Mosul Maqam Festival

View on map
MusicMosul
DatesDates TBA · Usually SeptemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsIts most distinguishing feature is the venue
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: IQD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Mosul Maqam Festival in Mosul

A traditional-music festival staged in September 2024 at Mosul Forest, a site ISIS had used to train fighters, featuring maqam masters Ramiz al-Rawi and Fakhri Fadhil and workshop students performing Mosul's centuries-old maqam tradition. Backed by a University of Exeter and British Council-supported project to document and safeguard endangered Iraqi maqam music, the festival drew over 600 attendees.

The Mosul Maqam Festival held on September 27, 2024, took place in Mosul Forest, a wooded area on the city's edge that had previously been used by ISIS to train fighters and recruit children during the group's 2014-2017 occupation of the city.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Its most distinguishing feature is the venue itself: staging a celebration of Mosul's musical heritage in a forest ISIS had used for militant training and child recruitment gives the event a pointed symbolic charge beyond the music itself

02

The mystery stays covered

It is also tied directly to an academic safeguarding project rather than being a purely presentational concert, meaning performances are paired with a documented effort to record and teach an endangered regional maqam tradition dated to around the year 750

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Performances center on maqam

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a system of melodic modes carrying traditional folk narrative and spiritual repertoire

The sacred route

Living ritual

performed by senior masters alongside students trained through associated workshops

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually September

Getting around

For Mosul Maqam Festival, plan transport around the exact Mosul venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable outdoor attire suits an evening forest venue; modest dress is appropriate given local social norms.

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For Mosul Maqam Festival, stay near the part of Mosul you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

IQD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.34 N, 43.12 EOpen in Google Maps

Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Nearest airportOSM — Mosul
TransportFor Mosul Maqam Festival, plan transport around the exact Mosul venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Mosul Maqam Festival, stay near the part of Mosul you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Mosul via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Mosul, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable outdoor attire suits an evening forest venue; modest dress is appropriate given local social norms.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Iraq and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Mosul Maqam Festival?

Mosul Maqam Festival is listed for September · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Mosul Maqam Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Mosul, Iraq. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Mosul, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmosulmaqam.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually September
Source statusOfficial source linked
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