We Speak Events

Rabat Turns It All the Way Up: Mawazine Draws 3.6 Million as Rema, Tiësto and ITZY Headline Morocco’s Giant

Published

4 months ago

June 28, 2026

The 21st edition of the Mawazine – Rhythms of the World festival took over Rabat and neighbouring Salé from 19 to 27 June 2026, organised by Maroc Cultures under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI. The edition attracted approximately 3.6 million attendees, according to the organisers — and around 90 per cent of Mawazine’s concerts are free, with the Bouregreg, Salé and Nahda stages charging no entry.

The headline change in 2026 was scale: two new venues joined the festival — the Royal Theatre of Rabat and the Grand Stadium Prince Moulay Abdellah, which hosted the closing-weekend concerts on 26 and 27 June, with Douzi and Cheb Khaled followed by Morad and ElGrande Toto drawing particularly large crowds.

At the OLM Souissi international stage, French rapper Ninho opened the festival on 19 June, with Major Lazer, Tyla, ITZY, Rema — on 24 June — Tiësto and Bebe Rexha among the week’s headliners. Two billed acts changed mid-run: Nicky Jam’s 22 June slot was taken by the Gipsy Kings, and Tyga was replaced by Offset on 26 June.

Dee Dee Bridgewater brought jazz to the new Royal Theatre, Dionne Warwick closed the Mohammed V National Theatre series that Mayada El Hennawy had opened, and Tamer Hosny delivered a much-anticipated closing set on the Nahda stage. The Salé stage dedicated nearly half its programming to Moroccan artists, while the Bouregreg stage carried African music — a layout that spreads the festival across both banks of the river and gives each stage its own identity, from the ticketed international bill at OLM Souissi to the free stages that anchor the event’s open-access model.

Organisers also arranged for Morocco’s 2026 FIFA World Cup matches to be screened at festival venues through a partnership with beIN Sports, folding the football into the festival week. With a 21st edition that added two major venues and, by the organisers’ count, drew crowds in the millions, Mawazine reinforced its claim to be one of the largest music festivals on the planet. The next edition is expected in June 2027.

We Speak Cars & Racing

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias Brings His Classic VW Buses to LA Auto Show Industry Day

Published

2 days ago

October 23, 2026

Royal Jones

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias standing beside a classic Volkswagen bus from his personal collection

The LA Auto Show is adding some serious star power to Industry Day. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will showcase five hand-selected classic Volkswagen buses from his famous personal collection at AutoMobility LA, the show’s industry and media day, on Thursday, November 19, and he will host meet-and-greets with attendees.

If you know Fluffy, you know the buses are no gimmick. Iglesias is one of the most devoted Volkswagen collectors in entertainment: his collection runs to nearly 30 classic buses, valued at around $3 million, and lives in a garage he calls the Fluffy Museum. It all started with his first car, a VW bus, and the obsession never left. He recently walked Ford CEO Jim Farley through the collection and the stories behind it on Ford’s DRIVE podcast.

For anyone who somehow missed him: Iglesias is one of the most successful stand-up comedians on the planet. His Netflix specials, including I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry and Stadium Fluffy, made him the first comedian to sell out Dodger Stadium. He starred in the Netflix sitcom Mr. Iglesias and has voiced characters in Coco, Ferdinand and The Book of Life. A Fluffy appearance at an auto show is exactly where entertainment and car culture meet.

Industry Day will have plenty more on the floor. Attendees can see vehicles including the Chevy Silverado, the Rivian R2 and the Nissan Rogue, and get behind the wheel at Camp Jeep and Bronco Mountain, with test rides and drives running through the day.

The LA Auto Show says more entertainment news is coming soon, and media registration for Industry Day credentials is now open. We Speak Media will be following every announcement.