Esther & Salma Festival in Essaouira

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Description: A city of art, history, and fraternity, Essaouira is preparing to resonate once again with the rhythm of the Esther & Salma Festival. Blending intercultural dialogue and multidisciplinary creation, this event has established itself as an essential stop on the Moroccan cultural scene.

A bridge between cultures and generations

Driven by the vision of Catherine Becker, with the invaluable support of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, the festival transcends the boundaries of a simple artistic program. It is a vibrant space for reflection on resilience, explored through film, theater, photography, and music.

Following the resounding success of the first two editions, the event returns from Thursday, October 8th to Sunday, October 11th, 2026. For this third edition, the festival invites us to explore a universal and powerful theme: "Crossing Borders."

Memories of the 2nd edition: A sensory journey

The year 2025 left its mark with its urban poetry. The festival opened with an artistic parade linking the House of Memory to the Kadiria Zaouia, transforming the streets of Essaouira into an open-air stage.

Live performance: Artist Saena Delacroix-Sadighiyan enhanced the route with moving calligraphy, in dialogue with the city's spiritual chants.

Engaging exhibitions: At the Bab Marrakech Bastion, the theme "Women and Exile" highlighted the works of Rachid Tafik, as well as the poignant exhibition "A Fragile Poetry" by Leila Alaoui and Camille Lepage.

Theater and conviviality: The opening night combined Moroccan cuisine at the contemporary souk, film screenings, and the captivating play "The Duel – Mothanna" by Amid Boujmil.

Looking ahead to 2026: "Crossing Borders"

While the detailed program for this 3rd edition remains a closely guarded secret, the excitement is already palpable. From October 8th to 11th, 2026, the festival promises four days of intense exchanges and artistic discoveries centered around the concept of borders—whether geographical, personal, or cultural.

Stay tuned to discover the highlights and guests of honor for this 2026 edition, which is already shaping up to be historic.

ℹ️ Practical Information & Reservations

Category

Festival / Spectacle

Country

Morocco

Languages

English, Arabic, French

Subtitles

English, Arabic, French

Artists

Shlomi Elkabetz,Jean-Pierre Becker, Simone Bitton

Year

2026
Audience