Fes Revives Its Cultural Spirit in November: Activities and Events Blending Heritage and Innovation
Under the first breaths of autumn, the millennium city of Fes is preparing for a promising November. Following a culturally quiet entry, the city of knowledge and art is ready to regain its rhythm, returning to what defines its essence: culture in its diversity, between heritage and innovation.
In the winding alleys of the old city, where the sounds of time intertwine with the aromas of olive oil, leather, amber, musk, and spices, the spirit of Fes is vividly displayed, a city of culture, knowledge, and living memory.
Throughout this month, the city will pulse with diverse activities, including artistic evenings, exhibitions, poetry and literary readings, musical performances, and intellectual dialogues, reaffirming that culture in Fes is not merely a luxury or entertainment, but the very breath of life and its daily rhythm.
Foreign cultural institutions, particularly from France and Spain, will engage with local actors in a creative interaction that provides the city with a renewed and open perspective. The breath of these partnerships will dispel what remains of the summer’s stillness, restoring Fes’s brilliance as a cultural capital. Fes, known for its major festivals, also knows how to create space for quieter initiatives that quietly cultivate beauty.
Amid artistic residences, live performances, and intellectual discussions, culture in Fes materializes as a vibrant, living entity, deeply rooted in the old city, which this year celebrates the 44th anniversary of its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In this context, the French Institute in Fes has prepared a rich program for November, fully dedicated to celebrating digital cultures worldwide, within the framework of the “Digital November” festival launched in 2017. This event will feature performances and workshops exploring new uses of digital technology as a space for exchange, experimentation, innovation, and sustainable solutions.
The “City Stars” center in Fes, in partnership with the French Institute, will present an artistic performance on November 1, featuring a musical reading (in Arabic and French) with actress Nabila Al-Fahmi and musician Ridouane Al-Zaari.
This project, carried by the “Cultures and Knowledge of the Arab World” Association based in Blois, France, aims to highlight the experiences of migrant women through their testimonies and autobiographies. The initiative has been expanded to Morocco, specifically to Taza and Oujda, in partnership with the “Ghazalat Taza” Association, to shed light on the voices of Taza women and compile their stories into a work that embodies strength and resilience.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Cervantes Institute in Fes will propose an interactive experience on the hidden magic of mathematics on the same day, led by Professor Pedro Alegría Izquera from the University of the Basque Country, showcasing how mathematical principles can create stunning optical illusions that blend knowledge and pleasure.
The Cervantes Institute will continue its programs on November 7 by organizing a scientific meeting in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Dhar Mahraz in Fes, focusing on the historical and cultural dimensions of translations of the Quran in the 21st century, featuring researcher Mohamed Barada, who will discuss the linguistic, aesthetic, and theological challenges facing translators between textual fidelity and interpretation.
On another note, the Moroccan Association for Assisting Children in Difficult Situations will launch the “Olive Festival at Heart” from November 13 to 23, blending sustainable development, culture, and social integration.
The festival program includes agricultural workshops, live cooking demonstrations, artistic and sports activities, and lectures on ecological farming, in a celebratory atmosphere honoring Mediterranean heritage and promoting solidarity values.
November will also be a month for intellectual discussions, with the Higher School of Education in Fes hosting a scientific symposium on “Stereotypes Under Scrutiny for Reading and Writing” on November 26 and 27, featuring researchers, writers, and educators to discuss ways to renew teaching and training methods in Morocco.
The French Institute has scheduled two literary meetings; the first on November 15 with writer and poet Habiba Al-Touazani Idrissi, discussing her book “Until the Last Breath,” released in 2025, and the second on November 29 with author Mohammed Nidal, who will present his latest novel “Nightfall Among the Amazigh.”
The month will conclude with a poetry and music performance titled “Salam… Life in Verses” from November 15 to 30, featuring poet Fatin Moubsit and musician Salah Eddin Benbrahim at the “City Stars” center, exploring the relationship between oral poetry and music within a space of creativity and contemplation.
On November 28, this distinctive cultural month will wrap up with an interactive performance titled “Enduring Quarries,” offering the audience a participatory experience that rethinks concepts of comfort and self-confrontation, inviting collective interaction and reflection.
