19th Tan-Tan Moussem set for October 30 to November 3

The Almouggar Foundation is organising the 19th edition of the Moussem de Tan-Tan, from October 30 to November 3, 2026, under the theme "The Moussem de Tan-Tan: a human heritage and a bridge for cultural exchange." This year's edition coincides with the Fête de l'Unité on October 31, which was made an official national holiday by a decision dated November 4, 2025.

Inscribed since 2008 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Moussem de Tan-Tan is a traditional gathering bringing together more than thirty tribes from southern Morocco and neighbouring countries. Originally a seasonal stop tied to the movements of nomadic herders, it has since become a platform for sustainable development. First held in 1963, it was restructured and revived in 2004.

The programme for the 19th edition

Festivities open on October 30 with a traditional religious ceremony at the Zawiya of Cheikh Mohamed Laghdaf Maa El Ainine, followed on October 31 by presentations on Sahrawi heritage attended by participating delegations, institutional representatives and regional notables. The festivities close on the evening of November 3 with an evening dedicated to poetry. The programme also includes camel races, Tbourida displays, parades of méharistes (camel riders), tribal gatherings, popular games, crafts and Hassani traditions, as well as evening concerts in Tan-Tan and El Ouatia bringing together local, national and international artists. This edition also features a large parade of several hundred participants in traditional dress, with tableaux illustrating the region's cultural diversity, while the United Arab Emirates serves as this edition's guest of honour.

The Moussem's symbolic significance

The Moussem de Tan-Tan was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005, before its formal inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. Over successive editions it has become an annual gathering of Saharan tribes that showcases their Hassani traditions to Moroccan and foreign visitors alike, while helping promote tourism and culture in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region.