Fez – Rabat is hosting the Princess Lalla Meryem International Piano Competition starting today until October 31. The contest returns after a pause and brings young pianists to the capital. Prizes and an international jury are in place.
Earlier this year, the Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra ran its own competition with a focus on piano. The next edition switches to cello from March 30 to April 4, 2026. The goal is to support new talent each year and widen access across instruments.
These events sit inside a growing ecosystem. Conservatories in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and Agadir enroll more students each year. Visiting teachers run masterclasses. Festivals from Fez to Essaouira take on classical sets. Training, performance, and audiences now feed each other.
For listeners, the offer is simple. Morocco has a real season, not just one-off concerts. Competition weeks lead to recitals and residencies. For young Moroccan pianists, October in Rabat acts as a home stage in front of an international panel. The OPM circuit keeps standards high and rotates instruments so more players can enter.
What to watch next: finalists will be named in Rabat at the end of the month, new collaborations will appear from the OPM network, and 2026 festival slots for prizewinners will be announced. The message is clear: the piano is no longer on the sidelines in Morocco. It is at the center of a busy, growing scene.
