Since 2011, the Marrakech 'Festival du Rire' has established itself as a major international comedy festival bringing together an impressive line-up of international, francophone artists and comedians and attracting visitors from many nations including some well-known personalities from the worlds of entertainment, cinema and music. The three-day event includes not only gigs, both free and paying, on the main stage but on public squares too; there is also a spectacular street parade.
The 10th staging of this increasingly popular open-air event (from 15th to 18th June in the El Bahia palace) is hosted, as usual, by comedian and actor, Jamel Debbouze (made famous by the film Amélie). If your French is up to it, you’ll enjoy a great weekend of entertainment in the company of some top stand-up comedians as well as promising young talent from Morocco, French-speaking Europe, Canada and Africa. Thanks to its televised broadcasts, the festival has a global appeal, reaching tens of millions of viewers around the world.
Since its inception, the Marrakech Laughter Festival has been helping and highlighting those in need, particularly children. Several Moroccan associations have thus benefited from its generosity: l'Heure Joyeuse, Al Karam, Noujoum, Magic at the Hospital and the Eric Abidal Foundation, through financial donations and contributions in kind.
The main stage of the festival, the El Bahia palace, is only a 10 minute walk from Les Borjs de la Kasbah.