The Best Music Festivals in Morocco for Any Budget

Music festivals are the best way to spend the summer season. They’re the perfect opportunity to go wild and blow off steam while incredible musicians do what they do best. 

Heading to a music festival abroad has become the ultimate option for jet-setters with a sense of adventure. And now that you can experience a festival anywhere on the planet, why not fly to one of the many music festivals in Morocco?

This beautiful country is home to an eclectic mix of festivals for people of all tastes and budgets. Look no further for the highlight of your summer than the musical epicenter of North Africa. Here is our breakdown of the best of Morocco’s music festivals. 

Best for Nomads and Backpackers 

Gnawa World Music Festival, Essaouira

Gnawa music is a Moroccan genre of music inspired by African and Arab music, religious songs, and rhythms. It combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing to create soulful tunes. The genre is famous all over Morocco, but Essaouira is the capital. 

At Gnawa World Music Festival in Morocco, Gnawa musicians showcase their electrifying vocals, unorthodox dance moves, and vibrant attire next to the beautiful port city of Essaouira. The three-day annual festival happens in June, and many events and performances are free. 

Tens of thousands of people descend on this festival every year, and it’s one of the best places in the world to soak up this music. But, if Gnawa isn’t your thing, there are also performances from reggae, blues, jazz, and folk artists. 

Jazzablanca, Casablanca

This epic jazz festival pops up every year in the city of Casablanca. It offers performances from a mix of well-known and emerging artists from Morocco and globally. 

Thanks to the organizer’s desire to make jazz accessible to more people, many of the events are free. If you are dragging along a friend who doesn’t appreciate the magic of jazz, there are plenty of other genres to enjoy, like soul, electronic, and funk. 

Jazzablanca is usually in spring or summer but sometimes pops up in autumn.  

Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival Festival, Rabat and Salé

One of the biggest music festivals on the planet, Mawazine rocks out Morocco’s capital city of Rabat for nine days yearly in May and June. This international festival brings stars from all over the world to entertain its multicultural audience. 

In 2019, almost three million people attended, so it’s not for travelers looking for a chilled festival vibe. More than half of the program highlights local talent, and the festival aims to promote Morocco’s values of peace, tolerance, and respect for foreign visitors. 

Many tickets are free, making it perfect for backpackers and nomads.

Lost Nomads Festival, Marrakesh 

Held in the Agafay Desert in September, this vibrant festival offers a unique experience akin to Burning Man. Get those desert outfits ready to party all night under the starry skies or the searing sun for the best music festival in Marrakesh. 

With a limited attendance of 2000 people daily, Lost Nomads has an international, star-studded lineup. Musicians from Morocco, South Korea, Spain, and France are ready to entertain the masses.  

Best for Any Budget 

Timitar Music Festival, Agadir

For culture seekers willing to travel, Timitar Music Festival has everything. 

Across four days, Timitar hosts some of the best Berber—or Amazigh—musicians alongside international artists in Agadir. Also, it’s near incredible beaches, so you can catch some rays between acts. 

Timitar is one of Africa’s biggest music festivals, attracting half a million attendees yearly. Its main goal is promoting the local culture, including the musical traditions of the Berbers, a broad cross-section of distinct ethnic groups indigenous to North Africa. 

Whether you want to dive into traditional Berber tunes or dance to modern Moroccan music, Timitar has it all. 

Origins Festival, Marrakech 

Origins Festival is an annual festival that attracts ravers from all over the globe—it’s a techno classic. 

Usually hosted at the beautiful Banyan Tree resort in Tamouda Bay, this festival is made for partiers who want to listen to the best techno music worldwide. 

MOGA Festival, Essaouira

Essaouira was one of many stunning filming locations for Game of Thrones, and it’s also the perfect backdrop for a festival. 

MOGA Festival focuses on uniting electronic music fans, but you can expect an infusion of Gnawa music too. 

To attract more international travelers, many festivals in Morocco include wellness and cultural exploration in their schedules. This festival is no different. 

In between pounding beats and wild dance moves, experiment with Moroccan cuisine workshops or participate in daily yoga classes. 

Best for the Experience 

World Sacred Music Festival, Fes

Sometimes known as the Fes Festival, this ten-day event stretches over mid-summer in the holy city of Fes. Morocco’s World Sacred Music Festival brings together performers of all faiths and traditions in the spirit of mutual respect. 

Artists from Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, and other faiths perform together to celebrate Morocco’s rich and diverse cultural traditions. With musical offerings ranging from klezmer folk melodies to Chinese violin music, this festival is one of the peaks of Morocco’s cultural calendar. 

The festival also offers a range of workshops and discussions on current social issues, such as climate change and social justice. Events and performances are held all over the city at several different venues. 

Also, once the festival is over, Fes has some unbelievable tours around its Medina, so check those out too. 

Imilchil Wedding Festival, Imilchil, in the Atlas Mountains

Travelers eager to dive into the cultural diversity of Morocco should look no further than the Imilchil Wedding Festival. 

Hosted in the village of Imilchil in the Atlas mountains each September, this festival brings together surrounding Berber tribes to participate in the culture of annual collective marriage, where women search for and choose their husbands. 

Traced back to a Romeo and Juliet-style legend involving two lovers forbidden to marry, the tradition allows young people to freely meet and marry at the tomb of Sidi Mohammed Maghani, the patron saint of the Ait Haddidou people. 

Visitors can witness the future couples flirting and getting engaged while feasting on sumptuous food and listening to music from all over the region. New couples take part in an engagement ceremony and then marry in private later. 

Some couples from previous years do marry at the event. Festival brides wear a sequined and talismanic throw called the handira, which is made for the event by their mothers. 

Also known as September Romance, the festival attracts 30,000 people from all over the mountains. Young women dress in their finery with silver jewelry and dance for hours under the night sky. Single men wear all white to signal their availability. 

Prospective partners communicate their interest with nods and winks before approaching. 

Women make the first move, and men make theirs when the woman’s interest is clear. They may hold hands to show intent, but letting go signifies rejection. 

When a potential bride says the key phrase, “You have captured my liver, or my liver pines for you,” it means they have found love. In Berber culture, the liver is considered the location of true love. 

While the festival used to reject outsiders, it has relaxed in recent years. Now tourists flock to the area to watch the beautiful cultural event. 

Sufi Music Festival, Fes

Morocco’s Sufi Music Festival is an annual eight-day celebration every April in Fes honoring Sufi music and spirituality. 

Sufism, sometimes known as Tasawwuf, is a mystical body of practice under the umbrella of Islam. It focuses on ritualism, esotericism, spirituality, and Islamic purification. 

The festival is the perfect opportunity for visitors to discover Morocco’s spiritual heritage. More than 1000 different cultures and brotherhoods of this practice call Morocco home.

Attendees experience performances that honor traditional music inspired by the works of their poets. It brings together religious leaders and artists from around the world. 

Alongside the variety of music, attendees enjoy morning poetry readings, oriental art, films, workshops, and debates on topics ranging from human rights to Moroccan history. 

Best for a More Luxurious Experience (or for people who don’t like sleeping in a tent)

Merzouga International Music Festival, Merzouga

Hosted in the Erg Chebbi Dunes near Merzouga, this secret desert rave offers psychedelic and electronic beats from international artists. The five-day festival has drawn comparisons to Burning Man. 

But, this little-known festival is significantly smaller. It has an organized program, and wild camping is not allowed. Attendees stay in tents or nearby hotels instead. The Merzouga Festival usually happens in late spring, but organizers sometimes change the date to Summer. If they do, brace for intense heat. 

Check out the rest of the region’s gems when the festival finishes, like camel riding, quad biking, or glamping in the desert under the stars. 

Oasis Festival, Ouarzazate

Look no further than Oasis Music Festival in Morocco for a late-summer gathering. The event is like the North African version of Ibiza. Attendees will find everything they could desire: house and techno beats, yoga classes, cocktails, and the stunning views of Ouarzazate.

Still a relatively small festival, Oasis is perfect for people who want a more laid-back experience. The three-day spectacle blends DJ stages, food stalls, and pop-up art galleries.

Map of the Festival Locations in Morocco

Take a look at this map to get a comprehensive overview of the party locations. This will assist you in planning your trip and deciding when to go.

Traveling around Morocco

Hiring a car and driving yourself is the best way to get around Morocco and listen to all the incredible music available. A vehicle offers independence to enjoy the thrills without a bus or train schedule dictating every move. 

But, if that’s not your speed, public transport links are generally good.

The train network is limited in rural areas, but there are plenty of options to get between the big cities. Generally, trains are fast and cheap. 

And, in areas not covered by the trains, the bus is your next best option. Buses cover a vast network, and tickets are generally affordable. 

What to Pack for Morocco Music Festivals

Packing the essentials for a festival is always a trial. You never know what you’ll regret leaving behind until after arriving. But pack everything on this list, and the rest will work itself out:

• Sunglasses to shield your delicate eyes from the Moroccan sun
• High SPF sunscreen for protection against the heat 
• Hand sanitizer and face wipes for quick and easy cleaning 
• Comfortable shoes: A festival is an opportunity for a fashion show, but never compromise comfort for style 
• A battery pack for when all your devices run out of battery 
• A SIM card: Your one from home will cost a fortune, so buy a local one 
• A reusable water bottle to save cash and the planet 
• A cozy tent if you are not glamping or staying in a luxurious hotel
• A pillow: It’s extra weight to carry, but your neck will be grateful for the support 

Preparing for the Weather in Morocco

You already know Morocco is going to be hot in the summer. It is in North Africa, after all. But, summer in this country is another level of hot. 

If you struggle in the heat, prioritize festivals nearer the cost. The climate is more moderate in its coastal region, with breezes from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean making life more bearable. Inland areas have a hotter, drier climate. 

The further you get away from the coast, the hotter it gets, especially in July and August. Temperatures usually range between 84ºF and 89ºF (28.8ºC and 31.6ºC). However, it can get as hot as 98.6ºF (37ºC) in the summer. 

In the deserts, temperatures can drop as low as 41ºF. 

Go Abroad for your Festival Adventure 

Attending a music festival in Morocco is a no-brainer. You can always participate in one at home, but when the sun calls, you should listen.

Morocco is the ideal destination for combining cultural exploration and musical delights. This gem of a country has something for everyone on any budget. So, double up your summer holiday with your annual festival pilgrimage and head to Morocco. 

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