Festival Highlights and Artist Selection
The much-anticipated 24th edition of the L’Boulevard Festival is set to take place from September 17 to September 20, 2026, at the R.U.C stadium in Casablanca. This festival continues to serve as a vital platform for the promotion of contemporary music in Morocco, featuring a competitive segment known as Tremplin that showcases 15 carefully selected artists and groups across three distinct categories: Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock/Metal, and Fusion/Other Contemporary Music.
During the festival, the Tremplin will present these artists live on stage, with 7 performers in the Rap/Hip-Hop category, 4 in Rock/Metal, and 4 in Fusion/Other Contemporary Music. Each category will have designated performance dates, with Rap/Hip-Hop artists taking the stage on September 17, followed by Fusion acts on September 18, and Rock/Metal performers on September 19. The culmination of the festival will occur on September 20, 2026, with an awards ceremony that recognizes the top talents in the Rap/Hip-Hop category. Notably, the winners of the first and second prizes will also receive a week of training scheduled from September 21 to 27, 2026, alongside the opportunity to record a track at the HIBA studio, a festival partner.
The Impact of Tremplin on Moroccan Music
Since its inception in 1999, the Tremplin has played an instrumental role in nurturing the growth of contemporary music in Morocco. It serves as a space for performance, listening, and knowledge exchange, allowing emerging projects to confront live audiences and connect with industry professionals, thus marking significant milestones in their artistic journeys. This year, applications have poured in from various cities across the Kingdom, including Rabat, Boumalne Dadès, Kénitra, and Zagora, reflecting the vibrant music scene in Morocco. While not all applications can make it to the Tremplin stage, the sheer number of submissions illustrates a robust vitality within the artistic community, where musicians are actively writing, composing, recording, and seeking their rightful place in the industry.
The Rap/Hip-Hop category has once again demonstrated its prominence, not only through the volume of applications but also by the diversity of styles and narratives presented, underscoring the central role this genre plays in Morocco's contemporary music landscape. The Tremplin is more than just a competition; it is a foundational moment of the L’Boulevard Festival, a venue where new sounds are discovered, fresh narratives are highlighted, and emerging projects are given the opportunity for a powerful first encounter with audiences. From September 17 to 19, 2026, the 15 selected projects will take the stage to showcase their unique sounds, lyrics, and artistic visions, contributing to an exciting cultural moment.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
