Four days around the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, held in Essaouira each June since 1998: free open-air stages on the squares and ramparts, late-night fusion concerts, and the medina at its most alive.
Day by day
Your 4-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrival & opening parade
Arrive before the festival's opening: the colourful Gnaoua procession of maâlems (master musicians) winds through the medina, with troupes in bright tunics and qraqeb iron castanets ringing through the lanes.
- Opening parade
- Gnaoua maâlems
- Medina atmosphere
- 2
Day 2
Free open-air stages
The main free stages — on Place Moulay Hassan and at Bab Marrakech — host gnaoua masters and international fusion acts from afternoon into the night, drawing huge, friendly crowds.
- Place Moulay Hassan stage
- Bab Marrakech stage
- Fusion concerts
- 3
Day 3
Intimate concerts & the sea
A quieter morning on the ramparts and beach to recover, then the smaller, ticketed 'lila' and intimate venue sessions in the evening, where gnaoua trance music is heard up close.
- Rampart morning
- Intimate lila sessions
- Trance music
- 4
Day 4
Final day & departure
Catch the closing performances and a last walk through the medina and port before transferring onward — usually back to Marrakech.
- Closing concerts
- Final medina walk
Good to know
Practical notes
- The Gnaoua World Music Festival is held over a long weekend in June; the main stages are free, while some venue concerts are ticketed.
- Accommodation books out months ahead for the festival — reserve as early as possible.
- It gets busy and warm: stay hydrated, keep valuables secure in the crowds, and pace yourself across the late nights.
Frequently asked
When is the Gnaoua festival in Essaouira?
The Gnaoua and World Music Festival takes place each June, usually over a long weekend. It has run in Essaouira since 1998 and is one of Morocco's biggest music events.
Is the Gnaoua festival free?
The main open-air stages are free and open to all, which is why the town fills up. Some intimate 'lila' and indoor concerts are ticketed.
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