Fes Festival of World Sacred Music 2023

FESTIVAL FACTS

Accommodation

We can advise on making sure you book close to Festival venues. Let us know your dates, bed requirements and budget, and we will send you some options. To include the Festival in a wider tour around Morocco, take a look at our ideas on this site.

Venues

• Stay tuned here to find out which venues will be used this year.
• Big evening concerts are held at Bab al Makina, the open-air parade ground in front of the Royal Palace. It’s off the western edge of this map, across Boujloud Square.

• Free concerts We don’t know yet if this will be a feature in 2023.
• Sufi Nights at 23h00 are free of charge and could be held at Dar Tazi (blue no. 2) if the renovations are complete, or at the Prefecture Hall opposite the Batha Museum.
• The Forum: Details to follow.

Seating and Ticketing

• Seats are not reserved. Get to the venue in plenty time if you want a good seat.
• Seats are raked at Bab al Makina; elsewhere they are on the flat. 

Plan of Bab al Makina. The stage is on the left.

Tips

• Mid-September is still warm – expect temperatures in the 30s C (in the 90s F) or more. However, weather can be variable: it can rain. It’s best to bring layers, something waterproof, a sunhat and a fan.
• Seats are fairly comfortable. In some venues, there are no chairs, but carpets on the floor to sit on. Bring a shooting stick if necessary but be sure to sit on the edge of the audience so you don’t block the view of people sitting on the ground.
• Consider taking a trip or arranging an activity while you are in Fez, especially as days are free until 4pm. You’ll find some ideas here. We will be organising our well-loved annual day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Roman site of Volubilis and the pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun. We also offer a tour of the Jewish quarter, the Mellah, led by expert Cathérine Bendayan and the ever-popular Artisanal Affairs tour. Contact us to book.
• Reserve your accommodation in good time as guesthouses closest to festival venues fill up quickly. Getting to the venues is always on foot.
• Many restaurants serve dinner early and/or later so that you can attend evening concerts. 

FAQS

Where can I buy tickets?

You will be able to buy them online through the festival website. Once you’ve paid you get a receipt which you can exchange for tickets at the first concert you attend (ie do only have to make the exchange once). You can buy tickets at the door, too.

When should I start thinking about accommodation?

Straight away. Guesthouses convenient for festival venues are the first to sell out. As most guesthouses do not require a deposit in advance, you can book straight away. If you need to cancel, do so at least one month in advance to avoid cancellation fees. Let us know how many rooms and beds you require, give us your dates and an idea of your budget. We’ll then send you some options.

What else is there to do in Fez?

Every year, we host an excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Roman site of Volubilis followed by a delicious lunch in the pretty pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun.  Contact us for details at conciergemorocco@gmail.com.

We also have plenty of other activities from the ever-popular Artisanal Affairs tour, a tour of the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, cooking classes, Architectural Insights into the wonders of the Fez medina and plenty more. Check out some ideas here.

For a taster, see my article about the Festival published on 7 June 2019 on the Lonely Planet website: