Fez — Mawazine festival organizers announced that Ninho will headline the opening night of the 2026 edition, marking a major start for one of Morocco’s biggest cultural events.

Scheduled to run from June 19-27 in Rabat, the festival will kick off with the French rapper taking the stage at the iconic OLM Souissi venue. 

The announcement signals a high-energy opening for Mawazine’s 21st edition, which continues to position itself as a leading music festival in Africa and the wider region.

A record-breaking artist for a major opening

Born William Nzobazola in 1996 in Longjumeau, France, Ninho has become one of the most commercially successful artists in French rap. 

Since his breakout mixtape “M.I.L.S” in 2016, he has built a reputation defined by chart dominance and record-breaking certifications.

His discography includes major projects such as “Destin,” “NI,” and “Jefe,” all of which have contributed to his status as a defining voice for a generation of listeners. Industry figures frequently cite his tally of hundreds of certified singles and multiple diamond albums as evidence of his unprecedented reach in the French music scene.

Ninho’s large-scale performances, including a landmark concert at Stade de France, have further cemented his reputation as a performer capable of commanding massive audiences.

A connection with Moroccan audiences

Beyond his global success, Ninho’s relationship with Moroccan audiences has grown in recent months. 

In his recent track “King Von,” the rapper references switching to a Moroccan telecom SIM card with the +212 country code, a detail that quickly resonated with fans online.

The line, though brief, sparked widespread reaction across Moroccan social media, fueling anticipation ahead of any official announcement linking the artist to a performance in the country.

Mawazine’s global positioning

Mawazine has built its reputation on hosting a mix of international superstars and regional talent across multiple stages in Rabat and neighboring cities.

The OLM Souissi stage, in particular, has become synonymous with large-scale international performances, regularly drawing tens of thousands of spectators for headline acts.