The Time of Jazzablanca
For ten days at Anfa Park, each afternoon began quietly before gradually giving way to the familiar excitement that precedes major concerts. The pathways slowly filled with festivalgoers, conversations replaced the calm of the afternoon, and as the sun disappeared behind the trees, the festival once again took over the venue.
Held from July 2 to 11, the 19th edition of Jazzablanca offered much more than a succession of concerts.
A Festival That Takes Its Time
It created a space where everyone seemed to find their place—whether they came to discover a new artist, enjoy dinner with friends, watch a FIFA World Cup match, or simply experience what has gradually become one of Morocco’s most anticipated cultural events.
More than its line-up, it was a way of experiencing the festival that truly defined this edition.
For the second consecutive year, Jazzablanca unfolded over ten days.
This format has fundamentally changed the way audiences experience the event.
Far removed from the hectic pace of a compressed weekend festival, the extended schedule gives visitors time to settle in, explore and fully enjoy the atmosphere.
Some attendees came several evenings in a row.
Others stopped by simply to enjoy the festival village before returning a few days later for a specific performance.
Habits evolved, familiar faces reappeared night after night, and a genuine—albeit temporary—community gradually emerged.
This year, that feeling was further enhanced by a completely redesigned venue. From the moment visitors entered through the larger, more fluid entrance, the difference was evident.
Open spaces offered greater comfort, movement between areas became more intuitive, and walkways connecting the various stages allowed audiences to circulate seamlessly throughout the site.
Numerous food outlets, together with a 2,200-seat food court, encouraged festivalgoers to extend their evenings well beyond the concerts.
Everything appeared to have been designed to slow the pace, allowing each visitor to create their own journey and memories.
A Village That Tells Another Story
Once regarded simply as a passageway between concerts, the festival village has now become a destination in its own right.
This year, 46 exhibitors were present, bringing together restaurateurs, designers and commercial partners.
Each offered a different experience without ever distracting visitors from the festival’s musical identity.
Festivalgoers could move from creative workshops to food tastings, discover an automotive exhibition, attend entertainment activities, or simply pause for a moment beneath the shade of the installations.
One of this year’s most noticeable additions was the arrival, for the first time, of a sportswear partner.
Between concerts, hundreds of festivalgoers gathered to watch live broadcasts of FIFA World Cup matches before naturally making their way back to the stages a few minutes later. For a brief moment, the chants of football supporters blended with the soundchecks of musicians.
Two very different worlds that ultimately seemed to speak the same language—that of sharing a collective experience.
Another unexpected attraction also caught visitors’ attention.
Between performances, some festivalgoers stopped by a fortune-telling stand, taking an unusual break to discover what the cards might reveal before returning to the music.
A curious interlude that added yet another layer to an edition where Jazzablanca proved, once again, to be much more than a music festival.
Selma Saouli
