The 9th edition of the Regional Tarab Al Ala Festival was launched on Monday, July 20, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, across several cultural venues in the capital. The festival is organized under the theme 'Tarab Al Ala, Living and Renewed Heritage,' as reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP.
Initiated by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the event aims to preserve and promote the traditional Al Ala music, a classical Andalusian musical form deeply rooted in Moroccan heritage. The festival features performances by renowned artists and ensembles from various regions of Morocco.
The opening ceremony took place at the Mohammed V National Theatre, with additional concerts scheduled at venues such as the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Chellah archaeological site. The festival runs until July 25, 2026, offering a series of workshops and conferences on the history and evolution of Al Ala music.
According to the ministry, this edition highlights the role of intangible cultural heritage in fostering intergenerational dialogue and cultural tourism. The festival is part of a broader effort to safeguard Morocco's musical traditions, which were inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.
