The 18th OWHC World Congress takes place in Marrakech from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 October 2026. The official preliminary programme identifies the Mogador Congress Center as the venue, with participant arrivals scheduled for 25 and 26 October and an optional city visit on 30 October. If you are arranging accommodation independently rather than using the official congress hotel, reserve early, keep your daily transport plan realistic, and leave your Medina visits for gaps in the programme rather than trying to fit them between fixed sessions.
For an event or seasonal stay in the Medina, Riad Luciano has eight rooms and suites in Dar El Bacha. Explore rooms and suites
The essentials: dates, venue and congress focus
The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) confirms that its 18th World Congress will be held in Marrakech from 26 to 29 October 2026. Its theme is “The New Urban Process: Toward the Habitability of Historic Centers.”
The preliminary programme places congress activities at the Mogador Congress Center. It also lists an opening ceremony on 26 October, a closing ceremony on 29 October, and an optional sightseeing visit offered by the City of Marrakech on 30 October. Treat a preliminary programme as a planning tool, then check the official congress site again shortly before travelling for final session times.
- Congress dates: 26–29 October 2026
- Participant arrival window: 25–26 October
- Official venue: Mogador Congress Center
- Optional city visit: 30 October
Choosing accommodation: official hotel or an independent stay
The congress materials identify Mogador Palace Agdal for official accommodation and hospitality. The registration information says that airport arrival and departure transport is included between Marrakech Menara Airport and the official congress hotel, alongside transport for official programme events.
That arrangement should not be assumed to cover delegates staying elsewhere. An independent stay can suit travellers who want time in the Medina, but it means confirming your own route to the congress venue and allowing a margin before morning commitments. Choose based on the balance you need between congress logistics and the kind of Marrakech stay you want.
- Use the official accommodation if included congress transport is your priority.
- For an independent stay, map the venue-to-accommodation journey before booking.
- Avoid scheduling a Medina visit immediately before a fixed congress session.
- Confirm all congress transport conditions directly with the organiser.
Arrival and the first working day
Arriving on 25 October gives you time to settle in before the official programme begins; 26 October is also listed as an arrival day, but it includes registration and the opening ceremony. If your flight lands that day, build your plan around the possibility of delays and limited spare time.
Riad Luciano can coordinate an airport transfer when requested in advance. This is useful only as a separate accommodation-arrival arrangement: it is not presented as a congress transfer service, and it does not replace the organiser’s transport arrangements for the official hotel.
- Aim for 25 October if you want a less pressured arrival.
- Keep registration requirements and confirmation details accessible offline.
- If arriving on 26 October, do not overbook the afternoon or evening.
- Request any independent airport-arrival arrangement before travelling.
Making room for the Medina without overplanning
A congress week is not the moment to turn Marrakech into a checklist. Pick one compact activity for a free evening or a clear half-day: a walk in the Dar El Bacha area, time in a museum, or an unhurried meal. Leave scope for the heat, traffic, conversations and the fact that formal sessions may run longer than expected.
For delegates staying in the Medina, the most useful approach is to choose accommodation that supports rest as well as exploration. Riad Luciano has eight rooms and suites, rooftop spaces, a courtyard pool and on-site dining; those details may help when considering a base for downtime, but availability and suitability should be checked directly for your dates.
- Plan one Medina activity, not several, around each open period.
- Keep the evening before an early session deliberately simple.
- Use 30 October for the official optional visit if it matches your travel schedule.
- Review the official programme again before confirming non-refundable plans.