Marrakech International Film Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets and Guide

Africa’s most glamorous film festival returns to the Red City from 20 to 28 November 2026, when the 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival rolls out its red carpet. Between the gala premieres, the free open-air screenings on Jemaa el-Fnaa turn one of the world’s great squares into a cinema under the stars. This guide covers the dates, the venues, how to attend and where to stay.

Marrakech International Film Festival 2026: dates

The 23rd edition runs from Friday 20 to Saturday 28 November 2026, confirmed by the festival foundation and Morocco’s Centre Cinématographique Marocain. The opening gala takes place on the first evening, with the awards ceremony on the closing night.

Founded in 2001 under the patronage of King Mohammed VI, the FIFM has become the most prestigious film event in Africa and the Arab world. Its November slot makes it a late-season stop where awards contenders meet African and Arab cinema.

The programme: competition, galas and conversations

The Official Competition is reserved for international first and second feature films, shown as Middle East and North Africa premieres. The jury awards the Étoile d’Or, alongside prizes for best director and best actress and actor.

Around it sit the Gala Screenings, the Horizons and 11th Continent sections for established auteurs, a Moroccan Panorama and a programme for young audiences. Tributes to major figures of world cinema and public conversations with directors and actors run through the nine days.

The 2025 edition set the bar: conversations featured Bong Joon Ho, Guillermo del Toro, Laurence Fishburne, Virginie Efira and Asmae El Moudir, with a jury that included Andrew Garfield and Santiago Mitre. The 2026 jury, tributes and opening film are announced in the weeks before the festival.

For the industry, the Atlas Workshops run alongside the public programme, pairing emerging African and Arab filmmakers with established mentors. It is the festival’s most consequential legacy project for the continent’s cinema.

Jemaa el-Fnaa: the free open-air cinema

The festival’s most democratic tradition happens every evening on Jemaa el-Fnaa, the medieval square at the heart of the medina. A giant screen goes up and screenings run free of charge, open to anyone who finds a spot.

Expect standing room and large crowds, especially when a well-known film or star is announced. Arrive at least an hour early, bring something warm for the November evening and keep the square’s evening food stalls on your way out.

Tickets and accreditation

Indoor screenings at the Palais des Congrès and the partner cinemas are ticketed to the public, with prices in recent editions starting at 40 dirhams, about US$4. Gala evenings and tributes are primarily invitation events, though some public seats are released.

Festival accreditation covers industry, press and film students, and opens months ahead through the official site. For casual visitors, the realistic plan is simple: free square screenings at night plus one or two ticketed cinema screenings by day.

Getting there and getting around

Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) has direct flights from most European capitals and connections through Casablanca from the Americas. The Palais des Congrès sits in the Hivernage district, ten minutes by taxi from the medina.

Within the city, petit taxis are the default; agree the fare or ask for the meter before setting off. The medina itself is walkable, and most festival venues cluster within a 20-minute radius of Jemaa el-Fnaa.

Festival week is peak season for the city’s hotels and restaurants. If you are building a longer Morocco itinerary, our MOGA Festival Essaouira 2026 guide covers the coastal city’s electronic music gathering, and our Africa section follows the continent’s major cultural events year-round.

Where to stay during the festival

Riads inside the medina put you within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fnaa and sell out fastest; book two to three months ahead. The Hivernage and Guéliz districts offer international hotels closer to the Palais des Congrès.

November is one of the best months in Marrakech, with daytime temperatures around 20 to 25°C and cool, clear evenings. Rates reflect that: expect festival-week premiums across all categories.

Practical notes and safety

Marrakech is accustomed to mass tourism and the festival period is heavily policed. Standard medina advice applies: watch for pickpockets in dense crowds, use registered taxis after late screenings and carry small change for the square.

Dress codes are relaxed, but evenings in late November call for a jacket. Photography rules vary by screening; red-carpet areas are restricted to accredited press.

What we could not confirm

The 2026 jury president, opening film and tribute recipients had not been announced at the time of writing. The full programme, including the competition line-up and the Atlas Workshops schedule, is published closer to the festival.

Ticket prices for the 2026 edition had not been posted publicly; the 40-dirham figure reflects recent editions. We will update this guide when the foundation releases details.

This is reporting, not travel or ticketing advice. Conditions vary by screening, venue and individual circumstance. Confirm schedules, prices and access rules with official sources before booking.

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• MOGA Festival Essaouira 2026: Dates, Lineup and Guide
• El Gouna Film Festival 2026: Egypt’s Red Sea Cinema Week
• Africa: Latest News and Events Coverage

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