Marseille launches Mediterranean cultural season with two-week festival
From May 15 to 24, 2026, Marseille will host the Mediterranean cultural season organized by the French Institute, featuring a two-week celebration. This initiative, revealed by Emmanuel Macron in 2023, emphasizes the Mediterranean and its 21 nations. Julie Kretzschmar has curated the event, which will explore themes such as speculative utopias and collective migration narratives. Notable attractions include Louisa Babari's exhibition at the [mac], Adrien Vescovi's renovation of Vieille Charité, and Khaled Alwarea's ARCADIA showcased at SUBS. On May 20, solo exhibitions by Zineb Sedira, Mona Benyamin, and Abdessamad El Montassir will debut at Friche la Belle de Mai. The season kicks off with a concert featuring Sofiane Saidi and Camélia Jordana on May 15, continuing until October 31, with a significant project by Mohamed Bourouissa at the Grand Palais on July 4.
Key facts
- Mediterranean cultural season opens in Marseille from May 15 to 24, 2026.
- First season to focus on an entire region (Mediterranean and 21 bordering countries) rather than a single nation.
- Announced by Emmanuel Macron in 2023.
- Curated by Julie Kretzschmar around five themes.
- Exhibitions include works by Louisa Babari, Adrien Vescovi, Zineb Sedira, Mona Benyamin, Abdessamad El Montassir.
- Opening concert on May 15 at Jardin du Pharo with Sofiane Saidi and Camélia Jordana.
- Citadelle de Marseille inaugurated on May 15 with works by Saber Zammouri and Hugo Mir-Valette.
- Season continues until October 31 across France; Mohamed Bourouissa project at Grand Palais on July 4.
Entities
Artists
- Louisa Babari
- Adrien Vescovi
- Khaled Alwarea
- Zineb Sedira
- Mona Benyamin
- Abdessamad El Montassir
- Sofiane Saidi
- Camélia Jordana
- Saber Zammouri
- Hugo Mir-Valette
- Mohamed El Khatib
- Sébastien Kheroufi
- Mohamed Bourouissa
- Habib Bourguiba
- Emmanuel Macron
Institutions
- Institut français
- mac (Musée d'art contemporain de Marseille)
- Vieille Charité
- SUBS
- Friche la Belle de Mai
- Citadelle de Marseille
- Mucem (Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée)
- Théâtre de la Colline
- Grand Palais
Locations
- Marseille
- France
- Mediterranean
- Jardin du Pharo
- Paris
- Tanger
- Tunisia