Rabat Welcomes Visa For Music from November 18 to 21, 2026
From November 18 to 21, 2026, the vibrant city of Rabat, Morocco, will host the much-anticipated 13th edition of Visa For Music, a premier event dedicated to the music of Africa and the Middle East. This year's festival promises an ambitious and eclectic international lineup, featuring over 35 artistic projects selected from more than 900 applications submitted by participants from over 90 countries. The festival aims to showcase musical diversity while fostering professional exchanges that will enhance the international visibility of Morocco's rich artistic scene.
During this four-day event, Rabat will transform into a hub for musical encounters and discoveries. Visa For Music will bring together artists, producers, programmers, tour managers, and festival directors for a new edition that solidifies its stature within the global music industry landscape. Straddling the realms of artistic festival and professional market, the event seeks to contribute to the structuring of the music sector and to promote exchanges between Africa, the Middle East, and the broader world. According to the organizers, "The 2026 edition stands out due to significant international participation. More than 900 applications from over 90 countries have been received, and after a rigorous selection process, over 35 projects have been chosen for the official program." They further elaborated, "The artists featured will present a variety of genres, blending traditional music, contemporary creations, electronic sounds, jazz, urban music, and instrumental expressions."
A Moroccan Stage Open to Global Influences
Moroccan artists will play a crucial role in this year's lineup. Notable projects include Gnawtronic, led by Omary and Hind Ennaira, which explores the dialogue between Gnaoua traditions and electronic sounds, as well as Jbiina, Kiw & Mourad Belouadi, Meryem Aboulouafa, Onzy Jazzbar, R2D, Soufiane AZ, and Oum. Some projects will feature collaborations that fuse Moroccan artists with international influences, such as Adam El Mouna & Faylasuf, Mycose of You, and Sara Moullablad. The program also showcases artists from diverse backgrounds, including Italy's Enzo Avitabile & I Bottari and the PS5 Pietro Santangelo Quintet. Senegal will be represented by talents like Mariaa Siga and Oumy, while South Africa will feature Yugen Blakrok and the Marthe x Pilani Bubu project. Additional artists hailing from Benin, Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Haiti will enrich the festival's offerings. Projects like Kazdoura, which blend Canadian, Syrian, and Lebanese influences, and Moonshine, connecting Quebec and Congo, further exemplify this commitment to musical fusion.
Beyond the concerts, Visa For Music emphasizes a vital professional dimension as part of its identity. The event gathers music industry stakeholders from various countries to foster collaborations, share experiences, and identify new opportunities for distributing and commercializing artistic works. Producers, programmers, tour managers, festival directors, and other professionals are invited to engage in a networking space that promotes partnerships and the circulation of artists. The festival aims to encourage South-South and North-South cooperation while facilitating access for African and Middle Eastern talents to international networks. This 13th edition aspires to blend artistic discovery with international cooperation and the structuring of the music economy. For four days, Morocco's capital will be the epicenter of an event that transcends mere concerts, delving into the developmental prospects of a sector where cultural diversity serves as a catalyst for creativity and global engagement.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
