Placed under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival is about to experience its 21st edition. What a journey since its creation in 2001! The Festival's commitment to making culture accessible to all, and its contribution to the development of a national entertainment industry, are without doubt its most emblematic achievements. Every year, more than 2.5 million festival-goers — 90% of whom enjoy free access — make the most of nine days of top-level artistic programming, broadcast around the world and followed by tens of millions of viewers. Such an undertaking not only gives the Moroccan scene a global showcase, but also reflects all the richness of the world's cultures. Conveying the values of diversity, sharing and tolerance is, in this respect, a major achievement of the Mawazine — Rhythms of the World Festival.

The internationalisation of the festival is another emblematic success. Eighteen years after its creation, the Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival has welcomed the greatest artists from every continent. To name but a few: Bruno Mars, Hardwell, The Weeknd, Enrique Iglesias, French Montana, Charles Aznavour, Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones, Jamiroquai, Lionel Richie, Nancy Ajram, Sting, Wael Jassar, as well as Majida El Roumi, Alicia Keys, Martin Solveig, Kadem Al Saher, Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston, among others. Their memorable performances were the source of great moments of emotion. Through the richness of their repertoires, their origins and their heritage, all of them were, in their own way, ambassadors of this event. They contributed to raising its visibility far beyond our borders and made Mawazine a known and recognised event.

The Mawazine Rhythms of the World Festival has succeeded in embodying all the cultural and artistic energy that drives the Kingdom. With nearly six hundred national and international journalists present, each edition is a window that bears witness to the extraordinary vitality and creativity of the Moroccan scene, for which the Mawazine — Rhythms of the World Festival is an essential platform. The media's enthusiasm is matched by an increasingly noticeable presence on social media — a sign that the festival brings young people together around an ideal we all share: growing together, setting aside divisions and differences.

These successes are the work of us all. Organisers, festival-goers, authorities, administrations, services, partners, sponsors, companies, volunteers… May they all be thanked here for their efforts. Through their support and loyalty, all of them have helped to make the Mawazine — Rhythms of the World Festival what it is today, and what it will continue to be tomorrow: a truly popular yet resolutely demanding event — thanks to the quality of its programming, but also to the excellent conditions offered to the public and the artists.

It is therefore with great pride that I invite you, from 19 to 27 June 2026, to experience a twenty-first edition under the banner of diversity and celebration. Let the music play!