Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

When: Held each June, the festival runs for several days with nightly concerts and daytime workshops.

Where: Fez, Morocco - performances take place across the old medina, riad courtyards and small theatres.

Cost: Most headline concerts are ticketed while there are also free outdoor events and workshops; buy evening concert tickets in advance.

Don’t miss: Site-specific evening concerts in the medina, Sufi devotional performances and daytime workshops and talks.

Founded in 1994 by Moroccan scholar and Sufi practitioner Faouzi Skali, the festival was conceived to create a meeting place for sacred music from many faiths and cultures and to promote intercultural dialogue through sound. It has grown into an internationally recognised event that mixes local Moroccan spiritual music with invited ensembles from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond.

The atmosphere is reflective rather than raucous: daytime panels and workshops sit alongside evening concerts that favour intimate settings. Venues are spread through Fez’s medieval medina and nearby cultural sites - expect riad courtyards, historic palaces and modest concert halls rather than large stadium shows - which makes many performances feel immediate and immersive.

The festival takes place every June; exact dates are set by the organisers each year, so check the official programme well in advance. It is scheduled on the Gregorian calendar rather than a religious lunar calendar.

Typically the event opens with a high-profile concert and then runs a sequence of evening performances, interspersed with daytime workshops, lectures and smaller matinée concerts, so allow several days to experience the range of offerings.

The nearest international airport is Fez - Saiss Airport (FES), about 15 km from central Fez and roughly a 20 - 30 minute taxi ride; some hotels and riads will arrange transfers. Regular trains and buses connect Fez with Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech; arrive at least one day early to settle into the medina and to buy tickets for popular concerts.

• Expect narrow lanes and lots of walking in Fez’s medina - choose comfortable shoes and a small bag you can keep close.
• Dress modestly, especially for religious sites and Sufi ceremonies; photographers should ask permission and avoid flash during devotional performances.
• Bring cash (Moroccan dirhams) for cab fares, small purchases and some ticket booths, and keep small change for mosque/venue donations.
• Book riads and headline concert tickets well in advance - accommodation inside the medina fills quickly during the festival.
• Evenings can be cooler than daytime in June; pack a light jacket for night concerts in open courtyards.
• Watch your belongings in crowded venues; pickpocketing can occur where crowds gather, so use a money belt or secure bag.