Public Holidays and Holidays in Morocco 2026 -The Complete Traveler’s Guide
Public holidays and holidays in Morocco 2026 include 13 celebrations – a mix of Islamic religious observances, Amazigh cultural festivals, and national commemorations that shape the rhythm of life across the entire country. Some holidays make Morocco more magical for visitors. Others require careful planning. All of them affect accommodation prices, attraction opening hours, and the overall atmosphere of every city from Marrakech to Chefchaouen to the Sahara Desert. At Morocco Live Trips, we plan tours around the Moroccan holiday calendar every single week. This complete guide tells you exactly what to expect – and exactly when to book. Let’s go! Morocco Public Holidays 2026 Morocco observes both fixed national holidays and moveable Islamic holidays -the Islamic holidays shift approximately 11 days earlier each year following the Hijri lunar calendar. This means Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha fall on different Gregorian dates every year. In 2026 –Ramadan began in late February, Eid al-Fitr falls in late March, and Eid al-Adha falls in late May. Plan your Morocco trip around these dates carefully -they affect everything from restaurant hours to accommodation prices to tour availability. Complete Holiday Calendar Table 2026 Date Holiday Type Traveler Impact January 1 New Year’s Day National Low -most things open January 13 Amazigh New Year (Yennayer) National/Cultural Low -authentic cultural celebrations February 17 Ramadan begins Islamic High -restaurant hours change March 20 Eid al-Fitr (approx) Islamic Very High -3 day closure May 1 Labour Day National Medium -some closures May 27 Eid al-Adha (approx) Islamic Very High -3 day closure June 16 Islamic New Year (Muharram) Islamic Low -quiet celebrations July 30 Throne Day National High -major national celebration August 14 Oued Ed-Dahab Day National Low -government holiday August 20 Revolution Day National Medium -national commemoration August 21 Youth Day National Low -minor celebrations August 25 Mawlid -Prophet’s Birthday Islamic Medium -religious celebrations November 6 Green March Day National Medium -national commemoration November 18 Independence Day National Medium -national celebrations Islamic holiday dates are approximate -confirmed by moon sighting Religious Holidays vs National Holidays -Key Difference Religious holidays -Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and Mawlid -are determined by the Hijri lunar calendar and moon sighting. Dates shift every year. During these periods local restaurants, shops, and businesses significantly change their operating hours -some closing entirely during daylight hours in Ramadan. National holidays -New Year, Labour Day, Throne Day, Independence Day -fall on fixed Gregorian dates every year. Their impact on tourism is generally lower than religious holidays but still affects government offices, banks, and some attractions. Complete List of Morocco Public Holidays 2026 -With Traveler Impact January -New Year’s Day & Amazigh New Year January 1 -New Year’s Day passed without significant disruption to tourism. Major hotels, tourist restaurants, and most attractions in Marrakech, Fes, and Chefchaouen remained open. Local businesses took the day off but tourist infrastructure operated normally. New Year’s Eve in Djemaa el-Fna square attracted large crowds -a genuinely spectacular way to welcome 2026 in Morocco. January 13 -Amazigh New Year (Yennayer) was celebrated across Morocco with traditional food, music, and community gatherings -particularly in Amazigh Berber communities of the High Atlas Mountains and Souss Valley. This holiday was officially recognized as a national holiday in 2024 -a historic acknowledgment of Morocco’s indigenous Amazigh heritage. Travelers who were in Morocco on January 13 experienced one of the country’s most authentic and least touristy cultural celebrations. February to March -Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr Ramadan 2026 began on approximately February 17 -Morocco’s most significant Islamic observance, lasting 29 to 30 days. During Ramadan, Muslim Moroccans fast from dawn to sunset -no food, no water, no smoking during daylight hours. For travelers, this means significant changes to restaurant hours, souk activity, and the overall daily rhythm of every Moroccan city. Full details in the dedicated Ramadan section below. Eid al-Fitr -the celebration marking the end of Ramadan -falls on approximately March 20, 2026. It is a 3 day public holiday and one of the most joyful and family-oriented celebrations in the Islamic calendar. Full details in the dedicated Eid al-Fitr section below. May -Labour Day & Eid al-Adha May 1 -Labour Day is a national public holiday in Morocco -observed with demonstrations, parades, and workers’ gatherings in major cities. Most tourist attractions remain open. Government offices, banks, and post offices close. The Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech typically hosts organized events. Generally a low-impact day for travelers. Eid al-Adha -the Festival of Sacrifice -falls on approximately May 27, 2026. This is Morocco’s most significant Islamic holiday -a 3 day celebration involving the ritual slaughter of sheep that has profound cultural, religious, and practical implications for travelers. Full details in the dedicated Eid al-Adha section below. June -Islamic New Year June 16, 2026 -Islamic New Year (Ras as-Sanah al-Hijriyah) marks the beginning of the Islamic year 1448. It is a quieter and more reflective holiday than Eid celebrations -observed primarily through mosque attendance and family gatherings. Most tourist infrastructure remains operational. The Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira typically falls in June -creating one of Morocco’s most exciting travel periods regardless of the Islamic New Year. July -Throne Day July 30 -Throne Day is Morocco’s most significant national holiday -commemorating King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne in 1999. Cities across Morocco host military parades, public concerts, fireworks displays, and large-scale national celebrations. Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat see the most spectacular Throne Day events. This is one of the best national holidays for travelers to experience -the atmosphere is genuinely festive, welcoming, and deeply Moroccan in character. August -Four Holidays in One Month August is Morocco’s most holiday-dense month -with four national holidays in eight days: August 14 -Oued Ed-Dahab Day commemorates the return of the southern province of Oued Ed-Dahab to Morocco in 1979. Observed primarily through government commemorations -low impact on tourism. August 20 -Revolution Day (Revolution of the King and the People) commemorates the 1953 French exile of King Mohammed V -a pivotal moment in Morocco’s independence movement. National