Moroccan cultural producer Brahim El Mazned has been named a laureate of the 2026 UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, one of the most prominent international awards recognizing contributions to the promotion of Arab culture.
El Mazned, founder of Visa for Music, was honored for his longstanding commitment to music as a platform for cultural exchange, dialogue and artistic visibility, UNESCO said in its announcement.
He is best known for launching Visa for Music, an international professional market dedicated to music from Africa and the Middle East, held annually in Rabat.
Beyond this initiative, El Mazned has contributed to a range of cultural projects and festivals aimed at promoting the diversity of Arab and African music and strengthening South-South and intercultural cooperation.
UNESCO praised his work for advancing underrepresented voices and fostering connections between regions through music. The organization said his career reflects its core values, including cultural diversity, mutual understanding and artistic freedom.
El Mazned said he accepted the award “with deep emotion and great humility,” describing it as recognition of collective efforts carried out over many years in service of culture and dialogue.
He added that the distinction encourages continued support for artistic creation, the development of new generations of cultural professionals and the promotion of Moroccan and Arab cultural heritage internationally.
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 24, 2026, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where cultural figures and international guests will gather to celebrate the laureates.
The recognition highlights Morocco’s growing role in global cultural dialogue and its influence in shaping contemporary Arab and African artistic expression.
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