After three days of live performances, two projects were selected in each category for their musical identity, artistic vision and ability to bring their work to life on stage.
This year’s edition introduced a new approach: the winners were announced at the end of each competition night, allowing audiences to discover the projects selected by the juries without having to wait until the end of the event. The six winners came together again on Sunday, September 20, for the awards ceremony closing the 2026 edition of the L’Boulevard Tremplin.
2026 winners
In the Rap/Hip Hop category, the first prize went to Shinohidden from Berkane. After taking time to develop his identity, he began releasing his music in 2024. His rap moves between languages and tempos, with clear delivery over trap and atmospheric productions. With several tracks already online and collaborations with rapper Achflan, he has expanded into raï, blues, rock and gnaoua, citing Hoba Hoba Spirit among his influences. The result is a personal fusion rooted in lived experience.
The second prize went to Casablanca’s BrownY Original, whose drill draws on the raw energy of trap, old-school rap and the discographies of artists such as 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Dizzy Dros and Lil Baby. He gained attention with “3erfti Chno!!!” and “Lah Idir Chi Tawil ‘Ratatata’,” relying on direct lyrics and dark productions. After performing at L’Uzine and a showcase in Fez, he arrived at the Tremplin with a clearly defined sound, combining street aesthetics with stories drawn from everyday life.
In the Fusion/Other Contemporary Music category, the first prize went to Metrotune from Casablanca-Settat. Formed in March 2026, the six-member band brings together a contemporary Moroccan fusion of salsa, rock and gnaoua. Its sound grew out of the different backgrounds of its members: rock- and metal-influenced guitar and bass, Latin piano, gnaoua percussion and chaâbi-inspired drums. The group initially focused on rearranging existing songs but is now working on original compositions and exploring new directions for Moroccan fusion music.
The second prize went to Arinass from Fez, which explores Morocco’s rich musical traditions through more contemporary grooves. Blending gnaoua, aïta and chaâbi rhythms with reggae, rock and world music influences, the group builds its sound around vocals, traditional instruments and the energy of live performance. Its influences include Aziz Sahmaoui, Nass El Ghiwane, Tinariwen, Hoba Hoba Spirit, Alpha Blondy and Bob Marley.
Read also : L’Boulevard 2026: Moroccan rap takes center stage at opening night
In the Rock/Metal category, the first prize went to Lixivia from Salé. Formed in Salé in 2024, the band plays fast-paced crossover thrash, combining old-school thrash aggression with the urgency of hardcore punk, drawing inspiration from Municipal Waste, D.R.I. and Toxic Holocaust. Tight riffs, frantic tempos, mosh-pit energy and a contamination-themed aesthetic define Lixivia’s collision of metal and punk.
The second prize went to Darih from Casablanca. Formed in the city in 2024, the band draws on the darker chapters of history, forgotten conflicts and North African esoteric folklore for its Black/Death Metal sound. Combining the precision of death metal with black metal atmospheres, its lyrics evoke the Moors, colonialism and local legends. The band cites Mgła, Bathory, Sepultura and Kreator among its influences. After performing at L’Uzine and on the First Stage at Tricinty Fest 2026, Darih already has several tracks to its name, including “1907” and “Liberation.”
The Tremplin: a stage before a prize
Since 1999, the Tremplin has supported Morocco’s emerging music scene by giving artists access to a professional stage, an audience and industry attention. With this 24th edition, more than 765 Moroccan bands and artists will have performed on its stage since the competition was launched.
Prize money was increased this year, with the first-place winners in each category receiving 15,000 dirhams and the second-place winners 10,000 dirhams.
But the support does not end with the awards. From Monday, September 21 through September 26, the six winners will take part in a week-long training program at Boultek covering stage and vocal performance, recording, copyright, communication and digital distribution, musicians’ health and career development.
Each of the six projects will also have the opportunity to record a track at Studio Hiba, a festival partner.
