The Festival of World Sacred Music (Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde in French) is an annual event held in mid-summer in the magnificent city of Fes (Fez). Founded in 1994 by the Moroccan philanthropist Faouzi Skali, it was meant to showcase the diversity of spiritual music around the world. The festival features an array of open-air concerts and a mix of genres, from whirling dervishes to mystic Sufi chanters.
In 2001, the festival in Fes was marked by the United Nations as an event contributing to the dialogue between civilizations.The current patron of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music is King Mohammed VI. The event is dedicated to knowledge, art, and spirituality, featuring artists from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Western Europe. The festival has featured Joan Baez, Patti Smith, Björk, Ben Harper, Paco de Lucía, Ravi Shankar, Sabah Fakhri, Kadhem Saher, Mounir Bachir, Wadi al Safi, Jean-Claude Casadesus, and many others. It also promotes lesser known talents and their creative projects.
2024 Lineup and Tickets
The 2024 edition of the festival features Sami Yusuf, performing on May 25 at Bab Al Makina Plaza starting at 9 pm (Tickets cost €60). Madalena Women’s Choir of the Occitan Countries, under the direction of Manu Théron, performs on May 24 at Jardin Jnan Sbil starting at 5 pm (Tickets € 20). Creation YATRA – SAFAR is performs on 26 May at Bab Makina starting 9 pm (Tickets €50). Sufi Night, a tribute to Moroccan Sufi brotherhoods' spiritual and artistic richness, is scheduled for 11 pm on May 26 at Jardin Jnan Sbil. Khadija El Afrit from Tunisia performs Istikhbâr at Jardin Jnan Sbil at 9 pm (Tickets € 20).
The 2024 lineup also includes Galician Musical Roots from Spain, performing at 5 pm on May 30 at Jardin Jnan Sbil (Tickets € 20), Treibhorn from Switzerland, performing at 3 pm on May 31 at Jardin Jnan Sbil (Tickets € 20), Vicente Amigo, the Master of Cordoba Flamenco Guitar, performing at 9 pm on May 31 at Bab Al Makina (Tickets €60), Gospel Philharmonic Experience with Kim Burrell & the Contemporary Orchestral Ensemble, performing on June 1 at 9 pm at Bab Al Makina (Tickets €60).
The spotlight of the 2024 Fez Festival of World Sacred Music will be on Spain. The festival will celebrate the historical and present connection between Spain and Morocc0, enhancing the spirit of tolerance, openness, harmony, and living together for a better future. Other countries represented by artists include Uzbekistan, India, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, and Ireland.
