Tetouan:The city of Tetouan is set to host the 27th edition of the International Lute Festival, an event that coincides with Tetouan’s designation as the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue for 2026.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the festival will commence at the Spanish Theater with a performance by renowned Lebanese singer, composer, and oud player Marcel Khalife, who will be joined by Italian lutenist Aurora Manfredi. This event aims to bring Mediterranean cultures into dialogue through music.

Additional performances will include Moroccan lutenist Tariq Banzi alongside Spanish pianist Jesús Pardo and U.S.-based Moroccan multi-instrumentalist Boujemaa Razgui. Palestinian oud player and composer Nizar Rohana will perform at the festival’s closing.

A highlight of the festival will be a concert by the Moroccan Oud Orchestra, featuring 50 instrumentalists from the Kingdom’s 12 regions, in commemoration of the first anniversary of Morocco’s Unity Day.

The festival, held under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, is organized by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Province of Tetouan, the Provincial Council, and the Municipality of Tetouan. It serves as a major cultural event promoting intercultural dialogue and celebrating Morocco’s spiritual identity through music.