Marrakech, October 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: The eighth Moroccan Poetry Festival opened in Marrakech on Friday under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, bringing together poets, intellectuals and artists to celebrate literary creativity and strengthen cultural exchange.
Organised by the Sharjah Department of Culture in cooperation with Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the three-day festival features more than 50 poets, intellectuals and artists from Morocco and other countries.
The opening ceremony was held at the Mayadine venue in Marrakech and attended by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs in Sharjah; Mohammed Benyaacoub, Secretary-General of Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, representing Minister Dr Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid; Rachid El Mostapha, Head of the Ministry’s Cooperation Division; and Asmaa Lokmani, Regional Director for the Culture Sector in the Marrakech-Safi region, alongside prominent writers and intellectuals.
Addressing the ceremony, Al Owais highlighted the festival’s importance in promoting poetry, nurturing emerging literary talent and creating opportunities for cultural interaction between established and young poets.
He praised the House of Poetry in Marrakech for providing a platform where poets from different generations could present their work, exchange ideas and contribute to Morocco’s rich literary heritage.
Al Owais noted that the institution had become an important centre for poetic expression, bringing together diverse literary experiences and helping bridge generational differences. He described Marrakech as an increasingly prominent destination for poets and creative minds.
He also expressed appreciation to Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication for its continued support, saying the cooperation reflected the strong cultural relations between the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Benyaacoub, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Dr Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid praised the achievements of the House of Poetry in Marrakech over the past nine years.
He said the institution’s activities, which had expanded from Marrakech to different regions of Morocco, reflected the impact of the cultural initiatives launched by the Ruler of Sharjah in strengthening poetry and encouraging dialogue and cultural exchange.
Bensaid also commended the longstanding partnership between the Moroccan ministry and the Sharjah Department of Culture, highlighting the festival’s role in celebrating classical Arabic, Hassani and Amazigh poetry through literary readings, discussions and awards.
During the opening ceremony, the House of Poetry in Marrakech honoured poets Driss El-Milyani, Khadija Yakan and Mohamed El-Ghaith Kine in recognition of their literary contributions and longstanding efforts to enrich Morocco’s poetic and intellectual landscape.
The festival also announced the winners of its eighth Best Poem and Poetic Criticism awards, recognising outstanding contributions to poetry and literary analysis.
In the Best Poem category, Mohamed Kabdani secured first place, followed by Abdelsamad Ait Mbarek in second place and Khawla Dahani in third.
In the Poetic Criticism category, Abdeljalil El-Abbassi won first place, while Oussama Hamdouch and Noureddine Harhouri shared second place. Youssef Kouazghar received third place in the critical essays category.
The opening programme also featured two documentary films highlighting the development and achievements of the House of Poetry in Marrakech.
The first film traced the institution’s establishment and growth, featuring testimonies from cultural figures about its contribution to supporting poets and enriching Moroccan and Arab literature. The second presented the House’s major achievements, initiatives and cultural activities over the past year, showcasing its continued efforts to promote poetry and creative expression.
The festival forms part of ongoing cultural cooperation between the UAE and Morocco, providing a platform for literary exchange, the preservation of diverse poetic traditions and the development of emerging talent across generations.
