Eid al-Adha 2027, the feast of the sacrifice, known as Tabaski in West and Central Africa and Eid el-Kebir in North Africa, is expected on Sunday, May 16 or Monday, May 17. That is an estimate: each country sets its date about ten days ahead, after sighting the crescent that opens the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is the “big feast” of the year, with a sheep sacrificed in every family that can afford one, and one to three public holidays depending on the country.
For a traveler, Tabaski takes more planning than Korité, the end of Ramadan. The date is known earlier, but roads and bus stations are jammed in the days before, transport prices climb, and shops close on the day itself, sometimes longer. This page compares 18 African countries, then describes the customs of each.
Eid al-Adha 2027 date
The UAE's astronomy center expects Eid al-Adha on Sunday, May 16 or Monday, May 17, 2027, after the Day of Arafah on the 15th or 16th, according to the Khaleej Times. Those dates apply to the Emirates and may shift by a day in Africa. The announcement usually comes ten days before the holiday, at the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, so around early May 2027.
In 2026, almost all of French-speaking Africa celebrated on the same day, Wednesday, May 27. Only Conacoc in Senegal (Thursday, May 28) and, very likely, the Comoros (May 28) celebrated a day later.
| Country | Eid al-Adha 2025 | Eid al-Adha 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Saturday, June 7, without sacrifice | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Algeria | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Tunisia | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Mauritania | Saturday, June 7 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Senegal | June 6 or 7, depending on the body | May 27 or 28, depending on the body |
| Guinea | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Burkina Faso | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Benin | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Cameroon | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Chad | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Gabon | Friday, June 6 | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Mali, Niger, Togo, Djibouti | not verified | Wednesday, May 27 |
Our advice
If Tabaski 2027 falls on a Sunday, Monday, May 17 will be a day off in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, but not automatically in Burkina Faso or Cameroon. Wait for each country's official statement before booking an appointment with a government office.
What the holiday celebrates
Eid al-Adha recalls the act of Abraham (Ibrahim), ready to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, who sent him a ram instead. The holiday falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, the day after the Day of Arafah, the high point of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The calendar is lunar, so the holiday moves about ten days earlier each year. It comes two months and ten days after Eid al-Fitr, the “small feast”.
In the morning, the communal prayer has two rakats followed by a sermon. Families then sacrifice a sheep, sometimes a goat, a cow or a camel, often after the imam's own sacrifice. In many countries, the meat is shared in three: the family, relatives and neighbors, and the poorest. Then come new clothes, meals and visits. The price of a sheep, often several times the minimum wage, has become a national issue everywhere.
Country by country: public holidays and what changes for you
| Country | Usual name | Public holidays | What changes for a traveler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Eid el-Kebir | 2 days | extra trains, souks closed for several days |
| Algeria | Eid el-Kebir | 3 days (since 2023) | buses packed, some shops must stay open |
| Tunisia | Aïd el-Idha, Eid el-Kebir | 2 days (public sector, 2026) | extra buses and trains |
| Mauritania | Tabaski | 3 days in 2026 | bring cash, no card payments |
| Senegal | Tabaski | 1 day, plus Monday if on a Sunday | mass exodus, transport up to twice the price |
| Mali | Seliba, Tabaski | 2 days in 2026 | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Burkina Faso | Tabaski, “sheep feast” | 1 day | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Niger | Tabaski, “sheep feast” | 2 days (since 2026) | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Guinea | Tabaski | 2 days (since 2022) | date announced the day before, roads jammed |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Tabaski | 1 day, plus Monday if on a Sunday | Adjamé bus stations mobbed |
| Togo | Tabaski, “sheep feast” | 1 day | prayers at 8 a.m., date known a few days ahead |
| Benin | Tabaski | 1 day | prayer on the Idi grounds |
| Cameroon | Tabaski, “sheep feast” | 1 day | much of the north advised against |
| Chad | Tabaski | 1 day, announced the day before | avoid prayers and sheep markets |
| Gabon | Tabaski | 1 day | celebrated mainly in Libreville |
| Djibouti | Eid al-Adha | 2 days, plus the Day of Arafah | roads to the interior busy |
| Comoros | Eid el-Kebir | 2 days expected in 2027 | see our dedicated page |
| Central African Republic | Tabaski | 1 day, off but unpaid | see our dedicated page |
Morocco: Eid al-Adha after the year without sacrifice
Moroccans say Eid el-Kebir, the “big feast”. The Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs watches for the crescent that opens Dhu al-Hijjah and announces the date about ten days ahead. In 2026, it confirmed on the evening of May 17 that the month began on the 18th, and set Eid for Wednesday, May 27 (Hespress). Both days of the holiday are paid public holidays (Wafir.ma). For 2027, estimates point to Monday, May 17, with May 17 and 18 as public holidays.
On February 26, 2025, King Mohammed VI asked Moroccans not to sacrifice that year, as the national flock had shrunk with drought and the economic crisis. He performed the sacrifice on behalf of his people (Hespress). In 2026, the government announced a return to normal, the flock having recovered (Bladi.net).
We invite Our dear people to refrain from performing the rite of the Eid sacrifice this year.
Boulfaf, grilled heads and Bilmawen
In the days before, families buy their sheep at the souk and sometimes keep it on the roof terrace. In May 2026, in Casablanca, a six- to seven-month-old lamb sold for 3,000 to 4,000 dirhams (Médias24). In the morning, the king prays at the Ahl Fès mosque of the Mechouar, in Rabat, then sacrifices two rams live on television (Morocco World News). Each family then makes its own sacrifice, often with a butcher's help.
According to Hespress, the first meal is boulfaf, skewers of liver wrapped in caul fat. In the street, young people grill sheep's heads over makeshift fires. Hides are collected in each neighborhood and sold on to craftsmen. In the Souss, around Agadir, the holiday continues with Bilmawen, or Boujloud: young men parade dressed in the skins of the sacrificed sheep (TelQuel). Ask locally for the parade dates.
Traveling in Morocco during Eid al-Adha
Many Moroccans go back to their hometowns. In 2026, the ONCF rail company added trains from May 20 to June 7 and advised buying outbound and return tickets early (Hespress). On Eid itself, there are fewer trains (see train or bus in Morocco). Shops, restaurants and souks close, sometimes for several days, but hotels stay open. The medinas are quiet in the morning, then grill smoke and hides fill the alleys.
Watch out
France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) strongly advises against all travel along the border with Mauritania. Increased vigilance applies in the south along the Algerian border and in Western Sahara.
See also Morocco entry requirements and festivals in Morocco.
Algeria: an imported sheep at a capped price
In Algeria, Eid el-Kebir is the “big feast”, as opposed to Aïd sghir, and many Algerians living abroad come home to spend it with family (APS, via AllAfrica). The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Wakfs announces the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, and Eid falls ten days later. In 2026, the announcement on the evening of May 17 placed the holiday on Wednesday, May 27 (TSA).
Since April 30, 2023, the holiday has brought three paid days off instead of two (TSA), in both the public and private sectors. They were June 16, 17 and 18, 2024 (Algérie Eco), June 6, 7 and 8, 2025 (Dzair Tube) and May 27, 28 and 29, 2026 (APS).
The price of a sheep is a matter of state. For 2026, President Tebboune authorized the import of one million sheep, from Spain, Romania, Brazil and Uruguay, and capped their price at 50,000 dinars (Algérie 360). They could be reserved only on the adhahi.dz platform (TSA).
| Paying for an imported sheep (Algeria, 2026) | Price |
|---|---|
| In cash | 50,000 DA |
| By card terminal | 49,000 DA |
| Online | 48,000 DA |
Douara, bekbouka and henna on the sheep's forehead
In 2026, the prayer was set for 6:30 a.m. in Algiers (Algérie 360), and the president performed it at Djamaâ El Djazaïr (Dzair Tube). After the sacrifice, women first cook the offal dishes: douara (tripe stew), bekbouka (offal with cumin, chickpeas and cilantro) and osbana (couscous with offal). In Souk Ahras, people put henna on the sheep's forehead in front of the children and hang the horns on the door against the evil eye (Algérie 360, 2016). On the second day, a meat couscous welcomes the married sons. On the third, families visit the zaouïa of Sidi Messaoud and the graves of relatives.
Traveling in Algeria during Eid al-Adha
On the first day, the streets are quiet and many shops close, bakeries included. In 2026, the state required 53,771 shopkeepers to stay open on a rota, and Sogral added 2,200 bus routes, or 103,000 seats, for family trips (APS, via AllAfrica). Do your shopping the day before and book your trips well ahead.
Watch out
Algiers and Oran are at normal vigilance for France Diplomatie. Travel is strongly advised against in the border areas, especially those with Libya, Mali and Niger, and along the Tunisian border south of Tébessa. Travel is advised against unless essential near the Moroccan border, in Tindouf, Hassi Messaoud, the wilayas of Aïn Defla, Batna and Sétif, and the Aurès and Chréa mountains.
See also Algeria entry requirements and festivals in Algeria.
Tunisia: allouch el-Aïd and osban
Tunisians often say Aïd el-Idha or Eid el-Kebir. Dar al-Ifta, the office of the Mufti of the Republic, is the only body authorized to announce the holidays (La Presse). In 2026, the mufti announced on the evening of May 16 that Dhu al-Hijjah began on the 18th, so Eid fell on Wednesday, May 27 (La Presse). Public employees had two paid days off, May 27 and 28 (La Presse), as on June 6 and 7, 2025 (Managers). In the private sector, it depends on collective agreements.
The Eid sheep, the “allouch el-Aïd”, has become a national issue. On May 8, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture set reference prices per kilo of live weight, applied at two outlets opened on May 18 in La Saïda (Manouba) and Radès (Ben Arous) (Business News).
| Sheep weight (Tunisia, 2026) | Reference price per kilo, live weight |
|---|---|
| under 45 kg | 27 dinars |
| 45 to 65 kg | 25.8 dinars |
| over 65 kg | 23.8 dinars |
On the open markets, prices ran from about 800 dinars for a small sheep to nearly 3,000 for the biggest (Webdo). On May 21, 2026, in La Saïda, more than 5,000 people were waiting for about 200 animals (Webmanagercenter). The Ministry of Trade had also launched a tender to import live sheep, sold by weight (La Presse, via AllAfrica).
Kanoun, osban and kaddid
After the prayer, the sacrifice is made with the animal's head turned toward Mecca, often by street butchers, and part of the meat goes to the poorest. People also burn bkhour, an incense, against the evil eye (Kapitalis, 2016). On the day itself, chops are grilled on the kanoun, a charcoal brazier, with a mechouia salad, and families make osban, sausages stuffed with offal. The next day come couscous bel osbane and hargma, a stew of feet and head. Kaddid, dried meat, keeps until the Islamic New Year.
In 2026, from May 22 to June 1, the Ministry of Transport added about 45% capacity on public buses (SNTRI, from the Bab Saadoun and Bab Alioua stations in Tunis) and 32 cars on SNCFT trains, about 25,000 seats. Louages (shared taxis) could operate nationwide (La Presse). The sacrifice takes place in the morning: if you are squeamish, plan your outings for the afternoon.
Watch out
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the far Saharan south near the Libyan and Algerian borders, the mountains of the Center-West (Orbata, Selloum, Semema, Chambi, Mghila) and Ben Guerdane. Travel is advised against unless essential in the desert south and east of the line Bir Rjim Maatoug, Borj Bourguiba, Ben Guerdane, in the rural areas between Kasserine, Sbeïtla, Sidi Bouzid and Gafsa away from main roads, and in a 5 km strip along the Algerian border (Jendouba, Le Kef). The rest of the country is at increased vigilance.
See also Tunisia entry requirements and festivals in Tunisia.
Mauritania: the El Mina livestock market
The National Crescent Sighting Commission sets the date, based on local committees in the regions. In 2026, it announced on the evening of May 17 that the crescent had been seen, and set Eid al-Adha for Wednesday, May 27 (Ndarinfo). It had fallen on Monday, June 17, 2024 and Saturday, June 7, 2025. The Embassy of Japan counted three public holidays in 2026, from May 27 to 29, noting that the government can change them (2026 list).
Our advice
An announcement made in Saudi Arabia or Morocco does not apply to Mauritania: wait for the commission's announcement, about ten days before the holiday.
What the holiday costs in Nouakchott
In Nouakchott, the big livestock market is at El Mina, south of the capital. In May 2026, an entry-level sheep cost 8,000 to 9,000 ouguiyas there ($200 to $225) and a ewe 7,500 (Le360 Afrique), against 6,000 to 12,000 in 2025. Yet the country has about 30 million head of livestock for some 5 million people. In 2025, Le360 Afrique put the total cost of the holiday at about 30,000 ouguiyas for a family, while the minimum wage stayed below 4,000. For Tabaski 2026, Mauritania also supplied 123,662 sheep to Senegal (Ndarinfo).
Families also have a new outfit made for each person, and in 2016 those costs ran to two or three times the price of the sheep (Le360 Afrique). In 2026, the solemn prayer was announced for 9 a.m. at the Ibn Abbas mosque in Nouakchott. Shops do not take cards: withdraw cash ahead of time, from an ATM inside a bank. At the livestock market, ask before taking photos.
Watch out
Alcohol is banned for everyone, as is importing it or pork products. Travel is strongly advised against in the border strip with Mali, north of Zouérate, east of the Ghallaouia-Akhrejit line, northeast of the Zouérate-Ghallaouia line, southeast of the Akhrejit-Kankossa line and in the northeastern military zone. Travel is advised against unless essential in the border area from Nouadhibou to Zouérate (except PK55), north of the Choum-Aghouedir line, east of the Aghouedir-Tichit line, southeast of the Tichit-Kaédi line, and in Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka. In Nouakchott, France Diplomatie reports a rise in violent thefts by motorbike riders, even in the safest neighborhoods.
See also Mauritania entry requirements and festivals in Mauritania.
Senegal: sheep, tailors and the great exodus
“Tabaski is the name given to Eid el-Kebir in West Africa”, notes Au Sénégal (our translation). As for Korité, two bodies watch the moon: Conacoc, followed by the majority, and the Coordination of Muslims of Senegal (CMS), which sometimes picks a day earlier. In 2026, none of Conacoc's 485 representatives had seen the crescent on the evening of May 17.
| Year | Conacoc date | CMS date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, June 7 | Friday, June 6 |
| 2026 | Thursday, May 28 | Wednesday, May 27 |
Sources: Le Soleil for 2025, Ndarinfo and Senego for 2026.
Tabaski is a legal public holiday (Law No. 74-52, Vie publique Sénégal). When it falls on a Sunday, Monday is also a paid day off (Senego): that will be the case in 2027 if the holiday falls on Sunday, May 16.
900,000 sheep and a minimum wage under 70,000 CFA francs
The state estimated demand at 900,000 sheep in 2026. By May 6, 390,350 were on the markets, including 163,067 imported, from Mauritania (123,662) and Mali (39,405) (Le Soleil). After the holiday, nearly 1.6 million sheep had been counted, 143,497 of them unsold (Ndarinfo). Duties and taxes on sheep were suspended from April 11 to June 30, 2026 (government notice), and nearly 30% of the animals are imported (SenePlus).
| Place (Dakar suburbs) | Price of a sheep, May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Keur Massar | 130,000 to 190,000 CFA francs, the most sought-after around 140,000 |
| Keur Massar, from a breeder | from 225,000 CFA francs |
| Rufisque | 120,000 to 240,000 CFA francs |
These prices, recorded by SenePlus, compare with a minimum wage below 70,000 CFA francs a month. A sociologist interviewed by Seneweb calls it a “total social fact”: young brides give gifts to their in-laws, everyone wants a fine outfit, and some go into debt. Tailors in Gueule-Tapée, in Dakar, worked until 4 a.m., and bazin cloth sold for around 3,000 CFA francs a meter at the Tilène market (Le Soleil).
Traveling in Senegal during Tabaski
Many Dakar residents celebrate in their home villages. In 2026, the Ministry of Transport opened six departure sites, including the Baux-Maraîchers station and the esplanade of the National Wrestling Arena, and Dakar Dem Dikk planned more than 430 buses over three days (Senego). In Thiès, a seat in a seven-seater bush taxi to Kaolack went from 3,500 to 8,000 CFA francs (Seneweb). Avoid intercity trips in the days before the holiday.
Watch out
According to France Diplomatie, “the approach of major holidays (notably Tabaski and Korité) often brings a rise in muggings” (our translation). Travel is advised against unless essential in the border areas with Mali, the Matam department near Mauritania, and along Casamance's borders with The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau away from main roads. Entering the classified forests of Casamance is strongly advised against. Avoid driving at night.
Senegal's great pilgrimage, the Grand Magal of Touba, has its own page. See also Senegal entry requirements and festivals in Senegal.
Mali: Seliba under blockade
Watch out
France Diplomatie places all of Mali in its red zone: “all travel to Mali is strongly advised against, including for tourism and family reasons” (our translation). It rates the risk of attack as high in Bamako, and attacks and explosive devices rule out road travel outside the capital. The United Kingdom advises against all travel and urges its nationals to leave by commercial flight if they can do so safely (July 2026). Canada asks travelers to avoid all travel (October 2026), and the United States rates the country Level 4, “Do Not Travel”. This section describes the holiday for your information and for the diaspora.
In Bambara, Tabaski is called Seliba, the “big feast”, and the month before it Seliba Kalo. People most often sacrifice a sheep, but also a goat, a cow or a camel (Maliweb). The National Moon Sighting Commission and the Ministry of Religious Affairs set the date, not the High Islamic Council. In 2026, the crescent was seen nowhere on May 16, and the holiday took place on Wednesday, May 27 (Seneweb). In 2024, Mali celebrated on Monday, June 17, on a different date from Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea.
Imams' associations set the time of the prayer: 7:45 a.m. for LIMAMA in 2026 (Maliweb). A legal holiday (Law No. 05-040 of 2005), it brought two paid days off in 2026, May 27 and 28 (Bamada).
A sheep few can afford in Bamako
In 2024, the imam of the Great Mosque of Bamako preached to thousands of worshippers about forgiveness and mutual aid (Studio Tamani). In May 2025, a sheep cost 110,000 to 250,000 CFA francs, for a minimum wage of 40,000 (Le360 Afrique), and the capital's livestock pens had been moved after the attack of September 17, 2024.
| Bamako | May 2025 | May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheep for the sacrifice | 110,000 to 250,000 CFA francs | 170,000 to 400,000 CFA francs |
| Transporting a sheep from the village | 1,750 to 2,000 CFA francs | up to 5,000 CFA francs |
| Minimum wage | 40,000 CFA francs | 40,000 CFA francs |
In 2026, the jihadist group linked to al-Qaeda in the Sahel had partly blockaded the roads to Bamako since late April (Africanews). The 2026 prices in the table come from Agribusiness TV: a sheep that once sold for 75,000 CFA francs was worth about 300,000.
The discount sale of May 22, 2026, in Sogoniko, was judged inadequate by the Journal du Mali. See festivals in Mali.
Burkina Faso: the “sheep feast”, with Christians present
Watch out
France Diplomatie writes that “all travel to Burkina Faso is strongly advised against” (our translation): the whole territory is red, Ouagadougou included, with a very high terrorist threat. The country broke off diplomatic relations with France on June 26, 2026, and the French embassy is closed. This section describes the holiday for your information and for the diaspora.
Tabaski, also called the “sheep feast”, is announced by the FAIB, the federation of Islamic associations. Its statement of May 17, 2026, signed by El Hadj Moussa Koanda, set the holiday for Wednesday, May 27 (Burkina 24); in 2025, its statement of May 27 had set it for June 6. It had fallen on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Tabaski is one of the 11 paid public holidays in the law of January 9, 2026, which no longer makes Monday a day off when a holiday falls on a Sunday (allAfrica).
Prayers on the big squares and a sheep at 125,000 CFA francs
The prayer is held on large squares: in 2024, the FAIB announced five in Ouagadougou, including the Place de la Nation and the Hamdalaye racecourse (Wakat Séra). In 2025, the Mogho Naaba, king of the Mossi, and a representative of the Catholic Church attended at the Place de la Révolution, where the imam reminded the faithful that a sheep must be at least 6 months old (Burkina 24). In 2026, the grand imam preached national unity on the Place de la Nation (Burkina 24), and in Ouahigouya the prayer was held in the presence of Christian leaders (Sidwaya). The holiday also calls for generosity toward displaced people (allAfrica).
Livestock exports were suspended on May 8, 2026, without bringing prices down (L'Économiste du Faso, allAfrica).
| Ouagadougou, May 2026 | Price recorded |
|---|---|
| Sheep for the sacrifice | 50,000 to 300,000 CFA francs |
| Sheep that used to cost 75,000 to 80,000 CFA francs (Tanghin market) | 125,000 CFA francs |
| Sheep and goats, Lanoag-Yiri market | 40,000 to 350,000 CFA francs |
| Camel, Lanoag-Yiri market | 400,000 to over a million CFA francs |
See festivals in Burkina Faso.
Niger: the Niamey livestock market and ONAHA rice
Watch out
France Diplomatie places all of Niger in its red zone: “All travel to Niger is strongly advised against” (our translation). It rates the risk of attack and the threat of kidnapping targeting Westerners as high, asks travelers to avoid gatherings, especially in Niamey, and reports kidnappings for ransom near the border with Nigeria. The French embassy in Niamey is closed.
Eid al-Adha is also called the “sheep feast” here. The Islamic Council of Niger announces the date on national television: on the evening of May 17, 2026, it set the holiday for Wednesday, May 27, calling on the faithful to stay “mobilized, resilient and united” in the face of insecurity (ANP). In 2024, it had fallen on Monday, June 17 (Le360 Afrique). Since the ordinance of March 3, 2026, the day of the holiday and the next day are paid public holidays (Le Sahel).
At the Niamey livestock market in May 2026, one buyer was looking for a sheep at 100,000 CFA francs, when that kind of animal cost no more than 75,000 the year before; another paid 140,000 for his (Le360 Afrique).
From May 20 to 28, 2026, ONAHA, the national irrigation board, sold 15,500 bags of local rice at moderate prices in Niamey, Dosso, Zinder, Agadez and Maradi, from 8,000 CFA francs (dambou) to 10,500 CFA francs (bondourey) per 25 kg bag (Agribusiness TV).
At the Great Mosque of Niamey, the head of state prayed with thousands of worshippers, then the imam sacrificed a sheep (ANP). In Diffa, the imam recalled that Tabaski is “a feast of sacrifice, sharing and bringing believers together” (ANP). Le Sahel describes a holiday lived “in joy, solidarity, reunion and forgiveness” (our translations). See festivals in Niger.
Guinea: two public holidays and the prayer in Kankan
The official list of legal holidays calls it “Tabaski day: feast of the sacrifice of Abraham”. Since the decree of November 2, 2022, the day after is also a “paid public holiday” in the public, private and mixed sectors (Guinéenews). The date is only announced the day before by the General Secretariat for Religious Affairs (Guinéenews).
| Year | Tabaski in Guinea | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Wednesday, June 28 | June 28 and 29 |
| 2024 | Sunday, June 16 | Monday, June 17 |
| 2025 | Friday, June 6 | June 6 and 7 |
| 2026 | Wednesday, May 27 | May 27 and 28 |
Sources: Guinéenews (2023, 2024, 2025) and Africaguinée (2026).
From the Faisal Mosque to Kankan
In Conakry, on May 27, 2026, thousands of worshippers prayed at the Faisal Grand Mosque behind its chief imam, Elhadj Mamadou Saliou Camara, who preached tolerance (Guinéenews). President Mamadi Doumbouya celebrates in Kankan, his hometown, where the diaspora flocks and where Mamaya festivities, a traditional dance, were planned from May 28 to 30, 2026 (Guinéenews). In 2025, worshippers there were searched one by one, and photos were banned near the president (Guinéenews).
In Kindia, a local-breed ram cost 3 to 4 million Guinean francs in 2026, and more than 4 million for a sheep from Mali (Guinéenews). In Conakry, at the Yimbaya market, dominated by Malian animals, people paid 2 to 4 million in 2023 for an imported sheep and 1.4 to 2 million for a Guinean one (Guinéenews). Before the holiday, departures to the interior caused huge traffic jams at Linsan in 2025 (Guinéenews), and heavy trucks were banned from the roads from 7 a.m. on June 6 to midnight on June 8.
Watch out
France Diplomatie advises against travel unless essential to the border areas with Mali and Côte d'Ivoire, including Siguiri and Mandiana. Kankan is in the same region: check the map before you go. The rest of the country is at increased vigilance. France Diplomatie recommends avoiding gatherings, especially on the Route Le Prince, considers night travel “entirely inadvisable” (our translation) and reports a rise in armed robberies in Conakry.
See also Guinea entry requirements and festivals in Guinea.
Côte d'Ivoire: 350,000 sheep and a possible Monday off
The date is announced in a joint statement by COSIM (the Higher Council of Imams, Mosques and Islamic Affairs) and CODISS (the Council of Sunni Imams). In 2026, it came out on May 21 for a holiday on Wednesday, May 27 (Koaci). Tabaski had fallen on Sunday, June 16, 2024 and Friday, June 6, 2025. It is among the public holidays in Decree No. 96-205, and when it falls on a Sunday, the next day is also a holiday. In 2024, Monday, June 17 was a day off and the written baccalaureate exams were postponed. That will happen again in 2027 if the holiday falls on Sunday, May 16.
Sheep markets and the Adjamé bus stations
The Ministry of Animal Resources estimated demand at 350,000 head in 2026 (government press review), including nearly 120,000 for the Abidjan district alone (Connection ivoirienne). Most animals come from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and are sold in Adjamé, Anyama and Port-Bouët (Le360 Afrique). Sellers blame roadside harassment, taxes and the cost of keeping the animals.
| Place or type of sheep | Price recorded in May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Local sheep (Djallonké), Modeste market, Grand-Bassam | 80,000 to 200,000 CFA francs |
| Adjamé, Anyama and Port-Bouët markets | 100,000 to 1,000,000 CFA francs |
| Average sheep, according to a buyer in Abidjan | over 150,000 CFA francs |
Prayers in Abidjan and the rush to the interior
In Abidjan, the president prays at the great mosque of Riviera Golf, in Cocody, and thousands of worshippers gather in Abobo, Yopougon, Treichville, Koumassi and Port-Bouët. Bouaké, Korhogo, Man, Odienné and Bondoukou also celebrate fervently. At the Aghien mosque, the imam noted in 2026 that “the true purpose of this holiday is piety” (Fraternité Matin, our translation). The day before, the Adjamé bus stations are mobbed: in June 2025, a seat from Abidjan to Bouaké went from 7,000 to 10,000 CFA francs, and to Korhogo up to 12,000 (Connection ivoirienne).
Watch out
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the whole border area with Mali and Burkina Faso, the north of the Zanzan district, the east of the Savanes district and Comoé National Park, because of the risk of terrorism and kidnapping. The border area with Liberia (Tabou, Taï, Grabo) is advised against unless essential, and the rest of the country is at increased vigilance. Stay away from crowds, do not drive at night and, in Abidjan, do not go alone at night to Adjamé, Yopougon, Abobo or Gonzagueville.
See also Côte d'Ivoire entry requirements and festivals in Côte d'Ivoire.
Togo: an ox for the archbishop
It is also called the “sheep feast”. Muslims are a minority in Togo (14%, against 42.3% Christians and 36.9% followers of traditional religions) and live mainly in the center and north, according to the US State Department. Christians and followers of traditional religions still join the visits and meals (AllAfrica). In June 2023, the Muslim Union of Togo even gave an ox to the Archbishop of Lomé for Tabaski.
The UMT sets the date by statement after the crescent sighting: on June 10, 2024 for a holiday on June 16, and on May 22, 2026 for Wednesday, May 27 (Yop L-Frii). The government then declares the day a paid public holiday, by a statement of May 26 in 2026 (24 Heure Info).
Our advice
In Togo, do your shopping and withdraw cash before the holiday: the date is only announced a few days ahead, the public holiday is confirmed the day before, and the day itself is off.
Prayers at 8 a.m. and sheep few can afford
Prayers begin at 8 a.m. In 2026, in Lomé, thousands of worshippers prayed on the CERFER grounds behind Imam Agoro Zakarya (ATOP), and the UMT president declared there: “Muslims must not engage in rivalries” (Republic of Togo, our translation). Another prayer was held at the University of Lomé (Togo Scoop). The imam slaughters a ram at the end of the prayer, then families sacrifice at home.
Sheep are sold at livestock markets such as Togblékopé, north of Lomé (Koaci). In 2026, a good sheep cost 150,000 to 300,000 CFA francs in Lomé, against 50,000 to 100,000 the year before, and some oxen approached a million (Le Défenseur Info). Niger and Burkina Faso had suspended their livestock exports, and traders turned to Benin and Nigeria (Icilome).
Watch out
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the tri-border areas with Burkina Faso and Benin, and with Burkina Faso and Ghana, as well as the Sinkassé and Mandouri border posts. The Savanes region, Dapaong included, is advised against unless essential (state of emergency until March 13, 2027, with written permission from the Ministry of the Armed Forces required of foreigners). The rest of the country is at increased vigilance. At markets, do not display signs of wealth, and avoid driving at night.
See also Togo entry requirements and festivals in Togo.
Benin: the Akpakpa Idi ground and the meat shared in three
In Benin, 27.7% of the population is Muslim, 25.5% Catholic and 11.6% followers of Vodun, according to the 2013 census cited by the US State Department. Muslims live mainly in the north. Tabaski has been a legal holiday since the law of July 27, 1990, and the state sends its greetings. In 2026, three days after his inauguration, President Romuald Wadagni published this message (Bénin Web TV):
A moment of grace, sharing and contemplation.
The Islamic Union of Benin announces the date after the sighting commission has done its work. In 2025, its statement of May 27 set the holiday for Friday, June 6, and recommended fasting on the Day of Arafah for those not on pilgrimage (Bénin Web TV). Wednesday, May 27, 2026 was declared a paid public holiday for the public and private sectors (Bénin Web TV). The holiday had fallen on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
Idi grounds and the meat shared in three
In Cotonou, the best-known prayer takes place on the Idi ground of Akpakpa. In 2009, the imam there reminded the faithful that “God needs neither the blood nor the meat, but your faith”, according to La Nation (Islam in West Africa, our translation). In Kandi, in 2019, the central imam prayed on the Idi ground before the prefect and the mayor (Islam in West Africa). The meat is traditionally shared in three: the family, the poor, and friends.
In 2019, at the Guèma market in Parakou, a sheep cost 35,000 to 300,000 CFA francs (24 Heures au Bénin), and in 2022, at the Zongo market in Cotonou, 70,000 to over 200,000 CFA francs (Afro Impact). We did not find a reliable price survey for 2026. Cotonou remains the easiest base (where to stay in Cotonou).
Watch out
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, the Pendjari and W parks, Banikoara, the northwestern border with Togo and the northeastern border with Nigeria as far as Nikki. Central Atakora and a strip from Kandi to Tchaourou are advised against unless essential: Kandi lies in that strip, and the road to Parakou runs through Tchaourou. The rest of the country is at increased vigilance. Avoid driving at night.
See also Benin entry requirements and festivals in Benin.
Cameroon: the “sheep feast”, from Douala to Garoua
It is also called the “sheep feast”. Muslims make up about 24.4% of Cameroonians (a 2018 estimate cited by the US State Department), more numerous in the North, Far North, Adamawa, North-West and East regions and among the Bamoun. Yet Eid al-Adha is a public holiday nationwide, under the 1973 law (237online). May 27, 2026 was a “public holiday throughout the national territory” (BVMAC). The holiday had fallen on Friday, June 6 in 2025, and the secondary school exams scheduled that day were postponed to June 9 (Mimi Mefo Info). If it falls on a Sunday, Monday is not automatically a day off, unlike civil holidays.
Prayers, sacrifice and the price of a sheep
The CNCL announces the date a few days ahead, as for the end of Ramadan (Camer.be). On May 27, 2026, thousands of worshippers prayed across the country, according to Journal du Cameroun and Cameroon Tribune:
| City | Prayer site in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Yaoundé | Tsinga central mosque, with Imam Bouba Goï Goï |
| Douala | Place du Gouvernement, at 9 a.m., one of some twenty sites of the Islamic Union of Cameroon |
| Garoua | Poumpoumré great mosque, in the rain, with the lamido present |
| Maroua | Dougoï great mosque, so full that latecomers stayed outside |
| Bamenda | central mosque, with the governor present |
Worshippers wait for the signal from their religious leaders to sacrifice, then the meal is shared among neighbors and relatives. “The Quran asks each believer to celebrate Tabaski according to their will and their means”, a preacher from La Briqueterie said in 2023 (Le360 Afrique, our translation). In May 2026, a sheep cost 80,000 to 500,000 CFA francs in Yaoundé, at the Mvog-Ada, Carrière, Etoudi and Briqueterie markets (Le360 Afrique), and 70,000 to 250,000 CFA francs in Bertoua (Cameroon Tribune).
Watch out
Yaoundé and Douala are the easiest places. France Diplomatie strongly advises against the Far North (including Maroua), Mayo-Louti, a 30 km strip along the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic, the North-West (including Bamenda) and part of the South-West. The rest of the North (including Garoua), Vina (Ngaoundéré), Mbéré and the rest of the South-West are advised against unless essential. It considers Westerners potential targets, requires a military escort on some roads, advises against driving at night and considers the Yaoundé-Douala road dangerous.
See also Cameroon entry requirements and festivals in Cameroon.
Chad: sheep in Linia, Abéché and Am Timan
Watch out
All of Chad is classified orange or red by France Diplomatie. Tibesti, Ennedi, eastern Borkou, the Lake Chad region (except Bol) and the border areas are strongly advised against; Abéché, Bongor, Bol and Fada are advised against unless essential. It asks travelers to avoid markets, places of worship and gatherings, which “could be a target” (our translation). In N'Djamena, it advises against walking outside the center and at night, and against the Moursal, Sabangali and Chagoua neighborhoods in the evening. Outside the capital, drive only by day, in convoy and with an escort. We do not recommend the big prayers or the sheep markets.
In the 2009 census, 58% of Chadians said they were Muslim, 18% Catholic and 16% Protestant (US State Department). Eid al-Adha comes two months and ten days after Eid al-Fitr (Alwihda Info). The Minister of Public Service declares a single public holiday, one or two days before: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 by a statement of May 25 (Tchadinfos), and Friday, June 6, 2025 by a statement of June 5, with the next day remaining a working day (Alwihda Info).
| Market (May 2026) | Price of a sheep | What the press says |
|---|---|---|
| Linia, 30 km east of N'Djamena | 40,000 to 200,000 CFA francs | big Sunday market for buyers from the capital |
| Arfa Sadrak, in Abéché | 40,000 to 120,000 CFA francs | group purchases by associations for low-income families |
| Am Timan (Salamat) | 50,000 to 150,000 CFA francs | 35,000 to 40,000 CFA francs in previous years |
Sources: Alwihda Info for Linia, Alwihda Info for Abéché, and Tchadinfos for Am Timan, where the lack of pasture and water had driven the herds away.
Prayers in N'Djamena and the provinces
In N'Djamena, the main prayer takes place at the King Faisal Grand Mosque. In 2024, the president arrived there shortly before 8 a.m., among thousands of worshippers. In 2025, he then received the greetings of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs (Alwihda Info), and in 2026 he had left on pilgrimage to Mecca on May 22. In the provinces, Abéché prayed on the Place de l'Indépendance before visits all over town (Tchadinfos). Ati prayed at the central mosque (Tchadinfos), and Koumra on its Place de l'Indépendance, where the imam called for peace between communities (Tchadinfos). See Chad entry requirements and festivals in Chad.
Gabon: a public holiday for a 15% Muslim minority
According to the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs of Gabon (CSAIG), cited by the US State Department, about 15% of the population is Muslim, many of them residents from West Africa; Seneweb puts it at 11%, with some 200 mosques. The Bishops' Conference estimates that 80% of Gabonese are Christian. Yet Tabaski is declared a paid public holiday every year by the Minister of Labor. In 2025, he declared June 6, 8 and 9 public holidays, Pentecost included (Gabon Media Time). In 2024, the holiday fell on Sunday, June 16, and it was that Sunday that was declared a holiday. Gabon generally follows the sighting made in Saudi Arabia, Gabonreview noted in 2023.
Our advice
In Gabon, wait for the Ministry of Labor's statement, published a few days ahead, and take care of paperwork and cash withdrawals the day before.
Libreville, the Hassan II mosque and the price of a sheep
The main prayer is usually held at the Hassan II mosque in Libreville, inaugurated in 1983 (Le360 Afrique); the president attended in 2024 (Infos Gabon). On May 27, 2026, people prayed in the mosques of Libreville and other towns (L'Union). The meat is shared in three equal parts (Gabon Media Time), and Libreville, Port-Gentil and Franceville become melting pots. In 2022, the CSAIG president hosted a lunch attended by people of other faiths (L'Union).
Sheep are expensive: in May 2026, it was hard to find one for 150,000 CFA francs, and usual prices ran from about 180,000 to 280,000 CFA francs or more (Seneweb). Libreville is the easiest place to experience the holiday: come early to the prayer, in covering clothes, and stay discreet.
Watch out
France Diplomatie does not advise against any region of Gabon. It asks for particular vigilance at night, to keep away from gatherings and to be careful on Libreville's quieter beaches. Driving at night outside the capital is strongly advised against, and you should not take photos without permission.
See also Gabon entry requirements and festivals in Gabon.
Djibouti: the Balbala market and the Awled ground
About 94% of Djiboutians are Sunni Muslims (US State Department). Eid al-Adha brings two public holidays there, May 27 and 28 in 2026 (Office Holidays), and the Embassy of Qatar also lists the day before, the Day of Arafah, among the public holidays. The sacrifice is not compulsory for everyone, and some families make a donation instead. The meat is shared in three equal parts, Sheikh Ahmed Gadileh of the Ministry of Waqfs recalled in 2026 (La Nation).
The big livestock market is Gaagada Adhiga, in Bouldouqo, in the Balbala district. Sheep and goats arrive from the interior and from the border areas with Ethiopia. In May 2026, they sold for 15,000 to 25,000 Djiboutian francs, or 12,000 to 15,000 directly from the herder, and “prices often drop after the Eid prayer”, a father said. In town, the shops “are hardly ever empty, morning and evening” around Place Mahamoud Harbi (RTD, our translations).
Prayer at the Awled ground and ambabour
People pray in the open air from early morning: in Balbala, on the central squares, at the Aouled ground and at the Plateau du Serpent in 2025. On May 27, 2026, the president prayed as every year at the Awled ground, near the Peltier hospital (RTD). The sheep is then eaten with rice, and ambabour, flatbreads grilled with curdled milk, at breakfast (La Nation). Children then take over the swings and bumper cars (La Nation). Roads to the interior are busy: if you are coming by road from Ethiopia, avoid arriving on a public holiday. The heat is extreme in May.
Watch out
Djibouti City is at increased vigilance for France Diplomatie, which strongly advises against the area near the border with Eritrea, the border area toward Somaliland in the southeast and the Sept-Frères archipelago except on excursions with approved agencies. It recommends vigilance near places of worship. Do not photograph military installations, or people without their consent, and do not film the sacrifice unless invited to.
See also Djibouti entry requirements and festivals in Djibouti.
Comoros and the Central African Republic: two separate pages
Two countries have a Tabaski so distinctive that it keeps its own page.
| Country | What makes it unique | Our page |
|---|---|---|
| Comoros | the “Eid of the dead”: the mahitimio meal and prayers at the graves; date announced by the Muftorat, sometimes a day after Saudi Arabia; May 16 and 17, 2027 are public holidays according to Office Holidays | Eid al-Adha in the Comoros |
| Central African Republic | a legal holiday only since a law of December 2019, a message of peace after the crises; France Diplomatie strongly advises against the whole country except Bangui and Bimbo, which are themselves advised against unless essential | Tabaski in the Central African Republic |
Traveling during Eid al-Adha and Tabaski
Tabaski changes a country more than Korité does. Millions of people go back to their villages, sheep take over the markets and sometimes the rooftops, and on the day itself, cities empty in the morning before smelling of grilled meat by afternoon.
Dates, transport and money
- Date: it is known about ten days ahead in most countries, but only the day before in Guinea and Chad for the public holiday. Keep some leeway around May 16, 2027.
- Transport: travel several days before the holiday or after the public holidays. Bus stations overflow, and prices can double. Book trains and buses early.
- Money and shops: withdraw cash and do your shopping beforehand. Shops, restaurants and markets close on the day itself, sometimes longer. Hotels stay open.
- The sacrifice: it takes place in the morning, at home or in the courtyard, sometimes in the street. If you are squeamish, plan your outings for the afternoon.
- Photos: do not photograph worshippers at prayer, a sacrifice or a sheep market without consent.
- Clothing: loose, covering clothes, especially near places of prayer.
- Safety: the big prayers are gatherings, which France Diplomatie asks travelers to avoid in several countries. Also check your own government's travel advice.
Our advice
If a family invites you, accept: sharing the Tabaski meal is an honor. If you would rather not see the sacrifice, simply say so and come for the meal. “Eid Mubarak” or “happy Eid” works everywhere.
Visas and vaccinations
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality: check your case on our entry requirements page, one to two weeks before departure. Yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Gabon. The year's other holidays are in our festival calendar.
Eid al-Adha and Tabaski: frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Adha 2027?
It is estimated for Sunday, May 16 or Monday, May 17, 2027. Each country announces it about ten days ahead, at the start of Dhu al-Hijjah, and the date can shift by a day.
Tabaski, Eid el-Kebir, Eid al-Adha: what's the difference?
None: it is the same feast of the sacrifice. Tabaski is the usual name in West and Central Africa, Eid el-Kebir (the “big feast”) in North Africa, Seliba in Bambara, and Eid al-Adha is its Arabic name.
How much does a Tabaski sheep cost?
In May 2026, expect 120,000 to 240,000 CFA francs in the Dakar suburbs, 170,000 to 400,000 CFA francs in Bamako, 80,000 to 500,000 CFA francs in Yaoundé, 3,000 to 4,000 dirhams for a lamb in Casablanca and 8,000 to 9,000 ouguiyas for an entry-level sheep in Nouakchott.
Can travelers attend Eid al-Adha?
Yes, especially if a family invites you. Watch the prayer from a distance, quietly, and ask before any photo. In countries France Diplomatie advises against, avoid the big prayers and crowds.
