It is not every winter that a biennale lands in a town of eighty thousand people. For its sixth edition, the Casablanca Biennale (officially the Casablanca International Biennale) has moved to Essaouira, from 10 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. More than eighty Moroccan and international artists are expected, with exhibitions spread across the town — in well-known cultural venues, in places rarely open to the public and at an artists' residency in the countryside.
For travellers it is a rare chance: a major contemporary-art event combined with the light, the ocean and the slow pace of Essaouira in winter. Here is how to plan your visit to the Casablanca Biennale in Essaouira.
The Casablanca Biennale in Essaouira: the essentials
| Key facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10 December 2026 – 10 January 2027 |
| Edition | 6th Casablanca International Biennale, Essaouira edition |
| Theme | Fabriquer l'impossible ("Birthing the Impossible") |
| Curator | Marisa Caichiolo |
| Artists | More than 80, from Morocco and abroad |
| Venues | Sites across Essaouira, some rarely open to the public, and the IFITRY residency outside town |
The move was announced in June 2026; the organisers presented it as a temporary relocation for this edition. Opening hours, the list of venues and any ticketing will be published by the Biennale — check its official channels before your visit.
Why Essaouira?
Essaouira has a long love affair with art. Since the 1980s its self-taught painters and sculptors have been shown in galleries far beyond Morocco, and the town is now a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Its scale also suits a biennale: the medina can be crossed on foot in fifteen minutes, so walking from one exhibition to the next is part of the experience. Our Essaouira art galleries guide gives the background — and the addresses to visit the same day.
How to plan your visit
- Give it two days. One day for the venues inside the medina and along the ramparts, another for the outlying sites and a second look at your favourite works.
- Start with a map. Pick up the programme or the list of venues at the first exhibition you visit; some sites open only at set times.
- Mornings are quieter. Winter light is beautiful from 10 am, and the medina is calm before lunch.
- Getting to the residency. The IFITRY residency is outside the town; if it is part of the programme, ask us for a driver for a few hours — we will wait while you visit.
A winter full of culture
The Biennale is the backbone of an unusually rich season in Essaouira:
- Late November: the Rendez-vous de la Photo, whose exhibitions often stay up into December.
- Late December: Jazz sous l'Arganier at Dar Souiri.
- 31 December: New Year's Eve in Essaouira.
See the full Essaouira events calendar to plan your dates.
Beyond the Casablanca Biennale: art in Essaouira all year
The Biennale is exceptional, but art never leaves Essaouira. Between two exhibitions, visit the historic Galerie Damgaard, where the self-taught painters of Essaouira were first shown, the studios of calligraphers in the medina, and the thuya workshops under the ramparts of the Skala. Bayt Dakira, the house of memory in the old mellah, and the Institut français also host exhibitions through the year. Our Essaouira art galleries guide lists the addresses — and explains how to bring a painting home safely.
Our tip: combine the Biennale with a few quiet days by the sea — December light is the most beautiful of the year.
Weather and what to bring
From mid-December to mid-January, Essaouira usually has sunny days around 18–20°C and cool nights around 10°C. The wind is lighter than in summer, but stone buildings and seafront venues can be chilly: bring a warm layer and comfortable shoes for the cobbles.
Good to know: check opening days before you go — some venues close on certain weekdays.
Where to stay
The medina is the most convenient base for the Biennale; the beachfront and Diabat are calmer and only a short taxi ride away. Book early if you visit over Christmas or New Year, when the town is busy. Compare the areas in our guide to where to stay in Essaouira.
Getting to Essaouira for the Biennale
- From Marrakech: the Marrakech to Essaouira transfer takes about 2 h 30 door to door, from €100 per vehicle for up to three passengers at the time of writing — €120 in a van for four to seven.
- From Essaouira-Mogador airport: the airport transfer takes about twenty minutes, from €20.
- From or to Casablanca: count about four hours; our Essaouira to Casablanca airport transfer gets you back to your flight. Many art lovers combine the Biennale with a few days in Casablanca.
On a day off from exhibitions, our half-day excursion along the argan route and coast shows you the landscapes that inspired so many Souiri painters.
