The Gnaoua and World Music Festival began in Essaouira in 1998.
The Gnaoua and World Music Festival returns to Essaouira, Morocco, from 24 to 26 June 2027. The festival organizer (opens in a new tab) announces the 28th edition on those dates, also reported by Moroccan public broadcaster SNRT (opens in a new tab). Plan around the confirmed festival dates, then check the organizer's latest program before choosing individual performances.
Gnaoua music and the festival
Created in Essaouira in 1998, the festival brings Gnaoua music into conversation with musicians from other traditions. The organizer describes maâlems as masters of Gnaoua music and explains the festival's role in presenting their work on an international stage on its festival history page (opens in a new tab). Collaborations are part of the event's character, but each edition has its own artists and arrangements.
Gnaoua is more than a concert genre. UNESCO's description (opens in a new tab) traces its practices to communities with histories connected to slavery and the slave trade, and identifies its place in Morocco's cultural heritage. UNESCO inscribed Gnaoua on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019. The listing recognizes the cultural practice; it is not an award given to the festival itself. Listening to the music with that history in mind makes room for its spiritual and social meanings as well as its sound.
What to expect from the program
The festival uses several stages and brings together Gnaoua masters and other performers. For context, SNRT reported 52 concerts and 43 Gnaoua maâlems in the 2026 edition, alongside a human rights forum. Those figures describe the previous festival, not a promise for 2027. The same report describes new collaborations between Gnaoua musicians and artists from other musical backgrounds.
As of 2 November 2026, the official program page (opens in a new tab) carries the 2027 date banner but still displays 2026 program material. Treat individual names, days and times on that page with care until the organizer identifies the new edition's schedule. A festival may update its program after tickets or travel have been booked, so check again before setting out for a particular stage. Allow time to walk between performances and to enter a busy venue.
Tickets and access
The organizer's ticket page (opens in a new tab) describes stage passes and tickets, but it also retains collection instructions explicitly dated 2026. Do not assume those prices, collection arrangements or access conditions apply in 2027. Follow the festival's current ticket links and check the edition year, stage, date, price and conditions before payment. If the details remain unclear, contact the organizer through its site before purchasing.
Compare what is included in each offer and whether it covers a single performance, a stage area or multiple days. Keep your confirmation and look for updated instructions about entry, identification and any exchange process. Ask directly about accessible viewing, step-free routes and seating if you need them; arrangements can differ by venue and have not been confirmed here for 2027.
Getting to Essaouira and around town
Essaouira is a Moroccan Atlantic coastal city. Its medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site (opens in a new tab), with a historic street plan and fortifications worth time outside the festival. The organizer's visitor information (opens in a new tab) offers a starting point for planning a visit. Compare available air and road connections for your travel dates, and verify current schedules directly with the transport provider before booking.
Once you have a venue address, check how you will reach it from your accommodation and where vehicles can stop. Leave a margin for crowds and possible changes around event areas. If you have an evening ticket, plan the return trip before the performance, especially if you are staying outside the centre. Comfortable shoes are useful on uneven streets; bring a light layer for the coastal evening and sun protection for time outdoors.
Where to stay
A room in or near the medina can put the historic centre within walking distance. Before booking, ask your accommodation about luggage access and the route to your chosen stage; a central address alone does not establish that the journey is step-free. Staying farther out can provide different options, but check transport after your final performance. Compare current properties and cancellation terms on Booking.com for Essaouira (opens in a new tab).
Festival dates can affect accommodation availability, so compare the full stay and travel costs before committing. Allow a little time to explore the medina and waterfront without rushing between shows. Be considerate when photographing residents or performers, and ask permission where appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira in 2027?
The organizer announces 24–26 June 2027. Check individual show times when the 2027 program is confirmed.
Is the 2027 lineup available?
The official site currently mixes a 2027 date banner with older program material. Check the festival's dated announcements for the current lineup instead of assuming the displayed artists are confirmed for 2027.
Where can I find tickets?
Start with the festival's official ticket page. Verify that the offer and entry conditions apply to the 2027 edition before buying.
Public holidays around the festival
Public and bank holidays in Morocco from 3 days before to 3 days after the festival ().
Shops, banks and transport should keep their normal timetable.
Editions
- 2027In 8 months
