Fes Festival of World Sacred Music: Guide, Venues and Where to Stay

For more than thirty years, Fes has hosted one of the world’s most distinctive festivals every spring: the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. Sufi chants, Christian polyphony, Indian ragas, gospel and Andalusian music then echo through the palaces, gardens and esplanades of the imperial city. For a traveller, it is a unique chance to discover Fes in an exceptional atmosphere. Here is how to experience the festival, with our tips for booking and finding the right place to stay. For the other highlights of the year, see the best time to visit Fes.

A festival born of a message of peace

The festival was created in 1994, in the aftermath of the first Gulf War, with the idea of bringing cultures and spiritual traditions into dialogue through music. Fes, Morocco’s spiritual capital, was the natural place for this encounter. Over the years, great artists have performed here, from sitar master Ravi Shankar to saxophonist Archie Shepp, alongside Sufi brotherhoods, choirs and traditional musicians from all over the world.

When is the festival?

The festival takes place every year, usually between late May and June, over about a week. The exact dates and programme are announced several months in advance by the organisers: check the festival’s official channels before booking your trip. It is also a lovely time to visit Fes, with warm days and mild evenings.

Concert venues

• Bab al-Makina: this vast fortified esplanade in Fes el-Jdid hosts the big evening concerts in front of a monumental illuminated gate. It is the heart of the festival.
• Gardens and palaces in the medina: more intimate concerts, often in the late afternoon, in the shade of trees or in palace courtyards.
• Sufi nights: evenings dedicated to Sufi brotherhoods, with chants and ceremonies that go on late.
• Public stages: free concerts on city squares, open to all, which draw local families.

To find your way around the Bab al-Makina area, read our article on Fes el-Jdid, the Mellah and the Royal Palace.

Tickets and bookings

Tickets are sold individually for each concert, and passes give access to several evenings. The most popular concerts sell out, especially at Bab al-Makina: book as soon as the box office opens. Keep time for the free concerts and daytime talks too, which are part of the festival’s spirit.

Where to stay during the festival

During the festival, medina riads are in high demand, often months ahead. Our advice:

• Book early, as soon as the dates are announced.
• Choose the medina rather than the new town, to enjoy the atmosphere and get back on foot or in a few minutes by taxi.
• Pick a riad near a taxi-accessible gate, handy for late returns.
• Book directly with the riad for more flexibility; see book your riad direct.

For choosing an area, our guide on where to stay in Fes compares every option.

Practical tips for the evenings

• Evening concerts often start late and finish after midnight: bring a warm layer, as nights in May and June can be cool.
• Arrive early for security checks and to choose your seat.
• Taxis are scarce after the big concerts: arrange your return in advance with your riad or a driver.
• Bring water and cash for small purchases.

A typical festival day

In the morning, enjoy the medina while it is calm: madrasas, souks and tanneries. After lunch, a siesta at the riad is a must, as the evenings will be long. In the late afternoon, head to an intimate concert in a garden or a palace courtyard, then have an early dinner before making your way to Bab al-Makina for the big evening concert. After midnight, some carry on with a Sufi night; others go home to savour the silence of the courtyard. To structure your days, take inspiration from our three-day Fes itinerary.

Other cultural events in Fes

Other festivals punctuate the year in Fes, including one devoted to Sufi culture, usually in autumn, and various events around Andalusian and Amazigh music. During Ramadan, the city also lives through very special evenings; see Ramadan in Fes.

The festival as a couple

With concerts under the stars, illuminated palaces and terraces at dusk, the festival is a superb setting for a trip for two; our ideas are in a romantic getaway in Fes. To fill your days, see our selection of things to do in Fes.

The festival from La Petite Maison

Our riad is a five-minute walk from Rcif square, from where a petit taxi reaches Bab al-Makina in about ten minutes. During the festival our rooms go quickly: write to us as soon as your dates are set. We help you organise your return from concerts and make the most of your days in the medina. Browse our rooms, discover the riad and contact us.