Marrakech Poetry Festival Celebrates Generations of Poetic Voices
Under the prestigious patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the eighth edition of the **Marrakech Moroccan Poetry Festival** is set to take place from October 16 to 18, 2026, organized by the House of Poetry in Marrakech. This annual cultural event continues to solidify the significance of poetry within the Moroccan cultural and artistic landscape, emphasizing linguistic plurality and cultural diversity as integral components of the Moroccan poetic experience. This year’s festival is part of a collaborative cultural initiative between the **Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication** and the **Culture Department of the Sharjah Government** in the United Arab Emirates. It aims to further establish the festival's identity as a unifying space for various generations of Moroccan poets, highlighting their sensitivities and experiences while remaining open to new voices and the aesthetic and intellectual challenges that characterize the contemporary poetic scene.
The festival will kick off on Friday, October 16, starting at 6 PM at the Maidan Hall, where three prominent figures in the Moroccan poetry scene will be honored. The poet **Idris El-Miliani**, the poet and writer **Khadija Yakin**, and the Hassani poet **Mohamed Al-Ghaith Kin** will receive recognition for their significant contributions and experiences that have enriched the Moroccan poetic landscape across its various linguistic and aesthetic streams.
Idris El-Miliani, a poet, translator, and critic, will be celebrated for his extensive poetic and critical journey spanning several decades. He has won the Morocco Award for Poetic Creativity twice, in 2001 and 2025, and his work has been the subject of numerous academic studies. His texts have also inspired various theater artists, visual artists, and musicians, and some of his poems have been translated into French, Spanish, Russian, and English. Additionally, the festival will pay tribute to Khadija Yakin, who writes across multiple genres including poetry, short stories, and novels, showcasing the rich tapestry of Moroccan literary talent.
As reported by kechpresse.com.
