Transahara is the world’s most authentic and unique desert festival. It’s a magical musical oasis in the shadow of a mysterious sand dune found only deep in the Sahara desert, in a dried-up Moroccan lake. It operates near the city of Merzouga from the 17th to 21st March 2022 and coincides with the equinox, a very special and spiritual moment that marks the passage from winter to spring, darkness to light, meaning you will simultaneously see the moon setting and the sun rising on the same breathtaking horizon. The Einstein Rosen Bridge will be headlined by Adama, Aija, Beardy Weardy, Brojanowski, Eat Static, Emok, Guiseppe, and The Stephen Hawking Gate will be headlined by Sebastian Mulleart, AMVN, Bas Ibellini, D-Nox, Eitan Reiter, John Acquaviva, Nitin, Miyagi, Konstantin, MR ID, and many others.
The sands of time pass slowly in this majestic desert landscape, the seductive silence of the dunes soothes the soul, and the infinite horizons empty your mind. It is known for its vibrant colors and exotic foods and is steeped in Arab-Berber culture. It’s a true desert paradise where iconic scenes from movies like The Mummy, Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, James Bond, and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time were filmed, where Jean Michel Jarre gave one of his most legendary live shows, and where, in time, Transahara will be Africa’s very own Burning Man.
Transahara was founded in 2002. It began as a low-key gathering of music fans with a limited budget and a big dream. Rather than pursuing corporate sponsorship and racing to sell hundreds of thousands of tickets, it simply continued to grow at a steady pace. There were years when there was no festival at all. The music and the experience were always most important, rather than doing an event for the sake of it. Transahara, on the other hand, is ready to return and make its mark once more.
This ancient location will become a melting pot of cultural exchange, artistic expression, and world-class house, psytrance, chill out, and techno for only five days and four nights. There will be three distinct stages, each with its own distinct look and feel. They will act as inter-dimensional and inter-musical portals to different worlds and have music playing non-stop between them.
Because psytrance originated in the desert, there will be a real interplay between sounds and scenes. It’s also the beating heart of the so-called “desert house” sound, which has gained worldwide acclaim. You’ll find the world’s most authentic mix of spiritual sounds, desert grooves, and transcendental moods at Transahara. DJ sets will be carefully curated to create musical journeys that tell a story. There will be live music, traditional local bands, and stunning acoustic sessions, as well as a variety of special after-parties.
Deep techno legend Sebastian Mulleart, cult tech-house figure Bas Ibellini, enduring techno pioneer John Acquaviva, as well as a slew of contemporary tastemakers like D-Nox, Eitan Reiter, Nitin, Miyagi, Konstantin, Adama, Aija, Beardy Weardy, Brojanowski, Eat Static, and others, are among those bringing the world-class sounds.
Transahara caters to people from all walks of life and on a variety of budgets. In the rich array of local hotels, campsites, and bell tents that will suit all tastes, accommodation is as close as 400m or as far as 3.5km away. As a result, travelers from all over the world will be able to plan their own journeys, share their stories, and contribute to the unique atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind desert gathering.
Details of specially organized day trips to local towns and historic sites, such as Marrakech’s bustling markets, camel treks, and UNESCO World Heritage villages, will be available in the coming months. A whole wellness village will be unveiled, complete with a wealth of local customs, cultures, and healing treatments, as well as a diverse range of art installations that will pop up throughout the site to make it even more sensory-stimulating.
Transahara will transport you to a world unlike any other in the desert. It will be a true get-away from reality. An eye-opening, unforgettable mix of music, culture, and art with open-minded people from all over the world.
