Jemaa el-Fna Square hosts folklore days from 22 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 05:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jemaa el-Fna Square and Marrakech Folklore Days come together in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 22 to 25 October 2026. The eighth edition brings international folk groups, traditional crafts, workshops and parades to the city, with performances scheduled in the square and other Marrakech venues.
Marrakech Folklore Days brings four days to the square
The festival organiser confirms that Marrakech Folklore Days will run from 22 to 25 October 2026. Its programme is dedicated to peace, unity and living heritage, and is built around dance, music, traditional arts and cultural exchange.
The organiser lists performances, workshops, a parade and guided tours among the festival activities. The official festival programme describes international folk groups and traditional crafts, while the city tourism listing places performances, parades and music in the streets and in the square. The Marrakech venue listing also names the square as one of the festival locations.
Jemaa el-Fna Square puts living heritage in context
The square lies at the entrance to the Medina and has a triangular layout surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings. UNESCO describes it as a cultural space where musical, religious and artistic traditions are performed, including storytelling, poetry, Berber music and Gnaoua dance.
That setting gives the October programme a direct connection with the place itself: the festival’s folk performances and parade meet a public space already associated with oral traditions and live performance. UNESCO says the cultural space was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, after being proclaimed in 2001, and records protection as part of Morocco’s artistic heritage since 1922. The UNESCO heritage record identifies the square as one of Marrakesh’s main cultural spaces.
Visiting Jemaa el-Fna Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Marrakech Folklore Days takes place from 22 to 25 October 2026, with Jemaa el-Fna Square and other Marrakech locations included in the programme.
- The square is a named festival venue for street performances, parades and music; the official programme also lists workshops and guided tours.
- Jemaa el-Fna Square stands at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh, making the Medina the main location reference for visitors.
- The square is triangular and is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, so the visit takes place in an urban public space rather than inside a single enclosed attraction.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Jemaa el-Fna Square
When does Marrakech Folklore Days take place at Jemaa el-Fna Square?
Marrakech Folklore Days takes place from 22 to 25 October 2026. The programme includes the square among its Marrakech venues.
What is Jemaa el-Fna Square?
It is a triangular public cultural space at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh. UNESCO inscribed its cultural traditions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
Where is Jemaa el-Fna Square and how do you get there?
The square is at the entrance to the Medina in Marrakesh, Morocco. The festival listing identifies it as a venue in the city, alongside other Marrakech locations.
