Mawazine — Rhythms of the World is Rabat's annual June music festival, and in 2026 it runs from 19 to 27 June across the capital and neighbouring Salé. Around 90% of its concerts are free, spread over stages from Nahda to the Bouregreg riverside and the Mohammed V National Theatre, with the ticketed international headliners playing OLM Souissi. With roughly 3.75 million attendees in 2025, it is one of the largest music festivals in the world — and yet it remains, in true Rabat fashion, remarkably easy to enjoy. Here is everything you need to plan around it.
What is Mawazine?
Mawazine (the name means "rhythms" in Arabic) is a nine-day festival staged in Rabat every June since 2001, organised by the Maroc Cultures association under royal patronage. Its full title — Mawazine, Rythmes du Monde / Rhythms of the World — is the whole point: it deliberately programmes side by side the biggest global pop, rap and Latin stars, classical Arab tarab, West African legends and Morocco's own headline acts. The 2026 edition is the 21st. It has grown into one of the planet's most-attended festivals, and for those nine nights the capital's parks, theatres and riverside fill with music.
When is Mawazine 2026?
Mawazine 2026 runs 19–27 June 2026. The festival is always held in June — typically the second half of the month — over roughly nine days. Dates shift a little year to year, so if you are planning a future trip around it, confirm on the official Mawazine website or its Instagram (@mawazine) rather than relying on last year's calendar. Lineups are usually announced from spring onward, with the headline roster firming up in May.
Is it really free?
Mostly, yes — and this is the single best-kept secret of the festival. Around 90% of Mawazine concerts are free and open to the public. The vast Nahda stage (Moroccan and Arab pop), the Bouregreg stage on the Salé side, and the programme at the Théâtre National Mohammed V cost nothing to attend; you simply turn up. Only the international headline stage at OLM Souissi, plus a handful of special shows, are ticketed. In practice you can build an entire week of world-class live music in Rabat without spending a dirham on entry.
The stages, and where they are
Mawazine is not a single fenced site — it is scattered across the city, which is part of its charm and the main thing to plan for. The key venues:
- OLM Souissi — the big ticketed international stage, in the leafy Souissi district south of the centre. This is where the global headliners play.
- Nahda stage — a huge free stage for Moroccan and Arab-world stars, drawing the largest crowds of the whole festival.
- Bouregreg / Salé stage — free concerts across the river on the Salé side, an easy tram ride from central Rabat.
- Théâtre National Mohammed V — the elegant city-centre theatre, used for tarab, classical Arab and more intimate billed evenings.
- Chellah and "Afters" sessions — smaller, atmospheric sets, including programmes set against the Roman-and-Merinid ruins of Chellah and at the Dar Es Salam golf grounds.
Because the stages are spread out, factor in transport between them. The tram and petit taxis are your friends — see getting around Rabat for the practicalities.
Tickets for the headline stage
For the free stages you need nothing but to arrive early for a good spot. For OLM Souissi, tickets are sold through the official Mawazine ticketing channels announced each edition — online and via authorised outlets. Big international headliners do sell out, so buy ahead, and only from official sources; avoid anyone selling at the gate. Prices vary by act and seating tier and are published with each year's programme.
How to do Mawazine well
A few things make the difference between a magical evening and a frustrating one. Arrive early at the free stages — the headline Nahda nights pull enormous crowds, and the good vantage points go fast. Eat beforehand or graze from the street-food stalls that spring up around the sites. Keep valuables zipped away and agree a meeting point with your group, because phone signal struggles in big crowds. Pace yourself across the week rather than chasing every act; with seven stages running, no one sees it all. And build in daytime recovery — the monuments and medina are calm and quiet while the city sleeps off the night before.
Where to stay during the festival
Rabat's riads and hotels fill up for Mawazine, so book well ahead. A riad in or near the medina keeps you walkable to the centre and the Théâtre Mohammed V, while staying near the tram line makes hopping to the Bouregreg and Souissi stages easier. Our guide to where to stay in Rabat walks through the neighbourhoods; during festival week, prioritise something close to the stages you most want to see.
Beyond the music
Mawazine is the loudest reason to be in Rabat in June, but it is far from the only one. The festival is the perfect excuse to pair big nights with calm, cultured days: the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the medina and the Atlantic beach below the kasbah. For the wider seasonal picture, see our Rabat festivals calendar and Rabat in summer.
Frequently asked
When is the Mawazine Festival in 2026?
Mawazine — Rhythms of the World runs from 19 to 27 June 2026 in Rabat and neighbouring Salé. It is the 21st edition. The festival is held every June over nine days; exact dates shift slightly each year, so confirm on the official Mawazine site or its Instagram (@mawazine) before you book a trip around it.
Is Mawazine free?
Mostly, yes. Around 90% of Mawazine concerts are free and open to the public — the huge Nahda, Bouregreg/Salé and Mohammed V National Theatre programmes cost nothing to attend. Only the international headline stage at OLM Souissi (and a handful of ticketed shows) require paid tickets. You can experience the festival fully on a budget of zero.
Where are the Mawazine stages in Rabat?
The main paid international stage is OLM Souissi, in the Souissi district south of the centre. Free stages include Nahda (Moroccan and Arab pop), the Bouregreg stage on the Salé side of the river, the Théâtre National Mohammed V for classical and tarab, and intimate 'Afters' sessions near Chellah and the Dar Es Salam golf. Stages are spread across the city, so plan transport between them.
How do I get tickets for the OLM Souissi headline stage?
Paid tickets for OLM Souissi are sold through the official Mawazine ticketing channels announced each year (online and via authorised outlets). Popular international headliners sell out, so buy early and only from official sources — avoid resellers at the gate. The free stages need no ticket; you simply arrive early for a good spot.
Is Mawazine safe and family-friendly?
Yes. Mawazine is a long-running, heavily stewarded state-backed festival, and Rabat is one of Morocco's safest, calmest cities. The free stages are family affairs with all ages present. Expect very large crowds at headline acts — keep valuables secure, agree a meeting point with your group, and arrive early. The atmosphere is overwhelmingly relaxed and welcoming.
Should I plan a Rabat trip around Mawazine?
If you love live music, absolutely — it is one of the world's largest festivals and turns the whole capital into a stage for nine June nights. Just book accommodation well ahead, as riads and hotels fill up. If you prefer a quiet city break, note that central Rabat is busier and louder than usual during the festival, so you may prefer dates just before or after.
How big is Mawazine?
Very. The 2025 edition drew about 3.75 million attendees across roughly 90 acts on seven stages, which makes Mawazine one of the largest music festivals in the world by attendance. It has hosted global names across pop, rap, Arab tarab, African and Latin music alongside Morocco's biggest stars.
Visiting Rabat for Mawazine?
We can build your festival week around the music — and the city.
Rabat Tours pairs a handpicked riad with guided days of the capital's monuments and calm afternoons between late nights, with trains, transfers and local know-how handled.
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