King Mohammed VI International Quran Award 2026: The 20th Edition in Numbers
Every summer since 2005, the Kingdom of Morocco gathers an elite of Quran memorizers from around the world for the King Mohammed VI International Award in Quran Memorization, Recitation, Tajwid and Tafsir. In August 2026 the competition crowned its twentieth edition — a milestone celebrating a quarter century of Moroccan care for the Quran and its people.
The 20th Edition in Numbers
The 20th edition opened on Monday 10 August 2026 (26 Safar 1448 AH) and closed on Friday 14 August 2026 (1 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH), with:
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Participating countries | 45 |
| Total reciters | 83 |
| Full-memorization branch | 41 participants (complete hifz + tafsir) |
| Tajwid branch | 38 participants (tajwid + 5 ahzab) |
These figures highlight the award's international standing; in 2026, for example, Qatar took third place in the memorization branch of a contest drawing reciters from dozens of countries. The ministry publishes the top-three winners of each branch on its official website.
Branches and Rules
The competition rests on two main branches:
- Full memorization with recitation and tafsir: memorizing the entire mushaf, mastering tilawah, and answering tafsir questions on assigned verses.
- Tajwid with memorization of five ahzab: mastering the rules of tajwid in the Moroccan tradition together with five portions of the Quran.
In the final stage, a jury of respected scholars and reciters hears each contestant and grades memorization accuracy, quality of delivery and correctness of recitation.
Prize Values
| Rank | National branches |
|---|---|
| First | 12,000 MAD |
| Second | 10,000 MAD |
| Third | 8,000 MAD |
Alongside this, the King Mohammed VI Award for Quranic Schools (katatib) encourages traditional Quran schools, with the first-place winner in each category receiving 50,000 MAD — recognition of the kuttab's centuries-old role in teaching the Quran in Morocco.
An Award Born of a Royal Dahir
The award was instituted by Royal Dahir no. 1.04.223 issued on 7 Muharram 1426 AH (16 February 2005) and is organized by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs. Since then it has become one of the world's most prestigious Quranic events, attracting generations of memorizers and reciters and showcasing the distinctively Moroccan school of recitation and tajwid.
The Award within Morocco's Quranic Landscape
The award cannot be read apart from a much older ecosystem: the katatib (Quranic schools) spread across cities and villages, the memorization circles in mosques supervised by the Habous ministry, and specialized Quran institutes. That continuum is what turns the competition into the crowning of a journey that begins with the fqih at the kuttab and ends on the winners' podium.
→ Read also about Morocco's historic mosques, centuries of Quran teaching; Morocco's zawiyas and Sufi heritage; and Moroccan Arabic calligraphy, the art that has adorned Allah's words for centuries.
How to Prepare for the Next Edition
- Start with solid memorization: daily review with a qualified teacher is the fastest route to the top ranks.
- Master tajwid rules: especially the Moroccan method if you target the tajwid branch.
- Train on tafsir: the full-memorization branch includes tafsir questions, so study reliable concise commentaries.
- Register through official channels: the ministry announces conditions and dates before each edition, with nominations generally handled through local scholarly councils and accredited schools.
Conclusion
The 20th edition of the King Mohammed VI Award is more than an annual contest: it is Morocco's renewed testimony that Allah's book is carried in hearts, generation after generation. Follow the ministry's announcements for the next edition — and start today; memorizing the Quran is a journey that begins with a single verse.
Related articles
- Historic mosques of Morocco, centuries of knowledge and prayer
- Moroccan zawiyas and Sufi heritage, the kingdom's spiritual legacy
- Moroccan Arabic calligraphy, a living heritage serving Allah's words
