Anne-Claire Legendre, the esteemed President of the Institut du monde arabe (IMA), is poised to undertake a pivotal visit to Morocco from June 19 to 24, 2026. This significant journey comes at the invitation of Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication. Marking her first official trip to the Kingdom since assuming the IMA presidency in February, this engagement aims to solidify the framework for a collaborative cultural roadmap between the prestigious Parisian institution and Morocco, building upon recent dialogues between the two parties.

The comprehensive six-day itinerary will take Ms. Legendre through the vibrant cities of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech. Touted as the IMA President’s inaugural official visit to Morocco, the tour is set to include crucial discussions with Minister Bensaid regarding the joint institutional cultural strategy. Furthermore, the agenda features meetings with leaders of prominent Moroccan cultural institutions and foundations, alongside various influential figures from the nation’s dynamic cultural and creative sectors.

This visit is a direct continuation of a productive meeting previously held in Paris at the IMA headquarters. During this initial encounter, Minister Bensaid, making his first visit to the institution since Anne-Claire Legendre’s appointment, collaborated closely with her to outline a shared strategic direction. Their focus centered on bolstering cooperation within “future cultural sectors,” specifically highlighting areas such as animation, comic books, the expansion of Arabic language literature, and cinema.

It was following these constructive discussions that Ms. Legendre expressed her firm intention to travel to Rabat to engage directly with Moroccan cultural bodies. Minister Bensaid, for his part, underscored that this invigorated cooperative momentum reflects the renewed strength in relations between Paris and Rabat, ignited by French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco.

Anne-Claire Legendre took the helm of the Institut du monde arabe on February 17, 2026, succeeding her predecessor, Jack Lang, who served for thirteen years. Her appointment is historic, making her the first woman to lead the institution since its inception. Prior to this role, from December 2023, she served as advisor to the French President for North Africa and the Middle East, a position she departed to join the IMA.

The institution now under Ms. Legendre’s guidance was established amidst a distinctive diplomatic landscape. The concept for its foundation emerged on February 28, 1980, guided by a High Council comprising representatives from Arab League member states. Notably, Morocco stands among the 19 Arab nations that, alongside France, contributed to the funding and establishment of this institution, which was conceived as a vital platform for dialogue between France, Europe, and the Arab world.

This period of institutional rapprochement extends beyond the IMA’s immediate scope. In March 2026, Ms. Legendre had already engaged in Paris with Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Museums Foundation. Their discussions explored potential partnerships between their respective institutions, a context Mr. Qotbi attributed to the “Enhanced Exceptional Partnership” between Morocco and France, driven by the leadership of King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron.

The upcoming visit from June 19 to 24 is anticipated to translate these months of bilateral exchanges into tangible progress on Moroccan soil, further solidifying the bond between the two nations.