
Doha – Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi and renowned jewelry designer Mimia LeBlanc have joined forces to create a distinctive pendant honoring their shared Moroccan heritage. The collaboration and product were officially revealed on May 21. The jewelry piece features a traditional Moroccan door design with the map of Morocco carefully carved inside. This distinctive creation represents more than mere adornment—it stands as a tribute to Moroccan culture, craftsmanship, and natural beauty. 'Conceived with pride, crafted with love, and inspired by Morocco's eternal soul,' LeBlanc described the piece on her Instagram account. The announcement included a promotional video showcasing Morocco's cities, traditions, craftsmanship, and natural landscapes, with Hakimi proudly wearing the necklace throughout. The collaboration represents a powerful fusion of athletic excellence and artistic craftsmanship. It brings together the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player and the respected jewelry creator in a project deeply rooted in their cultural identity. Hakimi's involvement extended far beyond lending his name to the project. The international right-back participated actively throughout the creative process, from initial sketches to selecting materials. Every element was carefully considered through ongoing dialogue between the athlete and the designer. LeBlanc, known for her meticulous attention to detail, transformed their shared vision into a tangible ornament that balances traditional Moroccan motifs with contemporary design elements. Her craftsmanship brings together the heritage of the past with modern sensibilities. The pendant represents a meaningful symbol of cultural identity rather than a mere fashion accessory. It speaks to Moroccans both at home and abroad, connecting generations through beauty and memory. This collaboration shows a trend where partnerships transcend commercial interests to create something profoundly personal. The Hakimi-LeBlanc jewelry piece demonstrates how luxury and authenticity can coexist, with Morocco serving as a source of creative inspiration. The campaign has electrified audiences worldwide, transforming a simple adornment into a celebration of Moroccan identity and cultural pride. Just days after this jewelry launch, Hakimi cemented his legendary status by helping PSG secure their first-ever Champions League title with a commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan on May 31, further elevating his profile as both an athletic and cultural icon. Tags: Achraf Hakimimimia leblancMoroccan heritage
Morocco World
12 hours ago
- Morocco World
King Mohammed VI Mourns Passing of Royal Historiographer Abdelhak El Mrini
Doha – King Mohammed VI has expressed profound grief over the death of Abdelhak El Mrini, the historiographer of Morocco and spokesperson for the Royal Palace. El Mrini died in the night between Monday and Tuesday at the age of 91. In a message of condolences to El Mrini's family, the monarch conveyed his deep affliction and sadness. 'We have learned with a profound affliction and great sadness the news of the death of Our faithful servant, the late Abdelhak Lamrini, historiographer of the Kingdom of Morocco and spokesperson of the Royal Palace,' wrote the sovereign. He added that El Mrini's death comes in the midst of the blessed days of Dou Al Hijja. The King extended his sympathies to El Mrini's family members, close ones, friends, admirers, and the academic and cultural community. He acknowledged the loss of 'one of the pillars of their family, one of the intellectual and cultural figures, and one of the faithful servants of the country.' According to the monarch, El Mrini's intellectual and scientific contributions during his six-decade career provided comfort amid this painful loss. 'A man with a remarkable career' The sovereign noted that the deceased had enriched the national library with numerous pertinent and unique works that will forever remain 'a living testimony of his intellectual eminence, his passion for knowledge, his dedication to serving his homeland, and his sincere and unwavering attachment to the constants and sacred values of the nation and the Alaouite Throne.' Born in Rabat in 1934 to a family from Fez with ties to the Palace since Sultan Moulay Youssef's era, El Mrini followed an exemplary academic path. After attending m'ssid (Quranic school) and Moulay Youssef College, he earned doctorates from both Strasbourg University and the Faculty of Literature in Fez. El Mrini joined the royal protocol directorate in 1965, beginning a long association with the monarchy. He served as Director of Royal Palaces, Honors, and Decorations before becoming the kingdom's historiographer in 2010 and Royal Palace spokesperson in October 2012. The deceased authored several important works, including 'The Moroccan Army Throughout History,' which won the Literary Prize of Morocco in 1968. His other writings covered historical epics, societal themes, and religious subjects. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) also mourned El Mrini's passing. The organization extended condolences to King Mohammed VI, El Mrini's family, and the Moroccan people, recognizing him as 'one of the prominent figures in Moroccan thought, history, and literature.' ICESCO highlighted El Mrini's special relationship with the organization, noting his participation in several cultural and intellectual events, including a lecture titled 'Highlights about Tea in Morocco' during their Ramadan series in 2022. The French Embassy in Morocco also expressed sadness over El Mrini's death, paying tribute to 'a man with a remarkable career' and offering sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. Tags: Abdelhak MriniKing Mohammed VI
