The 1-54 Marrakech Fair is one of the most important cultural events in all of Morocco, and highlights the prominent role of this city in the contemporary art scene, of which museums such as the MACAAL are also a good example. In this post we tell you exactly what this fair is, what you can see in it, and when and where it takes place.
What it is and why it is Called That
The 1-54 Marrakech Fair is one of the most important in the world in the African contemporary art sector. And its name refers to it: 54 are the countries that make up Africa, and in this case the “1” evokes Morocco, the continent’s leader in terms of tourism and cultural dynamism.
In reality, it is not the only fair of these characteristics: the 1-54s are also held in London (United Kingdom) and New York (United States), as well as collaborations in the city of Paris (France), demonstrating the international vocation of the artists represented. In addition, according to its founder Touria El Glaoui, it seeks to combat the “diaspora” that African art has historically suffered.
What Can be Seen at the Fair
Like other contemporary art fairs, the event is configured as a large exhibition of the works of important contemporary African artists, organized by rooms and themes. In each edition, there are creators or studios that are invited and occupy a prominent role: these are the so-called Special Projects, which address different issues and genres from innovative points of view.
But in addition, at the 1-54 Marrakech fair there is space for other cultural activities. In particular, the talks and conferences, which are distributed throughout the days of the program addressing issues such as the affinities of African art with those of other countries or continents, or new artistic expressions in fields as different as figuration, fashion or the digital world.
The list of artists who participate in this fair is very large, covering living or recently deceased creators. On that list you can mention Hassan El Glaoui, precisely the father of the founder, but also Farid Belkahia, Willow Evann, Aly Ben Salem or Chaibia Talal.
When and where Will the Next Edition Take Place
The 1-54 Marrakech fair is usually organized every year, although depending on the circumstances it may have another periodicity. Although the first edition took place in London in 2013, it was not until 2018 that it was held in this Moroccan city. The 2026 edition will be a further step in confirming Marrakech’s commitment to this benchmark event for contemporary African art.
The exact dates are from February 5 to 8, 2026, with the first two days (Thursday 5 and Friday 6) being for professionals in the sector, while the weekend (Saturday 7 and Sunday 8) will open the doors to the general public. The hours will be from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except on Sunday the 8th (from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.).
This fair will be held in an iconic place for luxury in Marrakech: La Mamounia, where the city’s most prestigious hotel is located (Avenue Bad Jdid, Marrakech 40040). As of the date of writing this article (November 2025), tickets to attend the 1-54 Marrakech fair were not yet on sale, so we recommend consulting the official website to stay up to date on news regarding this.
And if you need an agency specialized in premium tourism and with in-depth knowledge of Marrakech, you can contact Chic Morocco to organize everything related to your trip.
