Safi – The International Festival of Arts and Culture “Été des Oudayas” will return to Rabat from August 9-12 for its 14th edition.

The concerts are free and open to the public, on a first-come basis, and that model has been the festival’s signature since its inauguration.

Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication organizes the festival with the National Music Council (CNM), a member of the International Music Council.

Organizers have yet to announce the schedule and logistical details for this edition, but previous editions have started nightly at 8:30 p.m. at Bouregreg corniche at the Kasbah des Oudayas, the 12th-century citadel where the Bouregreg river meets the Atlantic 

The Kasbah carries UNESCO World Heritage status, and Rabat itself holds a UNESCO Creative City of Music title.

Its blue-and-white lanes and Andalusian garden draw visitors year-round; during the festival, the draw is the music below.

The lineup traditionally brings together Moroccan and international artists, with past editions featuring everything from Gnaoua fusion and Amazigh folk to hip-hop and pop.

The festival has also extended beyond live performances. Previous editions have included visual art exhibitions at the Bab El Kébir gallery, alongside workshops, public discussions, and other cultural activities.

 What you need to know about the festival

Launched in 2011 on the initiative of the late Moroccan musician Hassan Megri, “Été des Oudayas” began as part of Rabat’s Throne Day celebrations before evolving into one of the capital’s annual summer cultural events. 

The festival still honors him with a prize in his name, the Hassan Megri Prize, handed to a standout performer each year.

From the outset, “Été des Oudayas” has blended Moroccan musical heritage with contemporary and international sounds. Over the years, its stages have welcomed artists spanning traditional, folk, fusion, hip-hop, and modern genres.

Last year’s edition opened with veteran Moroccan singer Hayat El Idrissi before moving through performances by Gnaoua master Mustapha Bakbou and closing with a hip-hop concert featuring H-Kayne and Nasr Megri, a previous recipient of the festival’s Hassan Megri Prize.

Since its launch in 2011, the festival has hosted more than 50 Moroccan and international artists. While it was initially held as part of Throne Day celebrations, it has since established its own place on Rabat’s summer cultural calendar each August.