Edition archive
The festival has carried the name Festival National des Arts d’Ahwach since 2012. The information below comes from the organisers and the press; thinly documented editions are flagged.
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- 8 2019 Ahwach arts and the cultures of the oases 27 to 29 June 2019
- 7 2018 Cultural heritage, a challenge for sustainable development 10 to 12 August 2018
- 6 2017 Ahwach arts in the service of development 10 to 12 August 2017
- 5 2016 11 to 13 August 2016 Poster not available
- 4 2015 10 to 12 August 2015 Poster not available
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- 2 2013 Between heritage, memory and future 15 to 17 November 2013
- 1 2012 19 to 21 October 2012 Poster not available
Index of editions
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14
2026
Ahwach Arts and the Rhythms of the World 22 to 24 October 2026Current edition
Fourteenth edition, devoted to the dialogue between Ahwach arts and rhythmic traditions from other horizons: performances, conferences, training workshops, master classes and tributes, at Kasbah Taourirt, Al Mouahidine Square and the tourist zone.
Sources Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication Official poster, 14th edition Official banner, 14th edition Infomédiaire Quid.ma Le7tv I3lam TV Achpress Marrakech7 Le Monde Amazigh Ouarzazate Events
≈ 1 000 artists expected -
13
2025
Ahwach arts embrace the sounds of the world 23 to 25 October 2025
Thirteenth edition: performances at Kasbah Taourirt combining traditional song and dance with projections and lighting, scientific seminars on safeguarding oral heritage, workshops for young people and children, and training in traditional instrument making.
Sources MAP, via Madar21 Biladi.ma Al Arabiya lil Akhbar Culture du Maroc
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12
2024
Ahwach arts to the rhythms of the world 24 to 26 May 2024
Twelfth edition, 24 to 26 May 2024, with about forty troupes and more than 1,400 artists, in partnership with the Association Ouarzazate Events.
Sources Quid.ma Hespress MAP, via Madar21 Tourisme News Al Balad Le Monde Amazigh
≈ 40 troupes1 400+ artists -
11
2023
For the safeguarding and promotion of the intangible heritage of Ahwach arts 12 to 14 May 2023
Eleventh edition: opening carnival, performances, exhibitions, thematic workshops, musical evenings, an academic conference on safeguarding and promoting the intangible heritage of Ahwach arts, and tributes, with established troupes and youth ensembles.
Sources L'Opinion Finances News Hebdo Al3omk Fasse TV Jadid Info Jadid Info Jadid Info Labass
25+ troupes1 000+ artists -
10
2022
Ahwach art, a cultural heritage and an ancestral civilisation 10 to 12 June 2022
Tenth edition, 10 to 12 June 2022, the first in-person edition since 2019, with more than 1,100 artists from the Drâa-Tafilalet, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Souss-Massa and Marrakech-Safi regions.
Sources MAP, via SNRT News MAP, via SNRT News Africanews Machahid Al Araby al-Jadeed MAP, via SNRT News Maroc24 Asharq Al-Awsat
1 100+ artists -
9
2021
Living human treasures in the service of heritage and development 9 to 12 July 2021 · Online edition
Ninth edition, held online because of the pandemic.
Sources Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication Hespress Le Matin
22 troupes600+ artists -
8
2019
Ahwach arts and the cultures of the oases 27 to 29 June 2019
Eighth edition: performances by troupes from across the Kingdom at Kasbah Taourirt, a conference on Ahwach arts and oasis cultures, tributes, a carnival, exhibitions and workshops, with youth and children's troupes.
Sources Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication LesEco.ma Hespress Belpresse Le Matin
700+ artists -
7
2018
Cultural heritage, a challenge for sustainable development 10 to 12 August 2018
Seventh edition, 10 to 12 August 2018, at Kasbah Taourirt and on the province’s squares, with more than five hundred artists.
Sources Aujourd'hui le Maroc H24info Assabah
500+ artists -
6
2017
Ahwach arts in the service of development 10 to 12 August 2017
Sixth edition, finally held 10 to 12 August 2017 at Kasbah Taourirt after two postponements (announced for April, then July).
Sources Machahid Tinghir.info L'Economiste Al3omk Aujourd'hui le Maroc Al Araby al-Jadeed
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5
2016
5th edition 11 to 13 August 2016
Fifth edition, 11 to 13 August 2016, at Kasbah Taourirt, with more than four hundred and eighty artists, under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King.
480+ artists -
4
2015
4th edition 10 to 12 August 2015Partial information, awaiting confirmation by the organisers
Fourth edition, 10 to 12 August 2015, with more than two hundred and fifty artists.
Source Machahid24
250+ artists -
3
2014
3rd edition 8 to 10 August 2014
Third edition, 8 to 10 August 2014, at Kasbah Taourirt, around the great moments of life: birth, circumcision, marriage, harvest.
Sources Aujourd'hui le Maroc Assahraa Al Maghribia Al Quds al-Arabi Le Matin Soussplus
20 troupes200+ artists -
2
2013
Between heritage, memory and future 15 to 17 November 2013
Second edition, 15 to 17 November 2013, with twenty-two troupes and more than four hundred artists on three squares of the city.
Sources Hespress Assahraa Al Maghribia Le Matin Médias24
22 troupes400+ artists -
1
2012
1st edition 19 to 21 October 2012Partial information, awaiting confirmation by the organisers
First edition under the national name, 19 to 21 October 2012, organised by the Regional Directorate of Culture of Souss-Massa-Drâa. It continues the Festival d’Ahwach de Ouarzazate carried by the Conseil provincial du tourisme (editions documented in 2005, 2006 and 2008).
Sources Hespress Bladi.net
Before the national format: the Festival d’Ahwach de Ouarzazate
Carried by the Conseil provincial du tourisme, a Festival d’Ahwach de Ouarzazate preceded the national series. Three editions are documented by the press of the time; one more between 2009 and 2011 is mentioned but not found. They are not counted in the national numbering.
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1
2005
23 to 25 September 2005
First edition of the Festival d’Ahwach de Ouarzazate, organised by the Conseil provincial du tourisme: eighteen troupes from Chtouka Aït Baha, Essaouira, Tata, Chichaoua, Taroudant, Inezgane, Laâyoune, Azilal, Zagora and the province of Ouarzazate (Taourirt, Sidi Daoud, Tifoultoute, Telouet, Tamassint, Ountejgal, Ouisselsate), a parade along Boulevard Mohammed V to Taourirt Square, exhibitions and screenings.
Sources Aujourd'hui le Maroc 26 September 2005 Le Matin September 2005
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2
2006
8 to 10 September 2006
Second edition: more than five hundred and fifty artists and twenty-two troupes announced (twenty-four at the close) from the High Atlas, the Anti-Atlas and the Souss, on seven sites, with an “Ahwach village” under caidal tents, the Kasbah Taourirt square as main stage, a conference on the popular arts of Ahwach and a tribute to the great figures of the art.
Sources Aujourd'hui le Maroc 21 August 2006 Aujourd'hui le Maroc 11 September 2006
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3
2008
Ahwach, a dynamic in the service of development 11 to 13 April 2008
Third edition in front of Kasbah Taourirt, organised by the Conseil provincial du tourisme with the Souss-Massa-Drâa regional council, the provincial council and the municipal council: conference “Heritage in the service of local development”, exhibitions of visual art, Amazigh dress, crafts and local produce, CCM film screenings, a children’s morning, an opening carnival.
Source Aujourd'hui le Maroc 3 April 2008
