1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, the world’s leading platform for contemporary art from Africa and the African diaspora, is delighted to announce details of 1-54 Marrakech 2026, taking place from 5 – 8 February (Press and VIP preview 5 February). 1-54’s flagship event on the African continent brings together over 20+ exhibitors from 12 different counties with an emphasis on exploration of the Moroccan art scene. Taking place at the iconic La Mamounia hotel, 1-54 Marrakech will offer a dynamic city-wide programme of events alongside talks and special projects.
The 2026 Marrakech edition will host eight galleries based in Morocco including, Loft Art Gallery, MCC Gallery and La Galerie 38, giving local and international audiences an exceptional opportunity to experience the region’s artistic vitality and cultural richness. Alongside Moroccan galleries, 1-54 will welcome four new international galleries including ELLEPHANT (Montreal, Canada), Imvelo Art Studios (Lusaka, Zambia), The Art Affair (Luanda, Angola), and The Lobster Edition (London, UK / Tunis, Tunisia), who will participate for the first time in any of the 1-54 fairs.
Artists showing at 1-54 Marrakech 2026 hail from across the African continent and include Samuel Nnorom (Nigeria), Khanyi Mawhayi (South Africa), Aïcha Snoussi (Tunisia), Roland Dorcély (Haiti), Girma Berta (Ethiopia), amongst others.
For this edition, 1-54 Marrakech will once again offer a dynamic programme of events and Special Projects, in partnership with both local and international institutions, including Fondation TGCC and DADA.
The programme will be enhanced by numerous cultural activations around the city. Highlights include the solo exhibition by Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux at Monde des Arts de la Parure (MAP) and The Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL) with four exhibitions on view including a collection show, as well as commissions by Prune Nourry and Yassine Balbzioui.LE 18 will show the exhibition “Organic Knowledge” , curated by Maud Houssais and Morad Montazami. Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech will present three exhibitions, including a show by photographer David Seidner and the galleries in the buzzing district of Gueliz will welcome visitors for vernissages and late night events.
List of participating galleries:
*Newcomers to the Marrakech edition
● AA Gallery (Casablanca, Morocco), presenting the work of Moroccan artists Karim Bennani and Ahlam Lemseffer.
● ELLEPHANT (Montreal, Canada)*, presenting a solo booth by Stanley Wany.
● FILAFRIQUES (Geneva, Switzerland / Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)*, presenting a duo show of Alexis Peskine and Reggie Khumalo.
● Galerie 208 (Paris, France / Marrakech, Morocco), with a group presentation of works by Amina Benboutcha, Mahi Binebine, Yvanovitch Mbayaand Enoch Nii Amon Hammond.
● Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire / Paris, France / Dakar, Senegal), with a group presentation of works by Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Roméo Mivekannin, Rachel Marsil, Carl-Edouard Keïta, Sadikou Oukepdjo and Ouattara Watts.
● Gallery 1957 (London, UK / Accra, Ghana), presenting a group show.
● Imvelo Art Studios (Lusaka, Zambia)*, presenting a solo booth with works by Zambian artist Geoffrey Phiri.
● L’Atelier 21 (Casablanca, Morocco), showing a group presentation with works by M’barek Bouhchichi, Larbi Cherkaoui, Safaa Erruas, Nabil El Makhloufi, Ghizlane Sahli.
● La Galerie 38 (Casablanca, Morocco / Marrakech, Morocco / Geneva, Switzerland), spotlighting a full roster of women artists Ines-Noor Chaqroun, Meriam Benkirane, Yacout Hamdouch and Nissrine Seffar.
● LA LA LANDE GALLERY (Paris, France), presenting a group exhibition with multi-disciplinary works by artists Kaïs Dhifi and Aïcha Snoussi among others.
● Le Violon Bleu Gallery (Tunis, Tunisia),presenting BAYA, Abderrazak Sahli and a joint group presentation with The Lobster Edition featuring artists Hassan El Glaoui, Farid Belkahia, and Najia Mehadji.
● Loeve&Co (Paris, France), presenting a group exhibition with works by Roland Dorcély, Alex Burke and Marcel Gotène among others.
● Loft Art Gallery (Marrakech, Morocco / Casablanca, Morocco), presenting works by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou, Mustapha Azeroual, Nassim Azarzar and M’hammed Kilito.
● LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire), showcasing a duo booth with the works by Oumar Ball and Rashid Diab.
● MCC Gallery (Marrakech, Morocco), with a booth dedicated to artists Amine Asselma, Sanae Arraqas, Amine El Gotaibi, Malika Sqalli, Salma Cheddadi and Fatima Mazmouz.
● Nil Gallery (Paris, France), with a focused three-artist presentation by Hasnae El Ouarga, Girma Berta, and Sara Benabdallah.
● So Art Gallery (Casablanca, Morocco), with a group presentation of works by Adjei Tawiah, Aidan Marak, Samuel Nnorom and Ange Dakouo.
● space Un (Tokyo, Japan), with a booth dedicated entirely to Cameroonian artist Barthelemy Toguo.
● The Art Affair (Luanda, Angola)* , with a dedicated solo booth showcasing Cameroonian artist Evan Cláver.
● The Bridge Gallery (Paris, France), with a curated presentation of artists Méné, Boris Nzebo and Khanyi Mawhayi.
● The Lobster Edition (London, UK / Tunis, Tunisia)*, presenting Gouider Triki and a joint group presentation with Le Violon Bleu Gallery, featuring artists Hassan El Glaoui, Farid Belkahia, and Najia Mehadji.
● Vigo Gallery (London, UK), with a dedicated solo booth showcasing Sudanese artist Ibrahim El-Salahi.
Special Projects include:
Fondation TGCC is thrilled to present Constellations, a group show reuniting talents of Prix Mustaqbal, the foundation’s emerging contemporary art prize created in 2021. Through 5 editions, the prize has promoted more than 70 artists through group and solo shows at Artorium Art Space in Casablanca and through off-site events. Constellations works as a statement. Through the fresh gaze of emerging artists, it aims to insist on the dialogue between yesterday, today and tomorrow, highlighting the artwork as a bright light to the future and thought to be a constellation of stars. The special project is exclusively showing artists who have been selected as finalists or winners of one of the prize’s editions through the year, with participating artists: Amina Azreg, Ines Abergel, Hiba Baddou, Insaf Benali, Hiba Dahibi, Khadija El Abyad, Hajar El Moustaasime, Yasmine Hadni, Khadija Jayi, Imane Laaribi, Safae Labzae, Mouna Ahizoune, Louisa Ben, Sabrine Lahrach and Safae El Kadi.
ABLAKASSA is pleased to announce In Between Blues, a major artistic and cultural project presented at DaDa Marrakech from 3 February to 30 March 2026. Conceived as an immersive exploration of the colour blue—its histories, materiality, and symbolic resonance—In Between Blues brings together an intergenerational group of artists from the African continent and its diaspora. Through sculpture, installation, textile, and design, the project examines blue as a space of memory, identity, movement, and transformation, inviting the public into an immersive scenographic experience. Curated by Roger Karera, French-Rwandan independent curator and Co-Founder of ABLAKASSA, alongside Jean Servais Somian, renowned Ivorian designer, the project unfolds across several dedicated environments: BLUE, the main art exhibition; BLUE NOTE, an intimate jazz space; BLUE NIGHT, daily gatherings extending the artistic experience beyond the fair; and THE BLUE TASTE, an immersive chocolate tasting journey. Together, these spaces offer a multisensory encounter with art, sound, and gastronomy.
Press release from 1-54: Contemporary African Art Fair
Image: M’barek Bouhchichi. Ce que je suis, ce que nous sommes. 2025. Mixed media on rubber. 160 x 270 cm. Image courtesy of L’Atelier 21
