Morocco's 2025 festival season is kicking off, offering a vibrant mix of genres from pop and rap to sacred and traditional music across cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Fès, and Essaouira. Yabiladi rounds up the must-see music festivals this spring and summer, with key dates, headliners, and ticket prices. The festival season is kicking off in Morocco this mid-May and will run through the summer. With a diverse lineup of music genres ranging from pop and jazz to rap and traditional Gnaoua, the 2025 festival season offers something for every music lover. Whether you're a casual festival-goer, a music enthusiast, or a tourist planning your summer holiday around music festivals, this article is for you. Yabiladi will be listing some of the major festivals taking place this season, their locations, and their headliners. A Strong Start This festival season kicks off with several events in mid-May. The first major event is the Timeless Festival in Casablanca, blending nostalgia, especially for millennials and early 2000s teens, with today's music scene. The Timeless Festival takes place on May 16 and 17, 2025, at Anfa Park. It promises «iconic sounds from the 1980s to today in an electrifying atmosphere», according to the organizers. The first day, starting at 6 p.m., will feature French-Moroccan rapper La Fouine followed by early 2000s R&B star Craig David. The second day will showcase global dancehall icon Sean Paul and Moroccan-Canadian artist Beny Adam, known for his blend of R&B, pop, and urban sounds. The festival will also feature DJ sets, interactive zones, and a food court to keep the vibes alive. Tickets start at 600 MAD for one-day passes. Not far from Casablanca, the Timelapse Festival's third edition will be held on May 23-24 in Bouznika. This electro music festival boasts a stellar lineup, with Italian DJ Moblack, a pioneer of Afro-house, on the first day. The second day will feature Casablanca duo DJs Nomads, known for «blending deep, soulful beats with the pulse of Morocco». The festival will also showcase local talent with DJs Didiss and Bouta in a back-to-back session and a B3B trio featuring DJs Caiiro Da Capo and Enoo Napa. Tickets for Timelapse Fest start at 600 MAD for a one-day pass, and accommodations are available at The View Bouznika Hotel. A Spiritual Experience in Fès If you're looking for a spiritual musical experience, we recommend the 28th edition of the Sacred Music of the World Festival in Fès, from May 16 to 24. This year's theme, «Renaissances», celebrates cultural, spiritual, and artistic renewal. The festival will host over 200 artists from 15 countries, including Turkey, France, Spain, Switzerland, the Sultanate of Oman, and several African nations such as Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. The program includes performances like Azerbaijani Mugham and Kazakh Songs of the Steppes (May 21), Armenian music by The Naghash Ensemble (May 23), Senegalese Sufism with Mouride Khassaide chants (May 19), and Moroccan master Jojoukas (May 18). Other highlights include Tariqa Tijjanya (May 20) and Aissaoua (May 21). While most concerts are free, some are paid, with prices ranging from 150 MAD to 500 MAD. As May wraps up, Rabat will host the second edition of the Summer Sound Festival from May 29 to 31. Held at Club Wifaq in the leafy Ambassadors district, the festival promises a diverse musical lineup, including headliners: Eliades Ochoa (May 29), a legendary Cuban musician and member of the Buena Vista Social Club; Franglish (May 30), a rising star blending Afropop and R&B; and Ninho (May 31), one of the most influential names in contemporary French rap. Ticket prices range from 400 MAD for a one-day pass to 1300 MAD for a three-day pass. Rap fans will also have their own festival in Morocco this season: the 212'FlowFest, taking place on May 15-17 at Salle Renaissance in Rabat. The lineup will feature top Moroccan rap stars such as L'Morphine, Mister You, Snor, Shobee, and Dada, alongside rising local talents. Tickets for this festival start at 400 MAD for a one-day pass and can go up to 5000 MAD for a VIP all-access three-day pass. Nostalgia in Casablanca For fans of retro music, the Nostalgia Lovers Festival returns for its second edition in Casablanca from July 3 to 5. The event will take place at the city's converted Velodrome, bringing back the energy of the 80s and 90s with legendary artists and DJs. The first day will feature electrifying performances by 1990s British dance-pop band Londonbeat and electronic music star Rozalla. The second day will keep the party going with Lou Bega, known for his 1999 hit «Mambo No. 5». The third day promises an explosive finale with Brazilian diva Salomé de Bahia and American group C+C Music Factory. Tickets range from 590 MAD for a one-day pass to 1590 MAD for a three-day pass. Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira June brings another major festival: The 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, taking place from June 19 to 21 in Essaouira. This year's edition will feature 33 Gnaoua Maâlems alongside international artists. Maâlem Khalid Sansi from Casablanca will perform with Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, while Maâlem Morad ElMarjan will collaborate with Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef. Other highlights include Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou with Malian singer Rokia Koné, and Nigerian singer Ckay, embracing Afrobeat. Tickets for VIP access are available for 1200 MAD for a three-day pass. Mawazine Returns to Rabat From June 20 to 28, Rabat will host the 20th edition of the Mawazine Festival. Spanning six stages, five in Rabat and one in Sale, the festival promises a diverse lineup, including American rapper 50 Cent (June 21), reggae icon Julian Marley (June 28), Egyptian pop star Ruby (June 20), and K-pop group aespa (June 24). Other headliners include Will Smith (June 25), Kid Cudi (June 23), and Moroccan rap star El Grande Toto. The concerts are for free with paid VIP access available. Back to Casablanca, Jazzablanca 2025 is set to light up the city from July 3 to 12. This year's lineup includes big names like the Black-Eyed Peas, the soulful Seal, the legendary Kool & the Gang, and Grammy-nominated Lebanese trumpet virtuoso Ibrahim Maalouf. But that's not all – Moroccan stars like Oum, Hamid El Kasri, and Mehdi Nassouli will also take the stage, showcasing the rich local talent. The festival will be held at the Anfa Park with tickets ranging from 600 MAD per day to a 3000 MAD full pass. Other Notable Festivals July also sees the 54th edition of the Festival National des Arts Populaires in Marrakech (July 3-7), which celebrates Moroccan folklore and music. Further south, the Timitar Festival in Agadir will celebrate its 20th edition from July 2-5, though the lineup is yet to be announced.
