Morocco festivals

 Thanks to its cultural diversity and complex history, Moroccans are constantly celebrating something. From Berber tribal traditions to electronic music festivals and contemporary art exhibitions, Morocco hosts a plethora of festivals. When planning your next trip to this diverse country, be sure to check out the festivals below!

Moroccan festivals by month.

JANUARY

The first month of the year is Morocco’s New Year’s Eve celebration: in the West, the first one is January 1. This is a public holiday in Morocco, and Moroccans usually spend the day recovering from the previous night’s merry festivities (see below: “December”). However, the most unique New Year’s celebrations take place two weeks later, on January 12 and 13. During this time, Morocco’s traditional Berber communities celebrate the Amazigh New Year, Jena’iya, which marks the beginning of the agricultural year. Today, various Moroccan cities such as Agadir and Tiznit hold events to commemorate the day. Morocco’s most traditional celebration takes place in the Middle Atlas region, where Berber tribes sing, dance and cook couscous while praying for a good harvest.

Around the same time, January 11 marked Morocco’s declaration of independence from French colonial rule: on January 11, 1944, the Moroccan Independence Party sent a manifesto to France demanding full independence. Although this manifesto was rejected and Morocco did not achieve full independence until 1957, the Declaration of Independence has remained an important symbol of the Moroccan nationalist struggle. Today, it is celebrated with street decorations and public festivities in various Moroccan cities.

FEBRUARY

In February, the Tafraoute Almond Festival attracts a lot of attention. Historically, Tafraoute, the center of almond production in Morocco, used to host a small agricultural festival every year to sell almond products and celebrate the year’s harvest. However, as the festival grew in popularity, it had to be moved from Tafraoute to Valle dei Tempi, where it is currently held. With this move, the event evolved from a simple harvest festival to a celebration of local folklore including traditional Berber music, dance and theater. Tents are set up in the valley among Roman ruins and stage performances compete with almond trees.

MARCH

There are two major annual events in Morocco in March. The International Nomad Festival, held in the small town of Mohamid el Ghizran (60 km south of Zagora), is a free outdoor event celebrating all aspects of nomadic culture. Local and international artists are invited to perform poetry, music, dance, storytelling and crafts. Conferences and workshops are also held to discuss issues related to nomadic lifestyle, agriculture, environmental protection and education. There is also traditional food preparation and traditional sports. However, most activities take place at a specially designed nomadic camp 20 kilometers from Muhamid. Those wishing to attend the International Nomad Festival should take care of suitable transportation in advance, as the roads here are not in ideal condition.

For art lovers, the Marrakech Biennale is a great place to showcase avant-garde contemporary art, literature and cinema. It is a biennial event that usually opens in early March and ends in late April/early May to address social issues and build cultural bridges through art. The main visual art exhibition, various art installations, discussions, film screenings and debates are the highlights of the Moroccan Festival!

The Marrakech Biennale is the premier venue for art lovers to showcase avant-garde contemporary art, literature and cinema. The biennial event, which aims to address social issues and build cultural bridges through art, usually opens in early March and ends in late April/early May. A main visual art exhibition, various art installations, discussions, film screenings and debates are the highlights of the Moroccan Festival!

APRIL

April is characterized by a varied cultural program. The Marathon des Sables, held annually over 10 days, is one of the most unique events in Morocco. This one-of-a-kind marathon takes place in the Sahara Desert and is considered the toughest foot race on earth, covering 251 kilometers (156 miles) in six days. If you’re looking for a challenge, this is the event for you! Be sure to register early, however, as spots fill up quickly. If you are not physically fit, there is still plenty to do in Morocco in April. Every year, the Sufi Music and Culture Festival takes place for eight days in the imperial city of Fez (in 2016, the event was moved to October). In honor of Sufi spirituality and music, the festival brings together Sufi religious leaders as well as artists from around the world to present poetry, film, music, dance, and artwork. Scholars also gather to discuss important topics related to Sufism, such as human rights, cultural diversity and world peace.

In mid-April, visitors can also look forward to the Merzoug World Music Festival, which takes place among the majestic dunes of Erg Shebbi. This unique festival is designed primarily for cultural exchange, bringing together artists, dancers and musicians from all over the world. It will also host sporting events, especially for young children.

MAY

May is the time when Morocco’s cultural program is at its most vibrant, with renowned festivals taking place throughout the country. Fez hosts the World Festival of Sacred Music, which brings together musicians, scholars and art lovers from around the world for a week-long event that includes free concerts, a film festival and a forum for discussion.

The Rose Festival is one of Morocco’s most beautiful festivals, celebrating the season’s rose harvest. It is held in the town of El Kela’a M’Gouna, located 50 miles north of Ouarzazate and affectionately known as the Valley of Roses. Most of the rose water that is a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine in Morocco is produced here. The narrow streets of the souk in El Kelaa M’Gouna are home to stalls of delicious food, Berber dancers and singers, and even a parade of floats. Moroccan tours can be arranged to coincide with these events, but this can be difficult as the timing is linked to the harvest. A more modern festival is Rabat’s Mawazine (“Rhythms of the World”), an eight-stage festival in the Moroccan capital that features some of the world’s most popular artists, including Kylie Minogue, Elton John and Whitney Houston. The festival is also a catalyst for more and more Moroccan artists.

June

One of the greatest festivals for those interested in Morocco’s multicultural past is the Gnaoua World Music Festival, held every June in the picturesque seaside town of Essaouira. For four days, it celebrates the contributions of the Gnaoua people and their ancestors. 500,000 people attend this festival, which is the largest of its kind in the world. More than 500,000 people attend the festival to watch dance and music shows and interact with artists during more intimate performances and public debates.

Those looking for a laugh can visit Marrakech du Reel, a five-day international comedy festival in Marrakech. Kings and queens of comedy, as well as young comedians looking for their big break, give their best shows at venues around the city. It is worth noting that most of the performances are in French or Arabic.

July

With the onset of the summer heat in Morocco, a variety of festivals come to life in Morocco’s coastal cities. One of the most popular is the Timitar music festival in Agadir. Considered one of the best music festivals in Africa, the festival brings together more than 40 artists from around the world to promote Amazo culture.

The International Cultural Festival is the festival that follows, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the otherwise quiet seaside town of Asilah. Artists flock here to showcase their work and paint murals on the medina’s ancient walls. The star of the show, however, is a three-day horse festival which includes a Moroccan fantasia (a traditional exhibition of horsemanship).

Later, in the picturesque blue-washed town of Chefchaouen, Alegria seeks to celebrate culture and diversity on its two-day event. Musical performances, photography exhibitions, local talent shows and tasty traditional foods fill the streets of Chefchaouen to showcase the best of Moroccan and international culture.

At the end of the month, on the 30^th to be exact, Moroccans celebrate the crowning of His Majesty King Mohammed VI with the Feast of the Throne. As a public holiday, people flock to the streets to celebrate with fireworks and parades.

August

The festivities continue into August, with two major Moroccan festivals showcasing the best of Moroccan culture. The Tafraoute Summer Music Festival in Trafraoute is a free three-day event featuring local bands, musicians and artists from all over Morocco. Moussem Moulay Abdellah Amgar in El Jadida is an exciting religious and cultural celebration in honor of Sufi saint Abdallah Abou Rahmahassin Mohammed Amgar, attracting more than 500,000 participants and featuring performances by fanciers, traditional bands, singing, dancing and all other manifestations of Moroccan folkloric art.

SEPTEMBR

In early September, the annual Tangier Festival takes place in Tangier. Amateur and renowned musicians come together to grace the stages of Tangier for three days. There are also workshops for dancers and musicians at various locations in Tangier. If you want to travel back in time, however, don’t miss the Imilchil marriage festival this month. This traditional Berber custom is held once a year when families from different local tribes come together to marry their sons and daughters. Tourists are welcome to take part, but should exercise caution when observing the ceremony.

OCTOBER

In October, temperatures start to drop, but the festivities continue! The date festival in Erfoud opens the season with religious ceremonies, colorful processions in traditional costumes, camel races and, of course, music and dance to celebrate the date harvest A new festival making its debut in 2016 is Essaouira’s MOGA Festival, an electronic music festival. With the purchase of a ticket, you can attend daytime events ranging from music brunches to beach parties and digital video installations, as well as evening concerts featuring some of Africa’s best electronic music artists.

At the end of March, under the stars of the Sahara Desert, the Taragarte festival celebrates peace and nomadic traditions. For two days you can relax on the dunes, listen to music, dance under the moon and take part in interesting discussions about peace, stability and environmental protection.

NOVEMBER

Much attention is paid to Morocco’s Independence Day on November 18: on this day in 1944, the King of Morocco declared independence from French and Spanish colonial rule. Today, the day is celebrated with colorful parades and traditional food stalls throughout the country.

DECEMBER

For one last look at Moroccan traditions, don’t miss the Tan Tan Moussem festival. More than 30 tribes from southwest Morocco and northwest Africa participate. The event includes worship services, story sharing, dancing and camel races. The Marrakech International Film Festival takes place in the middle of the month, where awards in various categories are presented, and during the week, movies are screened as early as 11 a.m. in Jemaa el Fna Square. And there is no better place to end the year than Morocco. Here it is customary to celebrate the New Year under the stars in the Sahara Desert, making for an unforgettable evening.

Morocco has several holidays whose dates change every year as they follow the Islamic calendar.

Aïd el Kebir is similar to the celebration of the Western New Year. On this day, each family traditionally sacrifices a sheep and the meat is divided among family members.

The holiday commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command and the fact that by God’s grace his son was replaced by a sheep. People celebrate by cooking special foods and wearing their best outfits, visiting family and friends. In small villages, children go door to door wishing everyone “Umbarid” (happy new year). Thirty days later, on the Prophet’s Birthday (Eid-el-Mulud), the birth of Prophet Muhammad is celebrated and lively mousums are held in different cities.

Achura is celebrated on the 10th day of Muharram and is considered a day of joy for Sunni Muslims in Morocco. Local customs for celebrating this religious day vary from country to country, but parents usually give toys to children who play outside with fireworks. Sweets, nuts and apricots are also exchanged. Perhaps the most famous Muslim holiday in Morocco is Ramadan (the month of fasting), which is celebrated 10 days earlier each year on the Western calendar.

For Moroccan Muslims, this period of fasting is a time of intense prayer and reflection. If you’re traveling to Morocco during this period, here’s what to expect. We’ve created this handy infographic to help you remember the most popular festivals in Morocco and use it to plan your visit!

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