Morocco has a long love affair with jazz. Musicians from Randy Weston to Pharoah Sanders came to play with Gnawa masters, and today several cities host festivals that mix international stars, Moroccan artists and unexpected fusions. If you are planning a trip around music, here is a guide to the main jazz festivals in Morocco, when they take place, what they feel like and how to travel between them.
Jazz festivals in Morocco at a glance
| Festival | City | Usual period | 2026 edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jazzablanca | Casablanca | Early July | 19th edition, 2–11 July |
| Tanjazz | Tangier | September | 23rd edition, 18–20 September |
| Gnaoua & World Music Festival (fusions) | Essaouira | Late June | Next: 24–26 June 2027 |
| Jazz sous l'Arganier | Essaouira | Late December | 26–28 December (TBC) |
Dates for the coming year are usually announced a few months ahead; always check the official channels before booking.
Jazzablanca, Casablanca: the big summer stage
Casablanca's Jazzablanca is the largest of the jazz festivals in Morocco. Over about ten days in early July, it mixes jazz with soul, pop, funk and world music on big open-air stages — in 2026 the festival ran from 2 to 11 July between Anfa Park and the Parc de la Ligue Arabe, with international headliners and a crowd of around 100,000. Expect a festival atmosphere, food trucks and late nights in Morocco's biggest city.
Tanjazz, Tangier: jazz on the Strait
Tanjazz takes place in Tangier in September, when the summer heat has passed. The 2026 edition, the 23rd, was announced for 18 to 20 September after the 2025 edition was postponed. The atmosphere is that of the city itself — cosmopolitan, between Africa and Europe — with concerts in several venues and a strong focus on jazz in all its forms.
Essaouira: the Gnawa fusions of June
Essaouira's Gnaoua and World Music Festival is not a jazz festival as such, but its famous fusions — a Gnawa maâlem sharing the stage with jazz, blues or African musicians — have produced some of the most celebrated jazz-Gnawa moments of the last decades. Free stages on Place Moulay Hassan and on the beach, intimate concerts in historic venues: read our Gnaoua festival 2027 guide and the story of Gnawa jazz.
Jazz sous l'Arganier, Essaouira: the winter jazz club
Between Christmas and New Year, Jazz sous l'Arganier offers the opposite of the big stages: a small audience, intimate venues in the medina, Moroccan and international musicians, Gnawa guests and jam sessions late into the night. It is the perfect excuse to spend the end-of-year holidays by the ocean — see Essaouira in December.
Which jazz festival should you choose?
- You love big crowds and headliners: Jazzablanca in July.
- You want a city break with music: Tanjazz in September.
- You want something you will hear nowhere else: the Gnawa fusions of Essaouira in June.
- You prefer small rooms and late jams: Jazz sous l'Arganier in December.
Our comparison of Essaouira music festivals goes further, including the Andalousies Atlantiques and classical music.
Travelling between the jazz festivals in Morocco
- Casablanca ↔ Essaouira: about four hours by road. Our Essaouira to Casablanca transfer costs from €190 per vehicle at the time of writing; read Essaouira to Casablanca: the fast route and the coastal route.
- Marrakech ↔ Casablanca: about three hours with our Marrakech to Casablanca transfer, from €120 per vehicle — or by train; compare in Marrakech to Casablanca: train or private transfer?.
- Marrakech ↔ Essaouira: our Marrakech to Essaouira transfer takes about 2 h 30, from €90 per vehicle.
- Tangier is far north: from Casablanca or Rabat, the high-speed train is the fastest link.
Prices are per vehicle, not per person. For a group going to a festival together, our vans and minibuses carry up to seventeen passengers.
Planning tips for a jazz trip to Morocco
- Watch the announcements. Line-ups are usually published a few months before each festival; tickets for the most popular concerts sell out quickly.
- Mind the seasons. July in Casablanca is warm and humid, September in Tangier mild, late December in Essaouira cool in the evening — pack accordingly.
- Book accommodation early for festival weekends, especially in Essaouira, where the medina is small.
- Plan the late return. Concerts end late; arrange your transport back to the hotel or riad in advance rather than looking for a taxi at midnight.
- Combine cities. A week can easily link Marrakech, the Atlantic coast and a festival — our drivers handle the long legs while you rest.
Make a trip of it
Combine a festival with a few days of exploring: the argan country around Essaouira on our half-day argan route excursion, the Atlantic coast and the medina, or a longer circuit. Whatever your rhythm, the jazz festivals in Morocco are a great way to meet the country's music scene — contact us and we will organise the transfers between stages.
