Tanjazz Tangier 2026: El Cigala Headlines Saturday, Free Sunday in Morocco
MOROCCO · TANGIER · EXPATS
Key Facts
- —What it is Tanjazz, Tangier’s jazz festival since September 2000, holds its 23rd edition this weekend.
- —When and where 18–20 September 2026; paid nights at the Palais des Institutions Italiennes, free concerts around Tangier.
- —What it costs Day passes were sold at MAD 600 (US$63); the organiser now says the edition is sold out.
- —Why it matters Local media call it a comeback after a year’s pause, mixing jazz, flamenco, swing and Cuban music.
- —The catch The official programme no longer lists Dee Dee Bridgewater, and under-18s cannot enter the Palais concerts.
Tanjazz Tangier 2026 reaches its second night with Diego El Cigala and Buena Vista All Stars. It then closes on Sunday with free concerts in the city.
Tanjazz Tangier 2026, the 23rd edition of the city’s jazz festival in Morocco, is on its second day today, Saturday 19 September. Diego El Cigala and Buena Vista All Stars headline tonight’s ticketed concerts, and free city shows close the festival on Sunday.
How the festival is laid out
Tanjazz runs on two tracks. The paid part takes place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September at the Palais des Institutions Italiennes, in the Marshan district.
Locals also know the building as Palais Moulay Hafid. It is the festival’s main venue and the only one that needs a ticket.
Inside the palace grounds there are two stages. The Patio stage hosts swing, soul and funk sets plus the jam session, while the Jardin (Garden) stage carries the headliners.
The second track is Tanjazz en ville, a free programme at public squares and hotels across the city. It runs on all three days, with Sunday 20 September given over to it entirely.
The festival’s own site also mentions food stalls, a designers’ market and dance classes at the palace. The Palais des Arts et de la Culture appears in its general description, but not in the 2026 programme.
Saturday night at the Palais
Tonight opens at 20:00 on the Patio stage with The Swing Shouters, with a dance class led by Rabat City Swing. Spanish flamenco singer Diego El Cigala follows at 21:00 on the Jardin stage.
Swiss boogie-woogie pianist Ladyva plays the Patio at 22:00. Buena Vista All Stars, built around members of the Buena Vista Social Club circle, take the Jardin stage at 23:00.
French band Les Frères Smith start on the Patio at midnight. A jam session at 01:30 closes the night, so expect to be out late.
Earlier today, The Haggis Horns were scheduled to give a masterclass at 12:00. The British brass band played the Patio stage on Friday night.
Free concerts today and tomorrow
You do not need a ticket for the city programme. Today at 12:00, The Groovy Four play the Hilton Tangier City Center hotel.
At 18:00 today, American trumpeter and singer Ronald Baker performs on Place du Grand Socco. At the same time, The Haggis Horns play Hôtel Rembrandt.
Sunday 20 September is the closing day and is entirely free. Ladyva plays Place du Grand Socco at 18:00, while The Swing Shouters perform at Hôtel Chellah at the same hour.
On Friday, Remork & Karkaba opened the city programme with a street parade from Bab Kasbah. The festival has not published any further free events for Sunday.
What changed from the first announcements
Early announcements named American singer Dee Dee Bridgewater for Friday night on the Jardin stage. The programme now on the festival’s website no longer includes her.
Instead, Friday’s Jardin stage featured Rodrigo y Gabriela at 21:00 and Fehd Benchemsi & The Lalla at 23:00. A Moroccan press report on the first night lists the same acts, and does not mention Bridgewater.
The organiser has not published a statement explaining the change. The Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela were playing in Morocco for the first time, according to that report.
Tickets and entry rules
The festival’s ticket page says all tickets for the 23rd edition have been sold and the box office is closed. Its hotline, 07 77 77 77 59, answers from 09:00 to 19:00.
Tickets were sold through Webook, the official partner. A one-day pass cost MAD 600 (US$63) and an early-bird two-day pass MAD 1,000 (US$106), at 19 September 2026 rates.
Moroccan media reported later-phase prices of MAD 700 (US$74) for a day and MAD 1,200 (US$127) for both nights. Resale offers outside official channels carry an obvious risk.
The Webook listing still showed a Saturday day pass on 19 September. Check it directly before heading to the palace, because the organiser describes the event as sold out.
Access to all concerts at the Palais des Institutions Italiennes is strictly prohibited for minors. Families with children should stick to the free city concerts.
What Tanjazz Tangier 2026 means for expats and visitors
Tanjazz has run since September 2000 and draws a local, national and international audience. It is held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, according to Moroccan press coverage.
For foreigners living in Tangier, Sunday’s free shows are the simplest way in. Place du Grand Socco sits at the edge of the medina and is easy to reach on foot.
If you hold a Saturday ticket, plan for a long evening. Seven sets and a jam session run from 20:00 until well after 01:30.
Taxis are the easiest way up to the Marshan after the concerts. Agree on the fare or check the meter before you set off.
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FAQ
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tanjazz Tangier 2026?
The festival runs from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026 in Tangier, Morocco. Paid concerts take place on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday is free.
Where are the Tanjazz concerts held?
Ticketed concerts are at the Palais des Institutions Italiennes, on the Patio and Jardin stages. Free Tanjazz en ville concerts take place at Place du Grand Socco and several hotels.
Can I still buy Tanjazz tickets?
The festival’s ticket page says the 23rd edition is sold out and the box office is closed. The free city concerts on Saturday and Sunday need no ticket.
Is Dee Dee Bridgewater playing Tanjazz 2026?
She was named in early announcements, but the current official programme does not list her. The organiser has not published an explanation for the change.
Sources: Programme, venues and ticket status are from the official Tanjazz website and its ticket partner Webook. First-night reporting comes from Libération and Tanger Experience.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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