International Nomads Festival, M'Hamid El Ghizlane
M'Hamid El Ghizlane (Zagora province)
A festival of nomadic music and desert traditions in M'Hamid El Ghizlane, at the end of the Draa Valley, every spring.
Dates
- 1 April 2027 – 15 April 2027 — 22nd edition; dates not published, early April estimated from 2025 (10-13 April) and 2026 (3-5 April) (estimated date)
Source: AllAfrica (MAP), 21e Festival international des nomades du 3 au 5 avril — accessed 14 October 2026
Key facts
The International Nomads Festival is held every year in M'Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village of the Draa Valley before the Erg Chegaga dunes, in Zagora province. It is organised by the association Nomades du monde. The 21st edition took place from 3 to 5 April 2026.
The 2026 programme included concerts by artists from Morocco, West Africa and Europe (Tartit and Virginie Dembélé from Mali, Toumastine from Niger, Dan Gharibian), traditional sports (camel racing, sand hockey, falconry), a Saharan craft market, tastings of "mella" sand-baked bread and talks on desert life.
The last two editions took place in early April; in 2027 that period falls after the end of Ramadan, expected around 9 March.
Good to know
- Access: M'Hamid is half a day's drive from Ouarzazate, beyond Zagora; the festival combines well with a night at a camp in Erg Chegaga.
- Season: in early April, days are hot and nights cool in the desert; bring a warm layer for evening concerts.
- Accommodation: options on site are limited (guesthouses, camps); book early for festival days.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nomads Festival in 2027?
Usually in early April: recent editions ran from 10 to 13 April 2025 and from 3 to 5 April 2026.
Where is M'Hamid El Ghizlane?
South of Zagora, at the end of the Draa Valley, on the edge of Erg Chegaga.
What can you see at the festival?
Concerts of nomadic music from Morocco, the Sahel and beyond, camel races, sand hockey and a craft market (2026 programme).