Agadir’s event calendar reflects its dual identity as a modern Moroccan resort city and a gateway to Amazigh (Berber) culture. From the continent-scale Timitar music festival to the local Candle Festival at the kasbah, there is something happening in most months. The peak event season runs from June through November, aligning with the best weather. Here is a month-by-month guide to Agadir’s key events and festivals, with practical details on dates, locations, and what to expect.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Timitar Festival (June/July)
The headline event in Agadir’s cultural calendar. Timitar (meaning “signs” in Tamazight) is a three-day festival celebrating Amazigh music and culture, drawing artists from across Morocco, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The 2025 edition took place from July 3 to 6. Venues include the open-air Place Al Amal, the Théâtre de Verdure, and the Agadir Bijawane stage. Past performers have included Tinariwen, Oum, and local Souss-region r’ways (traditional Amazigh troubadours). Most concerts are free. The festival also features artisanal markets and food stalls serving regional specialties like mechoui (slow-roasted lamb). Dates vary year to year but always fall between late June and mid-July. Check the official website or local listings for exact dates roughly two months ahead.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Candle Festival (August)
Held annually in mid-August at the Agadir Oufella (Kasbah) hilltop site. The Candle Festival (Moussem des Bougies) is a community event where hundreds of candles are lit at dusk around the kasbah ruins, creating a striking visual against the darkening sky with the Atlantic Ocean and city lights below. Local musicians perform traditional Amazigh songs, and families bring picnics. The exact date varies but typically falls on the weekend closest to August 15. It is free to attend and begins around 19:00. Take the cable car up (last descent around 22:00) or arrange a taxi in advance for the return trip as the kasbah road can be chaotic after the event.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Agadir International Marathon (November)
The Marathon International d’Agadir typically takes place in early to mid-November, when daytime temperatures of 24°C (75°F) make for comfortable running conditions. Events include a full marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21.1 km), and 10 km race. The course follows the Corniche and beachfront with flat, fast terrain and ocean views. Registration costs roughly 300 to 500 MAD (27 to 45 euros) depending on the distance and how early you sign up. The 2025 edition was held on November 9. The race starts and finishes near the Agadir Marina. Road closures along the Corniche affect traffic on race morning (roughly 06:00 to 13:00).
Agadir Events and Festivals: Honey Festival (May)
The Festival du Miel (Honey Festival) takes place in the nearby town of Imouzzer des Ida Outanane, about 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Agadir in the foothills of the High Atlas. Imouzzer is famous for its thyme honey, and the festival showcases honey from across the Souss-Massa region alongside argan oil, olive oil, and local crafts. Dates vary but typically fall in May. The festival includes tastings, beekeeping demonstrations, and live Amazigh music. Imouzzer is also known for its waterfall (Cascades d’Imouzzer), which flows from late winter through spring. Most tour operators in Agadir offer combined day trips to the Honey Festival and Paradise Valley for roughly 350 to 450 MAD (32 to 40 euros) per person.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Ramadan and Eid
Ramadan dates shift roughly 10 to 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin around February 18 and end around March 20. During Ramadan, most restaurants and cafes in Agadir are closed during daylight hours, though hotel restaurants serving tourists remain open (often behind screens). Alcohol is not served anywhere during Ramadan. The pace of the city slows significantly during the day and comes alive after sunset iftar (fast-breaking meal). The three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday following Ramadan is a festive period with family gatherings, and the two-day Eid al-Adha (roughly late May 2026) involves traditional sheep sacrifice. Both Eids see many businesses closed for two to three days.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Almond Blossom Festival (February)
The Festival des Amandiers (Almond Blossom Festival) takes place in Tafraout, a small town in the Anti-Atlas mountains roughly 170 km (106 miles) southeast of Agadir. The festival celebrates the pink and white almond blossoms that blanket the Ameln Valley in February. It features traditional music, parades, craft fairs, and guided walks through the blooming orchards. The exact date shifts annually depending on the bloom but is typically mid to late February. Tafraout is reachable as a long day trip from Agadir (roughly 2.5 hours each way by car) or as an overnight stay. Tour operators offer two-day excursions combining the Almond Blossom Festival with the painted rocks and blue granite formations around Tafraout.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Surf Competitions (Multiple Dates)
The Taghazout-Anchor Point area 20 km (12 miles) north of Agadir regularly hosts national and international surf competitions between October and March, when North Atlantic swells are most consistent. Events include the Moroccan Surfing Championships and occasional World Surf League (WSL) qualifying series events at Anchor Point. Competition dates are announced one to three months ahead. Even when no competition is on, the surf break at Anchor Point draws spectators who watch from the cliff top above the right-hand point break. For competition schedules, check the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Surf website or the WSL Africa calendar.
Agadir Events and Festivals: Christmas and New Year
While Morocco is a Muslim country, Agadir’s resort hotels go all-in on Christmas and New Year celebrations to cater to European visitors. Most four and five-star beachfront hotels offer mandatory gala dinners on December 24 and December 31, typically priced at 400 to 800 MAD (36 to 72 euros) per person and often bundled into the room rate for bookings over these dates. The Corniche is decorated with lights, and the Marina restaurants run special holiday menus. The weather on New Year’s Eve is typically mild (daytime 21°C, evening 12°C) and often dry. Book accommodation for Christmas and New Year at least three months ahead: beachfront hotels sell out.
