MARRAKECH · Culture
Marrakech’s November starts with a jazz finale on 1 November and peaks with the 23rd International Film Festival from 20 to 28 November. This is the confirmed month, with the gaps in the listings stated plainly.
MARRAKECH — This guide is for residents and long-stay visitors who want a dated, checked list of things to do in Marrakech in November 2026. Every event below has a date published by its organiser, and anything we could not confirm has been left out.
November is the calmer season after the October peak. Days are mild and sunny, evenings are cool, and the city fills again mainly for the Marrakech International Film Festival, a major cinema event now in its 23rd edition.
Two national holidays fall in the month, on Friday 6 and Wednesday 18 November. We also say plainly where details are still missing, such as ticket prices and the festival’s screening venues.
Sunday 1 November: Jazz Finale
The month opens with the last night of a brand-new festival. The Marrakech Jazz Experience holds its first edition from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November.
Sunday 1 November, concert
Marrakech Jazz Experience, closing night
Théâtre Meydene, Ticket price not published
Axel Camil Hachadi, a Franco-Moroccan saxophonist and composer who studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, closes the programme. Théâtre Meydene is a performing-arts venue, and the festival also offers free talks there and master classes at the cultural centre Les Étoiles de Jemaa el-Fna.
Running All Month: A New Museum in the Medina
Not everything in Marrakech has a start and an end date. Some of the best November plans are places that simply stay open.
Open since Saturday 3 October
Maison Denise Masson
Medina, Marrakech · Opening hours and entry price not published
Denise Masson (1901 to 1994) was a French scholar of Islam, best known for her French translation of the Quran, who died in Marrakech. Her riad (a traditional house around a courtyard garden) opened as a museum space on 3 October 2026 with two temporary exhibitions, “Interreligiosités marocaines” curated by Manoël Pénicaud, a researcher at the Centre Jacques Berque (a French research centre in Rabat) and “J’ai connu Dieu” by Youssef El Mekaoui.
The end dates of both exhibitions are not published, so go early in the month and confirm at the door. The medina is the old walled city, so allow extra walking time through its narrow alleys.
Two Public Holidays: Friday 6 and Wednesday 18 November
Morocco observes two national days in November, both paid days off in the public and private sectors. Expect banks and government offices to close, and check opening hours for shops and sights in advance.
Friday 6 November, public holiday
Green March Day
Nationwide · Official day off
The day marks the Green March of 6 November 1975, a mass civilian march into Western Sahara that Morocco organised to press its claim to the disputed territory. It falls on a Friday, so many residents get a long weekend.
Wednesday 18 November, public holiday
Independence Day (Aïd al-Istiqlal)
Nationwide · Official day off
The holiday celebrates Morocco’s independence. It falls two days before the film festival opens, so do any banking on Tuesday or Thursday.
Late November: Film Festival and Desert Races
The final ten days of the month are the busiest. A major film festival and a desert race weekend overlap, so book transport early.
Friday 20 to Saturday 28 November
23rd Marrakech International Film Festival
Marrakech · Venues, public screening schedule and ticket prices not yet published
French actress Marion Cotillard chairs the jury of the 2026 festival. The full programme was not out when we checked on 28 October, so look at marrakech-festival.com for e-passes and screening times.
The 2026 venues are still to be confirmed. Treat any venue list you see online as provisional until the festival publishes its programme.
Saturday 21 November, bike races
Marrakech-Agafay Trail, bike day
Agafay Desert, about 30 km from Marrakech · Entry EUR 70 to 90 (about US$78 to US$100)
Mountain bikers choose roughly 30 km or 60 km routes across the stony Agafay desert, with first starts around 9:00 to 9:30. The entry fee includes a finish-line meal, and helmets are compulsory.
Sunday 22 November, trail running
Marrakech-Agafay Trail, running day
Agafay Desert · Entry EUR 47 to 80 (about US$52 to US$89)
Runners can pick 11, 15, 23 or 42 km, with starts between 8:00 and 10:30. A two-day challenge combining the 60 km bike ride and the 23 km run costs EUR 100 (about US$112).
If you are only watching, arrange a driver in advance because the desert sits about 30 km out of the city. Bring a hat, water and a warm layer for the early start.
End of the Month: Golf Festival
Golfers arrive as the film festival ends. The Marrakech Golf Festival is an amateur tournament week that runs from Sunday 29 November to Sunday 6 December.
Sunday 29 November to Sunday 6 December
Marrakech Golf Festival 2026
Marrakech golf clubs · Package price not published on the page we read
Amateur golfers of all levels play a week of tournament rounds at Marrakech golf clubs. A trophy day, the Be Live Hotels Marrakech Golf Trophy, is on Monday 30 November.
Weather and What to Pack
Daytime highs in November run at about 21 to 24°C, while mornings and evenings are noticeably cooler. Pack a light jacket for concerts and early desert starts.
Rain is infrequent but possible. A light rain layer is enough for most plans.
Getting Around and Paying
Petit taxis are the small city cabs and the easiest way to move between Guéliz, the modern district, and the medina at night. Agree the fare before you set off if the driver does not switch on the meter.
For the Agafay races, a private driver or an organiser shuttle is the practical option. Ask your riad or hotel to arrange it a few days ahead.
Euro prices in this guide are converted at the market rate of 28 October 2026 from RT, a financial-data provider, about US$1.116 per euro. The same rate sheet puts one US dollar at about 9.84 Moroccan dirhams (MAD), which helps when you withdraw cash.
What We Could Not Confirm
Ticket prices for the jazz finale, public access rules and screening venues for the film festival, and opening hours at Maison Denise Masson were not published when we checked on 28 October. We have left them out rather than guess.
Several event lists online mix up dates. The Rencontres de la Photographie photography festival, for example, ran on 7 to 10 October 2026.
Confirm times and prices with the organiser before you travel, because programmes can change in the final weeks. Check your own government’s travel advice for Morocco before you book, and keep copies of your passport and tickets on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events in Marrakech in November 2026?
The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival runs from 20 to 28 November. The Marrakech-Agafay Trail follows on 21 and 22 November, the jazz festival closes on 1 November, and the Marrakech Golf Festival starts on 29 November.
Who chairs the jury at the 2026 Marrakech Film Festival?
French actress Marion Cotillard chairs the jury of the 2026 festival.
Which days are public holidays in Morocco in November 2026?
Green March Day falls on Friday 6 November and Independence Day on Wednesday 18 November. Both are paid days off in the public and private sectors, so banks and government offices are usually closed.
What is the weather like in Marrakech in November?
Daytime highs are about 21 to 24°C, with cooler mornings and evenings. Rain is infrequent but possible.
How much does the Agafay desert race cost?
Trail entries cost EUR 47 to 80 (about US$52 to US$89) and bike entries EUR 70 to 90 (about US$78 to US$100). The two-day challenge costs EUR 100 (about US$112).
Sources: Marrakech International Film Festival, Marrakech-Agafay Trail entry page, Marrakech Golf Festival organiser, Rough Guides climate notes (a travel publisher), Théâtre Meydene programme, Maison Denise Masson opening notice, Moroccan Ministry of Administrative Reform holiday calendar, RT exchange rates. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
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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