Morocco's autumn 2026 calendar: festivals, moussems and European school holidays

In 2026, Morocco's autumn calendar is a busy one: at least six festivals and moussems already have a confirmed or widely reported date between 13 September and 28 November, and a good share of Europe's autumn school holidays fall within that same window, roughly 12 October to 8 November depending on the country. Here's the full calendar — what's confirmed, and what isn't yet — to help plan your self-drive trip.

Photo: Image generee par IA (Google Gemini) — Generation IA — non soumise a une licence Commons (Wikimedia Commons)

Published on 2026-09-25

Morocco school holidays 2026: half-term and autumn break dates across Europe
Confirmed festivals and moussems for 2026
Other traditional gatherings — worth checking before you travel
Planning your car around these dates

Morocco school holidays 2026: half-term and autumn break dates across Europe

If you're travelling during school holidays, here are the confirmed windows for 2026. In France, the Toussaint break runs from Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November, the same dates across every school zone. In Belgium, the dates differ sharply by community: French-speaking Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles breaks from 19 to 30 October, plus 2 November, while Flanders shifts its break later, to 2-8 November. In the Netherlands, herfstvakantie falls between 10 and 18 October in the north of the country, and between 17 and 25 October in the centre and south.

In Germany, Herbstferien vary widely by state — from 5 days in Bavaria starting 2 November, to 15 days in North Rhine-Westphalia from 17 to 31 October — but the week of 19-23 October has the most states off at once. In the UK, Scotland breaks first (12-16 October), England mostly later (roughly 26-30 October, dates varying by local authority). In Switzerland, each canton sets its own dates, ranging from 5 to 25 October depending on the region.

Overall, the busiest window across nationalities falls between 17 and 31 October 2026 — the stretch where the most European families cross paths on Moroccan roads, and where booking your car ahead matters most.

Confirmed festivals and moussems for 2026

Six events already have an official or widely reported date for 2026, spanning the country from north to deep south. From 13 to 17 September, the Tissa National Horse Festival near Fez marks its 30th edition with tbourida (fantasia horsemanship) and a local moussem. A few days later, from 18 to 20 September, Tangier hosts Tanjazz, an international jazz festival, for its 23rd edition, mixing ticketed and free city-wide concerts.

In October, El Jadida opens its Royal-patronage horse fair from 13 to 18, 17th edition — a coastal town reachable by car from Casablanca. Casablanca itself hosts its international marathon on 25 October, 17th edition, with marathon, half-marathon and relay races through the city streets. From 30 October to 3 November, head deep south for the Tan-Tan moussem, listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 19th edition — the nearest Loccor-covered city is Agadir, several hours' drive away.

Closing out the season, the Marrakech International Film Festival is reported to run its 23rd edition from 20 to 28 November according to Moroccan and international press; these dates were not yet confirmed on the festival's official site at the time of writing — worth double-checking before locking in a trip built around this specific event.

Other traditional gatherings — worth checking before you travel

Several traditional moussems return every autumn without a fixed date announced far in advance. The Imilchil marriage moussem, in the High Atlas, is usually held in mid-September; the Sidi Ahmed ou Moussa moussem near Tiznit (reachable from Agadir), and the Moulay Idriss Zerhoun moussem near Fez, traditionally take place in September. None of the three had an officially published 2026 date at the time of writing.

Two other events follow an even more moving calendar: the Essaouira Atlantic Andalusia Festival, usually late October-early November (its 20th edition ran from 30 October to 2 November 2025), and the Taliouine International Saffron Festival near Agadir, whose date depends each year on how the harvest is progressing — generally somewhere between mid-October and late November, announced only a few weeks ahead.

For these, the safest move is to check the exact date through official channels in the weeks before you travel, rather than booking your car around an assumed date.

Planning your car around these dates

Several of these events fall directly in Loccor-covered cities: Tangier for Tanjazz, Casablanca for its marathon, Essaouira for the Atlantic Andalusia Festival, Fez for the Tissa festival and the Moulay Idriss moussem, Agadir as the gateway to Taliouine, Tan-Tan or the Sidi Ahmed ou Moussa moussem.

On the busiest windows — the week of 19-23 October especially, which stacks Germany's peak holiday week on top of the Belgian French-speaking break — booking your car several weeks ahead is worth it: availability tightens on the most requested cities and categories.

Compare available cars for your dates on the Loccor search, city by city.

Frequently asked questions

What are the confirmed Toussaint holiday dates in France for 2026?

Saturday 17 October to Monday 2 November 2026, the same dates across every school zone.

Do Belgian and French school holidays fall at the same time in 2026?

Not quite. French-speaking Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles breaks from 19 to 30 October (plus 2 November), just after French schools go back; Flanders takes its break later, from 2 to 8 November.

What's the biggest Moroccan festival in autumn 2026?

The Marrakech International Film Festival, with press reporting its 23rd edition running 20-28 November 2026 — worth confirming on the official site before booking a trip around that exact date.

Can you reach the Tan-Tan moussem in a rental car?

Yes, starting from Agadir, the nearest Loccor-covered city, for several hours' drive south. The 2026 edition is set for 30 October to 3 November.