# Mawazine Founded in 2001, Mawazine – Rhythms of the World brings international stars, great Arab voices, African music and Moroccan artists to eight stages in Rabat and Salé for nine days every June, most of them free. The latest edition took place from 19 to 27 June 2026; 2027 dates are not yet published. Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/events/mawazine/ ## A capital city's festival Mawazine – Rhythms of the World was founded in 2001. It is organised by the Maroc Cultures association, under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, and runs for nine days at the end of June: from 20 to 28 June in 2025 and from 19 to 27 June in 2026. It is a very large festival and, for the most part, free: the organisers reported nearly 3.6 million festival-goers for the 21st edition in 2026. You pick your evenings, your stages and your kind of music, and discover along the way a city that lives outdoors until late. ## One stage for each musical world Each stage has its own character. The 2026 programme gives a good idea of what to expect. - **OLM Souissi, the international stage.** It hosts global headliners in front of huge crowds: Ninho, Major Lazer, Tyla, Tiësto and Bebe Rexha in 2026. It is on Avenue Imam Malik, opposite the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses. - **Nahda, the great Arab voices**: Wael Kfoury, Tamer Hosny and Majid Al Mohandis in 2026. - **Bouregreg, African music**, on the boulevard along the river between Rabat and Salé: Oumou Sangaré, Orchestra Baobab and Diamond Platnumz in 2026. - **The Salé stage, Moroccan artists**: chaabi, Amazigh music and rap, with Fatima Tabaamrant, Abdelaziz Stati and Dizzy Dros in 2026. - **The Mohammed V National Theatre**, a concert hall in central Rabat, for more intimate shows: Dionne Warwick, Imany and Lotfi Bouchnak in 2026. - **The Chellah historic site**, a Marinid necropolis with Roman ruins, for world music in the late afternoon, at 17:30 local time in 2026. In 2026 the festival added two venues: the Grand Royal Theatre of Rabat, designed by the architect Zaha Hadid, and the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. ## Free or ticketed: what to know The vast majority of concerts are free. The festival's official site, mawazine.ma, lists free access to the OLM Souissi stage, and the open-air stages are open to the public. The Mohammed V National Theatre is ticketed; tickets for paid concerts are sold through the partner ticketing sites listed on the official site. Evening concerts started at around 21:00 or 22:30 local time in 2026. The free main stages draw very dense crowds. Sabaro recommends arriving early, keeping your phone and papers in a closed pocket, and agreeing on a meeting point if you are in a group. ## Where to stay and getting around The hotels in Sabaro's selection in Rabat are well placed for the festival. - **Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses**, in the Souissi district, is opposite the OLM Souissi stage: you can walk back after the headliners to the calm of its eight-hectare park. On big concert nights, the surroundings are very busy. - **The Ritz-Carlton Rabat Dar Es Salam**, also in Souissi, next to the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. - **Conrad Rabat Arzana**, facing the ocean in Harhoura, south of the city, further from the festival. For the Bouregreg, Salé and city-centre stages, the tram and petits taxis are the most convenient; from Souissi or Harhoura, Sabaro recommends a car with driver. Rabat suits June well: according to the 1991-2020 normals of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the average high is 25.6 °C, and the ocean cools the evenings. The festival leaves the days free for the Kasbah of the Udayas, the medina, the Hassan Tower and the Chellah. ## Frequently asked questions ### When is Mawazine in 2027? The dates are not yet published. The festival runs for nine days in the second half of June: from 20 to 28 June 2025 and from 19 to 27 June 2026. ### Are Mawazine concerts free? The vast majority are, including on the OLM Souissi international stage, according to the official site. Concerts at the Mohammed V National Theatre are ticketed. ### Where should you stay for the festival? In Souissi, at the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses, opposite the OLM Souissi stage, or at the Ritz-Carlton Rabat Dar Es Salam in the same district. ### Can you combine Mawazine with other festivals? Yes: Essaouira's Gnaoua festival also takes place in late June, from 24 to 26 June in 2027, and Jazzablanca starts in Casablanca on 1 July 2027.