Next: 22 to 23 Oct 2026
Abu Simbel Sun Festival
Twice a year the dawn sun slips down the temple corridor and lights the statues of Ramesses II in the sanctuary.
When is Abu Simbel Sun Festival in 2026?
Abu Simbel Sun Festival 2026 runs from 22 to 23 October 2026. Other years: 2027, 22 to 23 October 2027; 2028, 22 to 23 October 2028.
About Abu Simbel Sun Festival
At Abu Simbel in southern Egypt, the Great Temple of Ramesses II was built so that on two days each year, on or around 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun's rays pass through the length of the temple, some 60 metres, and illuminate the sanctuary at the back for about twenty minutes. They fall on the seated statues of Ramesses, Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, leaving the god of the underworld, Ptah, in shadow. The dates are traditionally said to mark the king's birthday and coronation. When the temple was moved to higher ground in the 1960s to save it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, the alignment shifted by one day. Thousands gather before dawn for the event, with music and dance in the village.
Abu Simbel Sun Festival dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Abu Simbel Sun Festival date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 to 23 October 2026 |
| 2027 | 22 to 23 October 2027 |
| 2028 | 22 to 23 October 2028 |
What is eaten
- Nubian tea
- bread
Also part of it, and being written: Abu Simbel temples (The temples moved to save them.), Ramesses II (The king who built them.), Nubia (The region and people.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Abu Simbel temples" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.