International Festival of the Sahara

Origins and history

The event began in 1910 during the era of French colonial rule, when it was known as the Camel festival. Its modern structure was established in 1967 through the initiative of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of independent Tunisia. The writer M'hammed Marzougui served as a key founder, dedicating his career to sharing and preserving nomadic traditions with wider audiences. Over the decades, it grew to become Tunisia's oldest and most renowned cultural festival, drawing thousands of travelers from the Maghreb region and across the globe.

Arena events and sports

Festivities commence with an inaugural ceremony before shifting to the H'naiech arena, a venue bordered by traditional Bedouin tents and open sand. Spectators watch long-distance camel marathons alongside demonstrations of the fantasia, where skilled horsemen charge on galloping Arabian steeds. The programme also highlights desert hunting techniques, featuring slender sloughi hounds pursuing rabbits across the grounds. Cultural demonstrations staged in the arena include a reenactment of a traditional Bedouin wedding ceremony, presenting the customs and attire of regional desert communities.

Poetry and evening performances

As daylight fades, the gathering turns toward artistic traditions. Visiting musical troupes and dance ensembles from other countries present evening performances on stage. The focal point of the cultural programme is an esteemed poetry competition organised by the desert poet Abdellatif Belgacem. The festival attracts substantial attention from international journalists, photographers, and television crews, cementing its status as a major cultural landmark that honors Saharan verbal arts alongside its sporting heritage.

How International Festival of the Sahara is kept

Celebrations begin with an opening ceremony before moving to the desert-side H'naiech stadium. Over four days, participants run camel marathons, perform high-speed fantasia riding on Arabian horses, and demonstrate desert rabbit hunts with sloughi hounds. Arena programmes also include the staging of a Bedouin wedding. As night arrives, foreign groups share songs and traditional dances, while desert poet Abdellatif Belgacem oversees the central poetry competition.

When and where

The festival takes place every year during the final days of December. The programme lasts for four consecutive days, bringing together participants and audiences during the cooler winter season of the Sahara.

The gathering takes place in Douz, a town in southern Tunisia often described as a gateway to the desert. Most outdoor exhibitions occur at the H'naiech stadium, bordered by sands and Bedouin tents.

What International Festival of the Sahara means

The gathering serves to preserve and honour nomadic desert ways of life that evolved across the Sahara. Founded to foster public appreciation for Bedouin customs, it celebrates animal husbandry, desert hunting techniques, and oral poetry. The festival connects contemporary audiences with the endurance, horsemanship, and artistic expressions central to regional desert communities.

Questions people ask about International Festival of the Sahara

See also

MawlidAn annual festival marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, marked by poetry, processions and feasts.Rama NavamiA Hindu spring festival marking the birth of Rama with prayer, fasting and processionsQixi FestivalA Chinese night of romance, needlecraft wishes and stargazing for two mythic loversPotlatchA ceremonial feast of gift-giving and wealth distribution among First Nations on the Northwest Coast.

Good reading and sources

• International Festival of the Sahara on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.