Festivals

Festivals in Algeria are organized throughout the various regions to celebrate history, culture, music, film, sport, food, arts and handcrafts. Its traditions are colorful and handed down from one generation to the next. Algeria’s local festivals are organized all year round throughout the country. From the north to the south, each area has its own festival that it celebrates with splendor. Symbol of popular traditions, the local festivals have become an occasion for organizing tourist stays to discover the marvelous sites of each one of its areas and to share the joy of the local populations with their legendary hospitality. On the whole, no less than 256 local festivals are celebrated annually throughout the various areas of the country. Festivals can change from time, and period !

Ath Khili Pottery Festival
Located in the south of Tizi Ouzou is the village of the Maatkas, where potters, and pottery has been exploring for nine hyears now. The hanscraft clayware is the local primarly income for the town. The hansdcraft pottery are famnous for there quality whose decoration are inspiored by the Berber symbolic system.

Yenni Silver Jewel Festival
In the village of Djurdjura located in the mounatin range over more than 900 meters is form july to august the silver jewel festival. Silver decorated with coral, yellow enamel, green colors, and blue ones. These Kabyle jewels have won international awards, particularly in Canada and the United States.

European culture festival
One of the most interesting festivals in Algeria in early-May, this cultural event assembles artists from some 16 countries to perform traditional rhythms, jazz and flamenco. It is held in three different cities, Algiers, Tlemcen and Constantine.

Festival du Rai d’Oran
The national celebration of music features performances from different artists in a colorful event about the importance of Rai to the Algerian culture. It also celebrates the contributions of local artists to uphold the country’s distinct musical genre.

Tafsit of Tamanrasset
For three days, the people of the Hoggar gather in Tamanrasset to celebrate the arrival of spring in an atmosphere of festival rich in colors. Folk band processions are organized through the streets of the city to the great delight of the local people and tourists who come in large numbers to share the joys of this festival where the traditional craft industry occupies a privileged place… Fashion parades and beauty contests are organized on this occasion.
Dimajazz Festival
Similar to the European Cultural Festival, Dimajazz features performances from well-known musical artists from all over the world.

Ghardaïa Carpet Festival
In the M’Zab valley, the spring holidays provide an opportunity for craftsmen from all parts of the country to exhibit and sell their carpets. Enlivened by Karkabou bands which play percussions based rhythms and fire gunshots in the air, this festival is an exotic tourist attraction. More than a traditional festival, this event is an artistic contest in which craftsmen compete in a convivial atmosphere.

S’biba of Djanet
In Djanet, the capital of the Tassili, the religious feast of Achoura is always celebrated joyfully. The populations gather to renew the peace pact sealed nearly three thousand years ago and to establish new alliances. In ancient times, a fratricidal war was raging between Tuareg tribes. When they learned that Moses defeated the Pharaoh and his armies they agreed to end their conflict and to seal a peace pact which has united them since then. Exhibition fights recreating the last battle following which the peace pact was signed are performed on this occasion.

Pan-African Cultural Festival
The PanAf festival involves performances, exhibitions, and events at different locations throughout Algeria. More than 8,000 artists, musicians, authors, and actors from the African Union congregate in Algiers, Blida, Bourmerdes, Tipaza, and other cities to promote the arts.

National Amazigh Film Festival
Held in January, this movie festival showcases full-length feature films, documentaries, shorts, and animations that celebrate the Amazigh culture in Algeria.

Western Sahara Marathon
The Western Sahara Marathon involves five kilometer to 41km races that start from the Sahrawi Refugee Camp in Tindouf held late in February. Thousands of runners from all over the world come to compete.

S’Boue of Timimoun
Like the Tassili, the Gourara area is known for its festivals in which the traditional songs of the “Ahellil” bands are omnipresent. Organized during the mawlid, the feast celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the S’boue (week)is a festival that lasts seven days and seven nights. The seventh day, all the people of the K’sour gather around the zaouia (religious school) of Sheikh El Hadj Belkacem for a large gathering where the standards of the brotherhoods are exhibited to the beat of the Ahellil songs. The celebration of this festival is also an opportunity for gathering the local population to settle any quarrels which may arise during the year and to seal new alliances.

Mawlid of Béni-Abbès
In the vicinity of Béchar, northwards, the sumptuous oasis of Béni-Abbès celebrates lavishly the birth of the Prophet. On the day of the Mawlid, the small square of the town is the center of a great deal of excitement with karkabou music and local dances. This religious festival is also an opportunity for the circumcision of the children and meetings between the families of the Saoura.

Mawsim Taghit
The Saoura region organizes, in the last weekend of October, a great celebration, the “Mawssim Taghit”. This festival is dedicated to the date and offerings are made to the poorest sections of the population. The date harvest is an opportunity to gather all of the inhabitants of the Saoura in this age-old festival which dates back more than 19 centuries. The tradition is celebrated during three days to the beat of the bendir, the goumbri and songs chanted in chorus.

Ouaâdat Sidi Ahmed El Medjdoub
The festival is organized by the Medjadba tribe to preserve and perpetuate local traditions and habits during which couscous and tea are served to all the guests. During the feast, fantasia exhibitions are performed, and poetry contests.

M’Doukal Fantasia
During the first weekend of every month of May, this festival is held in the Aurès region providing a magnificent landscape for the fantasia shows during which horsemen dressed in traditional clothing exhibit their most beautiful horses.

El Kala Coral festival
In this easternmost town of the Algerian coast bordering with Tunisia, the coral festival gathers fishermen, craftsmen and other tradesmen in August. Algerian coral, which regenerates quickly after fishing, is exported to many countries. El Kala’s coral, as well as Bejaia’s, is famous for its quality and its rare rose tones. Heather wood is another wealth of this area; it is used to manufacture internationally famous pipes.