Morocco is a wonderful place to see in the New Year — from countdown parties in Marrakech to a quiet night under the stars in the Sahara. This guide explains where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Morocco, what to expect from the weather, and the two other New Years Moroccans keep: the Amazigh Yennayer and the Islamic New Year.
New Year's Eve in Morocco
Morocco celebrates the international New Year on 31 December with growing enthusiasm, especially in the cities and tourist hubs. Marrakech is the liveliest place to be, with gala dinners in riads and hotels, DJ parties and crowds gathering on Jemaa el-Fna; the coastal cities and the desert camps hold their own celebrations. It is not a formal public holiday as in Europe, but on the night itself the atmosphere in Marrakech is festive and international.
New Year in Marrakech
Marrakech is Morocco's New Year capital. Riads and boutique hotels put on special gala dinners, the big hotels and clubs host parties, and the medina and Gueliz fill with people. Book your Marrakech riad and any New Year's Eve dinner well ahead — the city is at its busiest, and the best tables and rooms go early. Days are cool and usually sunny, perfect for the gardens and souks before the night's festivities.
New Year in the Sahara
For a completely different celebration, many travellers spend New Year's Eve in a desert camp near Merzouga: a fire, drumming, a special dinner and a midnight sky thick with stars, far from any crowd. Nights are cold in the dunes in winter, so a warm layer is essential — but few places on earth feel as magical to greet a new year. Our Sahara desert guide explains how to plan it.
What the weather is like
Late December is winter in Morocco: cool, often sunny days in Marrakech (around 18°C), cold nights, and genuinely cold nights in the desert and mountains, which can drop below freezing. The best time to visit Morocco guide has the full seasonal picture; for New Year, simply pack for warm days and cold evenings.
Yennayer — the Amazigh New Year
Morocco also keeps a much older New Year: Yennayer, the Amazigh (Berber) new year, celebrated around 12–14 January and now an official public holiday. Families gather for a special meal — often a hearty couscous or tagine — to welcome the agricultural year, and Amazigh culture is honoured with music and song, especially in the mountains and the south.
The Islamic New Year
A third New Year follows the Islamic lunar calendar: Ras as-Sana, marking the first of Muharram. Because it follows the lunar year, its date shifts about eleven days earlier each year against the Western calendar. It is a quieter, more religious occasion than 31 December — a public holiday, but not a party.
Spending New Year on a Morocco tour
New Year is a beautiful, quiet time to travel in Morocco: clear light, cool days and far fewer visitors than spring or autumn. On a private Morocco tour we can build your trip around exactly the New Year you want — a lively night in Marrakech or a silent one under the desert stars — and handle the busy-season bookings for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do Moroccans celebrate New Year?
Yes. The international New Year (31 December) is celebrated especially in Marrakech and the cities. Morocco also keeps the Amazigh new year (Yennayer, mid-January, a public holiday) and the Islamic New Year.
Where is the best place to spend New Year in Morocco?
Marrakech for lively parties and gala dinners, or a Sahara desert camp near Merzouga for a quiet, starry celebration.
Is New Year's Eve a public holiday in Morocco?
31 December is not an official public holiday, though it is widely celebrated. Yennayer (the Amazigh new year) and the Islamic New Year are public holidays.
What is Yennayer?
The Amazigh (Berber) new year, celebrated around 12–14 January with a special family meal. It is now an official public holiday in Morocco.
What is the weather like at New Year in Morocco?
Cool, usually sunny days in Marrakech (around 18°C) and cold nights; genuinely cold in the desert and mountains, sometimes below freezing.
Should I book ahead for New Year in Marrakech?
Yes — it is one of the busiest nights of the year, so reserve your riad and any New Year's Eve dinner well in advance.
Official resources
Born beside the dunes of Erg Chebbi and a licensed Moroccan guide since 2008, Elhoussaine founded Visit Maghreb to share the country he grew up in. Over more than 15 years he has guided travellers from every continent across the High Atlas, the imperial cities and the Sahara — and still plans every itinerary personally.
Planning a trip? We design private, tailor-made Morocco tours around exactly this kind of advice. Tell us your dates →
