Rabat – Marrakech will host the 55th edition of the National Festival of Popular Arts (FNAP) from July 2-6, under the theme “Popular Arts, Treasures of Yesterday and Today.”
Organized by Association Le Grand Atlas and Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in partnership with several regional and local institutions, the festival remains one of the Kingdom’s oldest cultural events, continuing a mission that has endured since its founding in 1960: preserving and passing on Morocco’s oral and intangible heritage.
This year’s theme highlights the continuity of traditional arts across generations, emphasizing how ancestral expressions remain alive by evolving with time.
In a press statement, Mohamed Knidiri said the longevity of the event reflects a responsibility rather than an achievement.
“Fifty-five editions represent a loyalty that goes far beyond us,” he said. “This legacy is not a trophy, but a responsibility. If the magic still works, it is because we have never treated these arts as memories to preserve, but as a living movement to sustain.”
The festival places this dialogue between past and present at the center of its programming, reinforcing the idea that Moroccan popular arts are living traditions rather than relics.
The event returns once again to the historic El Badi Palace, the festival’s original stage and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Built in the 16th century during the reign of Ahmed al-Mansur, the palace will host the main performances, bringing artists back to a venue deeply tied to the festival’s legacy.
Two major additions mark this year’s edition. The first is a tribute to Aïta, led by Moroccan singer Zina Daoudia, celebrating a musical tradition historically carried by women’s voices and rooted in expressions of resistance, tenderness, and freedom.
The second is the introduction of a new performance venue at the historic Ben Youssef Madrasa.
For the first time, the centuries-old cultural landmark will host festival performances, including a special concert by Nabila Maan, alongside other artists.
