Marrakech
English
Book Festival
Where stories converge, cultures connect, and the love of books knows no borders. Join us for three unforgettable days of readings, discussions, and discovery.
The Marrakech English Book Festival is charitable organisation run by a small group of Marrakech volunteers who share a love of Morocco and books. Some of us are published authors; all of us are deeply committed to Morocco.
Our Aims
The festival provides a stage for emerging Moroccan writers to share their work with an international audience in the company of established writers from around the world. Our ambition is to foster greater dialogue and cultural understanding between Morocco and the rest of the world through a vibrant English language book scene that makes Moroccan stories accessible worldwide.
Cultural Bridge
We connect Moroccan literary voices with the international community, fostering dialogue, understanding and tolerance between cultures through the universal language of books.
Community
From students and aspiring writers to seasoned publishers and avid readers, the MEBF is a space for everyone who loves books.
The Festival Programme
15, 16, 17 January
The public events of the festival run over three days, from the morning of Friday 15th January at Riad el Bacha to the afternoon of Sunday 17th January at Dar Bellarj, when we will hand over the microphone to The Marrakech International Storytelling Festival.
The daytime events are built around 5 daily guest author events, each one hour long. These will be a combination of individual author interviews, readings and panel discussions. Each event will be followed by an opportunity to meet the featured guest authors and have them sign copies of their books.
The Marrakech English Book Award presentation ceremony will take place as part of this program of events.
International Prize for Arabic Fiction
The 2027 edition of the Festival is dedicated to celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction Prize (IPAF) that is closely linked to the Booker Prize Foundation in London.
As part of this celebration, we will be hosting a keynote event with IPAF Administrator Fleur Montanaro, IPAF Chairman Professor Yasir Suleim-Malley, and our president, Yassin Adnan, who is also a member of the IPAF board of trustees.
Open Mic Sessions
A popular feature of the festival is our Open Mic Sessions, where any author can present themselves and their book to the audience for a few minutes between the scheduled official guest author events.
Other Events During the festival
The festival book market is where attendees will be able to buy copies of the featured authors' works, as well as a range of books relevant to the themes of the festival and self-published books by emerging Moroccan writers. We also encourage independent editors, and especially children’s publishers, to present their books during this market. The book market is an important venue for authors, illustrators, publishers and translators to meet and talk.
On Sunday there will be workshops for children and students at Dar Bellarj.
There will also be an opportunity to meet some of the authors at more intimate late afternoon and evening events at our partner hotel JAAL Riad Resorts.
Meet Our
Featured Authors
Discover the brilliant writers joining us at the 2027 festival. From bestselling novelists to acclaimed poets, our lineup promises an unforgettable literary experience.
Abdelmajid Sebbata
Anissa M Bouziane
Fleur Montanaro
Jeff Koehler
Jerry Brotton
Nadia Mahjour
Marrakech EnglishBook Award
The Marrakech English Book Award recognises exceptional new Moroccan writing in English and offers a substantial cash prize presented to the winner at a special ceremony during the festival.
Discover the Award
Partner with MEBF
The festival is entirely volunteer-led and relies on the generous support of sponsors, grant-makers and donors. Our partners play a vital role in making the festival possible, and every contribution helps us bring this celebration of books, ideas and storytelling to Marrakech year after year.
Become a Sponsor
Gain visibility and align your brand with cultural excellence. Our sponsorship packages offer meaningful engagement opportunities.
Sponsor the FestivalMake a Donation
Your generous contributions help us bring world-class authors to Marrakech and support emerging Moroccan writers.
Donate NowVolunteer
Join our team of dedicated volunteers and help create an unforgettable festival experience for everyone.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Your Literary Toolkit
Whether you're an author, designer, illustrator, or book lover, we've curated resources to support your literary journey.
Directory
Publishing, design, and illustration resources for writers
Events Calendar
Literary events across Morocco throughout the year
Industry Contacts
Publishers, distributors, and bookshops directory
Archive
Explore past festivals, authors, and photo galleries
Be Part of Something Extraordinary
Join us in Marrakech for three days of inspiring conversations, world-class authors, and the magic of storytelling. Secure your tickets today.
