Ahwach Festival in Ouarzazate

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication – Culture Sector – in partnership with the Ouarzazate Events Association and the Moroccan National Tourism Office, is organizing the 13th edition of the "National Ahwach Arts Festival" in Ouarzazate from October 23 to 25, 2025, under the theme: "Ahwach Arts Embrace the Melodies of the World."

The festival aims to promote the region’s cultural richness, preserve and enhance its intangible heritage through openness to regional, national, and international contexts. Organizers also seek to highlight Ahwach as a collective art form that combines dance and sung poetry, embodying values of communal joy and social life cycles, while actively pursuing its inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list and ensuring its transmission to future generations.

The festival program is based on:

Artistic performances by Ahwach groups from Morocco and around the world, animating major public spaces such as Taourirt Kasbah.

An artistic carnival parading through the streets of Ouarzazate, enabling direct interaction with residents and visitors.

An intellectual symposium on “Safeguarding and Protecting Ahwach Arts” with participation from specialized researchers.

Honoring “Living Human Treasures” who have made significant contributions to Ahwach art.

Workshops for youth on Ahwach performance and instrument-making techniques, alongside an exhibition of traditional arts and crafts.

Broad participation involving over 1,400 artists and international troupes from African and European countries, embodying the festival’s theme and reinforcing its universal dimension.

The National Ahwach Arts Festival is a key driver for tourism development in Ouarzazate, attracting large numbers of local and international visitors, revitalizing the hospitality and service sectors, and highlighting the region’s assets in heritage, cinema, oases, biodiversity, and traditional crafts. The festival is organized in coordination with local and regional tourism bodies to support Morocco’s international efforts to document its national heritage and enhance the country’s tourism image.

This edition stands out for its artistic vision that blends Moroccan authenticity with modern scenographic techniques, offering audiences a unique experience that fuses heritage and contemporaneity.

The National Ahwach Festival has firmly established itself as a prominent cultural and tourism event celebrating Amazigh richness and the developmental dynamism of Ouarzazate.