Festivals in Egypt are numerous. Because Egypt is home to many different religions, the Egyptian calendar is jam-packed with yearly celebrations. Many of these fun celebrations in Egypt last for days and involve singing, dancing, dressing up in costumes, and eating a lot. Public holidays and festivals in Egypt are the best ways to taste Egyptian culture. If you’re planning a trip, check out our Egypt tour packages and prepare to attend the most exciting festivals of Egypt.
What are the Most Popular Festivals in Egypt?
Religion Festivals in Egypt
Islamic Festivals
As a respectable Muslim country, festivals in Egypt are wide-ranging, especially religious ones, in their annual calendar.
1- Ramadan
During the ninth lunar month, Muslims observe the fasting month of Ramadan. During this time, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything from dawn until dusk while they keep the fast. When Muslims fast, they do so in honor of the impoverished and to remember the Prophet Muhammad’s receiving of the first words of the Qur’an from Allah.
If you want to see Cairo in all its medieval glory at night, we suggest wandering the historic streets of Cairo. Muizz street and Khan El Khalili have particularly festive streets. In Alexandria, the area around the Mosque of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi is also lively at night. It is common to see food tables on the streets for those less fortunate.
Fanoos Ramadan or Ramadan A lantern is an Egyptian tradition exclusive to the month of Ramadan. Shops, residences, and restaurants all display brightly colored lanterns as part of this unique festival. Music-playing lanterns are made from repurposed materials and are a growing trend. While on one of our Egypt trips, your guide will take you to visit the famous lantern displays in Cairo or on Ahmed Maher Street—the street of lanterns.
Try traditional Egyptian food and drinks during Ramadan to get a natural feel for the season. Sweets such as kunafa and qatayef, filled with nuts, cream or cheese and soaked in syrup, are the stars of Ramadan.
** Please note that Ramadan fasting does not affect the services of Amon Ra Tours.
All trips and excursions are operating as normal, with minor changes being made to take into account the fact that not all restaurants are open all day.
2- Eid Al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and starts on the first day of the month of Shawwal. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan and both Eids move about 11 days earlier each year in the Western calendar. Families visit relatives, children get new clothes and money, and parks and the Nile Corniche are full of people. A famous greeting is “Eid Mubarak,” which means “May your Eid be blessed!”
3- Eid Al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, comes about two months and ten days after Eid al-Fitr, at the time of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It recalls Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God, and the ram that was sacrificed in his place. In the weeks before the Eid, sheep and cattle can be seen in many neighborhoods, and families share the meat of the sacrifice with relatives and people in need. The Islamic New Year is a separate holiday, about three weeks later.
4- Mawlid Al-Nabi
Muslim countries throughout the globe commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad with tremendous excitement. It is commemorated on the 12th of Rabi al-Awal, the third month of the Muslim calendar. The streets are littered with brightly colored clothing, party lights, and a festive atmosphere. Families buy traditional sweets such as nut candies and the famous sugar dolls for girls and sugar horses for boys.
5- Sayeda Zeinab Mawlid
Huge crowds gather every year around the Sayeda Zeinab Mosque in Cairo for this celebration in honor of Sayyida Zaynab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad.
6- Mawlid of Al-Hussein
It’s one of the city’s most well-attended and well-attended street events all year. A week-long celebration culminates in this event on the final Wednesday of the Islamic month of Rabi el-Tani. It is held in the El-Hussein Mosque, which honors the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, who was slain in Iraq in 680.
Coptic Festivals of Egypt
7- Coptic Christmas
Coptic Egyptians celebrate Coptic Christmas on January 7th, and in recent years, more of the Western Christmas celebration’s trappings have made their way to Egypt. You may see more Christmas decorations in Egypt than you thought at this time, including Santa hats, lights, and trees.
Check out our top Christmas tour packages and book the best Christmas holiday trip to Egypt.
8- Coptic Easter
After midnight on Easter Sunday, Coptic Christians recite the Easter prayer celebrating the Great Evening; there will be a drama about Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Heaven’s gates looked locked, and the chamber darkened to signify the fall of man into sin. During Easter, a big family supper is served to celebrate the end of a long time of fasting. Fish, meat, eggs, bread, and biscuits are frequent culinary staples. Coptic Christians also buy and wear new attire, visiting relatives and friends at their houses.
9- Palm Sunday
Egyptian Christians mark Palm Sunday by commemorating Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem surrounded by worshipers armed with palm fronds and olive branches. Traders of palm fronds stop in front of churches and streets to sell the fronds in various shapes and styles, including crosses and decorations.
Ancient Festivals in Egypt
10- Sham El Nessim
An ancient Egyptian celebration that is still performed by Egyptians today. The name refers to the smell of spring, which is cherished during the spring season. It’s a one-day holiday where picnics are held in parks, beaches, and historical locations by families with a basket full of salted fish, colorful eggs, and onions. The entire country is bustling with activity during Sham El Nessim, and everyone is smiling.
11- Abu Simbel Sun Festival
12- Wafaa Al Nil
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Kom Ombo Temple lit up at nightThe Nile River is honored at this event, celebrating one of Egypt’s most enduring emblems. In Egypt, it’s one of the oldest celebrations. Wafaa El Nil, the “Fidelity of the Nile,” is traditionally celebrated in August, when the Nile flood used to arrive, with cultural events, music and poetry along the river.
13- Leylet en Nuktah
One of the most renowned celebrations in Egypt is Leylet En Nuktah. The Nile is a deity in ancient Egypt because it was the site of the region’s oldest civilization and is currently a significant source of water and income for the Egyptian people. A popular legend claims that the ancient Egyptians sacrificed a young woman to the Nile, but there is no historical evidence for it. Leylet En Nuktah, “the Night of the Drop,” falls in June and celebrates the start of the rising of the Nile; families still mark it with picnics along the riverbanks.
14- El Gouna Film Festival
The El Gouna Film Festival, usually held in the autumn in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, brings together Egyptian and international films, stars and filmmakers.
Music Festivals
15- Cairo Jazz
The Cairo Jazz Festival brings Egyptian and international jazz musicians to stages across Cairo every year, and the Cairo Jazz Club is a good place to hear live music all year round. Check the dates before your trip, as they change from year to year.
16- Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival, one of the oldest film festivals in the Arab world, takes place every year, usually in November, at the Cairo Opera House, with screenings open to the public.
17- International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts
The International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts brings performers from many countries to Cairo, with free drum and folk shows at historic venues such as the Citadel and Al-Moez Street. It is usually held in spring; check the exact dates before your trip.
Experience it in person: our guide to Egypt culture tours lists the 20 cultural sites worth planning a trip around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest festival in Egypt?
Ramadan and the two Eids, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, are the biggest celebrations. Sham El Nessim, the spring festival with ancient roots, is celebrated by all Egyptians.
Is it a good idea to visit Egypt during Ramadan?
Yes. Sites and tours run as normal, and the evenings are festive, with lanterns, iftar tables and lively streets. Some restaurants close during the day, and opening hours can be shorter.
When is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, when the rising sun shines into the sanctuary of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel.
Tours for Egypt’s festival season
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