By Souky Tours
- 3 min read
Marrakesh Film Festival 2026: plan around Nov 20 to 28
The Marrakech International Film Festival runs from November 20 to 28 this year. What is confirmed, what is still to come and how to plan your trip around it.
- marrakesh
- november
- film festival
- events
The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival takes place from Friday, November 20, to Saturday, November 28, 2026. The dates are on the festival's own website, in its call for entries and in its regulations. The festival is held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI.
If you are traveling to Marrakesh in the second half of November, you can plan your trip to avoid these nine days, or pick them on purpose.
What is already known
The festival has an official competition. According to its regulations, the competition is for international first and second feature films. There are also other sections outside the competition. The regulations also list tributes to leading figures of cinema and contact between Moroccan and foreign film professionals among the festival's aims.
The official film selection is announced at the beginning of November 2026. Which films will be shown and who will attend cannot be said yet. The full program, accreditations and ticketing are published on the festival's website after that.
Part of the festival can be seen outside the cinemas too. According to La Tribune de Marrakech, public screenings on Jemaa el-Fna square are part of the festival. Which films are shown there, and on which evenings, has not been published yet.
Planning your trip around the festival
It helps to decide beforehand how much of the festival you want to see. Three ways to go about it:
You make the festival part of your trip. Once the program is out you look at which screenings appeal to you and plan your evenings around them. During the day you do the sights, in the evening you go to a film.
You come for the city and let the festival be. Choose a place to stay where you can sleep well, and find out which parts of town have events. You can still do the medina, the gardens and the palaces.
You use the festival week as a base for trips out of town. A day to Essaouira, the Agafay desert or the Atlas Mountains fits well between film evenings.
Book in good time
The festival is a large event, so it is wise to arrange your stay and your transport well ahead. If you want to be at a particular screening, check the festival's website for ticketing and access information as soon as it is posted.
Going to the festival as a woman
Evenings on and around a big square are fun, and busy. Agree beforehand how you will get back to your riad or hotel, and don't leave that until the film is over. The guide to safety for women explains what to expect on the street, and the guide to getting around covers how to move through the city. What to wear for an evening out is in our guide to what to wear.
More on timing
How the weather looks month by month is under the best time to visit.
If you want a day trip or a longer trip with a female driver in this period, send a message through the chat on the site, and we will look together at what fits your plans and the festival.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
When is the Marrakech film festival in 2026?
The 23rd Marrakech International Film Festival runs from November 20 to 28, 2026.
Has the festival program been announced?
According to the festival, the official film selection is announced at the beginning of November 2026. The full program, accreditations and ticketing are published on the festival's website after that.
Should I book early if I want to be in Marrakesh during the festival?
It is wise to. The festival is a large event in the city. If you arrange your stay and transport in good time, you can decide later what you want to see.
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