Sahara events and festivals
A seasonal guide, not a listings page: ten real events tied to the desert gateways, to help you decide whether to adjust dates or simply know what may coincide with your trip.
We only list events with an official or institutional source. We never infer future dates from past editions.
Spring
May works as a transition: late spring and the start of the hot season.
Festival International des Nomades
- What it is:
- A festival devoted to nomadic culture since 2004: music, crafts, traditional games and talks.
- Where:
- M'Hamid El Ghizlane (gateway to Erg Chigaga)
- When:
- Usual timing: Spring, usually March–April. The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- Arguably the most direct way into the culture of the deep Draa; it fits a route towards Erg Chigaga.
Official source: nomadsfestival.org · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc
- What it is:
- A women's rally-raid navigated without GPS, with desert stages and moving bivouacs.
- Where:
- Moroccan desert (finish in Essaouira)
- When:
- 20 March – 3 April 2027 (36th edition)
- Why it matters to travellers:
- Not an open spectacle, but worth knowing about when planning.
Logistical impact. Major desert races can increase demand for accommodation, vehicles and services at some waypoints. Stages and bivouacs are not open spectacles.
Official source: rallyeaichadesgazelles.com · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Marathon des Sables (MDS Legendary)
- What it is:
- A multi-stage ultramarathon across the desert in food self-sufficiency.
- Where:
- Moroccan Sahara, with its logistics base in Ouarzazate
- When:
- 2 – 12 April 2027 (41st edition)
- Why it matters to travellers:
- The stages and bivouac are not open to the public; for travellers its relevance is mainly logistical.
Logistical impact. Major desert races can increase demand for accommodation, vehicles and services at some waypoints. Stages and bivouacs are not open spectacles.
Official source: marathondessables.com · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Morocco Desert Challenge
- What it is:
- An international rally-raid with scrutineering and official start in Ouarzazate.
- Where:
- Start in Ouarzazate; stages on desert tracks
- When:
- 8 – 17 April 2027
- Why it matters to travellers:
- It partly overlaps with the Marathon des Sables at the same gateway.
Logistical impact. Major desert races can increase demand for accommodation, vehicles and services at some waypoints. Stages and bivouacs are not open spectacles.
Official source: moroccodesertchallenge.com · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Salon International de la Rose à Parfum (Festival des Roses)
- What it is:
- A fair and celebration of the Damask rose, tied to the oasis economy.
- Where:
- Kelaat M'Gouna (Dades Valley)
- When:
- Usual timing: May, with the rose harvest. The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- It sits on the Ouarzazate–Dades axis crossed by many routes to Merzouga.
Official source: maroc.ma · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Autumn
Rallye du Maroc (FIA/FIM W2RC)
- What it is:
- A round of the World Rally-Raid Championship for bikes, quads, cars and SSVs.
- Where:
- Zagora and the Draa Valley (varies by edition)
- When:
- Usual timing: Late September – early October. The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- The route changes yearly; it matters mainly for its possible effect on the host town.
Logistical impact. Major desert races can increase demand for accommodation, vehicles and services at some waypoints. Stages and bivouacs are not open spectacles.
Official source: rallyemaroc.com · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Festival National des Arts d'Ahwach
- What it is:
- An institutional festival of ahwach, the collective Amazigh art of song, dance and poetry.
- Where:
- Ouarzazate (Taourirt kasbah and centre)
- When:
- Usual timing: Autumn, usually October. The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- Living heritage in one of the main southern gateways.
Official source: ahwachouarzazate.com · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Salon International des Dattes au Maroc (SIDATTES)
- What it is:
- A major date fair with a traditional market, local products and cultural activities.
- Where:
- Erfoud (Tafilalet), near Merzouga
- When:
- Usual timing: Late October – early November. The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- It shows the oasis economy right on the way to Erg Chebbi.
Official source: ada.gov.ma · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Festival Taragalte
- What it is:
- A small-capacity festival of Saharan and African music.
- Where:
- M'Hamid El Ghizlane, in nearby dunes
- When:
- Usual timing: Autumn (October – November). The next edition's date is not yet confirmed; check the official source.
- Why it matters to travellers:
- It complements the Festival des Nomades in autumn, at the same place.
Official source: Taragalte (página oficial / official page) · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Winter
Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora
- What it is:
- A film festival focused on the Sahara and Africa, with competitions, tributes and workshops.
- Where:
- Zagora (Draa Valley)
- When:
- 6 – 11 December 2026 (20th edition)
- Why it matters to travellers:
- A cultural reason to stop in Zagora during the cool season.
Official source: 2M / MAP · Date checked on 2026-11-12
Keep reading
Summer heat, cold winter nights, wind and Atlas snow: how to choose your season.
The remote erg beyond the Draa Valley: off-road access, fewer people and more logistics.
The ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the gateway to the south beyond the High Atlas.