Jemaa el-Fnaa Square hosts film screenings from 20 November
Published on 11/07/2026 at 08:45 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSFilm programme and heritage setting
- The Marrakech International Film Festival opens its 23rd edition on 20 November 2026 at venues including Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.
- Open-air screenings connect the festival with the square’s established traditions of storytelling, music and public performance.
- UNESCO inscribed the cultural space on its Representative List in 2008 after its original proclamation in 2001.
- The square stands at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh and has been protected as Moroccan artistic heritage since 1922.
In Marrakesh, the Marrakech International Film Festival will bring open-air screenings to Jemaa el-Fnaa Square (Jemaa el-Fnaa) during its 23rd edition from 20 to 28 November 2026. The programme links a major international film event with one of Morocco’s most important public cultural spaces.
The festival’s official programme confirms the dates and identifies open-air screenings at the square, alongside screenings at other venues in the city. The Foundation of the Marrakech International Film Festival organises the event, which presents cinema from Morocco and the wider international film community.
Film festival screenings return to Jemaa el-Fnaa Square in November
The 2026 edition begins on 20 November and ends on 28 November. The official programme describes the 23rd edition as a nine-day event with gala screenings, special screenings, an international competition, a Moroccan cinema panorama and a young audiences section.
The square is part of the festival’s outdoor format rather than its main enclosed cinema circuit. That distinction matters for visitors planning a day in Marrakesh: the film programme reaches the Medina, while other festival activities are distributed among venues elsewhere in the city. Individual screening details should be checked against the festival programme before travel.
The Foundation was created in 2002 as a non-profit public-interest association, while the festival itself was established in 2001. Its programme combines first and second features with films from different genres and national cinemas, giving the square a role within a broader cultural gathering rather than treating it as a separate cinema venue.
A UNESCO cultural space frames the November film programme
UNESCO describes the square as a triangular public space at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh. It is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, and serves as a meeting place for residents and visitors.
Its cultural importance comes from living practices rather than from a single monument. UNESCO records storytellers, poets, Berber musicians, Gnaoua dancers and other performers among the traditions associated with the space. An outdoor film screening therefore sits within a setting already defined by spoken performance, music and public gathering.
UNESCO says the square has been protected as part of Morocco’s artistic heritage since 1922. The cultural space was originally proclaimed in 2001 and inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The UNESCO cultural heritage record also links the square to the Medina of Marrakesh, which has World Heritage status dating from 1985.
The festival’s official page places open-air screenings within this cultural setting. Its programme description for the 2026 edition sets the cinema event against the square’s continuing role as a place of exchange.
Visiting Jemaa el-Fnaa Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Marrakech International Film Festival runs from 20 to 28 November 2026, and Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is listed as an outdoor screening venue.
- The square is included in the festival programme for open-air screenings, while the official page separately lists enclosed venues and other programme sections.
- The location is at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh, a central reference point for visits to the old city.
- The square is triangular and functions as an open public space, with restaurants, stands and public buildings around it.
Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is therefore both a festival venue and a working cultural space. During the 20 to 28 November programme, film will be added to an environment already associated with storytelling, music and other public performances.
Searching for Jemaa el-Fnaa Square on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Jemaa el-Fnaa Square
When does the Marrakech International Film Festival take place at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square?
The 23rd edition runs from 20 to 28 November 2026, with the square listed for open-air screenings.
What is Jemaa el-Fnaa Square?
It is a triangular public cultural space at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh, associated with storytelling, music and other performances.
Where is Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and how do you get there?
The square is at the entrance to the Medina of Marrakesh. It is identified by UNESCO as a meeting place surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings.
