Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends Ramadan, is expected on Tuesday, March 9 or Wednesday, March 10, 2027, after a fast that begins around February 8. These are estimates: each country sets its date the evening before, once the crescent moon has been sighted, and two neighbors can celebrate a day apart. It is called Korité in West Africa, the “Ramadan feast” in many countries, Djouldé Soumaé in Cameroon and Aïd sghir, the “small feast”, in North Africa.
For a traveler, three things matter. The date is only confirmed at the last minute. One to three days are public holidays, depending on the country. And the days before are the busiest: markets, tailors, transport. This page compares the 15 countries we cover, then describes the customs of each.
Eid al-Fitr 2027 date
The UAE's astronomy center expects Ramadan to begin around Monday, February 8, 2027. Eid would fall on Tuesday, March 9 if the crescent is seen on the evening of the 8th, otherwise on Wednesday, March 10, according to the Khaleej Times. Those dates apply to the Emirates. In Africa, each country watches the moon or follows its own religious authority, and the date can shift by a day.
The last two years show how much dates differ from one country to the next:
| Country | Eid al-Fitr 2025 | Eid al-Fitr 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Monday, March 31 | Friday, March 20 |
| Algeria | Monday, March 31 | Friday, March 20 |
| Tunisia | Monday, March 31 | Friday, March 20 |
| Mauritania | Sunday, March 30 | Friday, March 20 |
| Senegal | March 30 or 31, depending on the community | March 20 or 21, depending on the community |
| Guinea | Sunday, March 30 | Friday, March 20 |
| Mali | not verified | Thursday, March 19 |
| Burkina Faso | not verified | Friday, March 20 |
| Niger | Sunday, March 30 | Thursday, March 19 |
| Togo | Sunday, March 30 | Friday, March 20 |
| Benin | Sunday, March 30 | Friday, March 20 |
| Cameroon | Monday, March 31 | Friday, March 20 |
| Chad | Sunday, March 30 | Friday, March 20 |
| Djibouti | not verified | Friday, March 20 |
| Comoros | Monday, March 31 | Saturday, March 21 |
In 2025, Saudi Arabia celebrated Eid on Sunday, March 30. In 2026, Mali and Niger celebrated a day before most of their neighbors, and the Comoros a day after.
Our advice
Traveling around March 9, 2027? Allow two days of leeway for paperwork, shopping and travel: offices close on a date that is only known the evening before.
What the holiday celebrates
During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the faithful fast from dawn to sunset. Eid al-Fitr, the “feast of breaking the fast”, opens the following month, Shawwal. The calendar is lunar, so the holiday moves about ten days earlier each year. It is often called the “small feast”, as opposed to Tabaski or Eid al-Adha, the “big feast” (see our page on Eid al-Adha and Tabaski).
Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. On the evening of the 29th day, observers watch for the crescent. If it is seen, the holiday is the next day. If not, the fast lasts one more day. Before the prayer, each family pays zakat al-fitr, an alms so that the poorest can celebrate too. In the morning, the communal prayer has two units (rakats), followed by a sermon. Then come new clothes, meals, visits and, in many countries, asking one another for forgiveness.
Country by country: public holidays and what changes for you
| Country | Usual name | Days off | What changes for a traveler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Eid al-Fitr, Aïd sghir | 2 days | shops closed, extra trains around the holiday |
| Algeria | Eid al-Fitr, Aïd sghir | 3 days (since 2023) | some shops must stay open, limited choice |
| Tunisia | Eid al-Fitr, Aïd esseghir | 3 days (public sector) | extra buses and trains, offices closed |
| Mauritania | Eid al-Fitr, Korité | 1 day (a 2nd in some calendars) | bring cash, ATMs sometimes empty |
| Senegal | Korité | 1 day, plus Monday if on a Sunday | two possible dates, markets packed |
| Guinea | Ramadan feast | 1 day, moved if not a working day | celebrations continue the next day in Conakry |
| Mali | Korité | 2 days in 2026 | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Burkina Faso | Ramadan feast | 1 day | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Niger | Korité, Ramadan feast | 2 days (since 2026) | travel to the whole country strongly advised against |
| Togo | Ramadan feast, Korité | 1 day | big prayers at 8 a.m., shops closed |
| Benin | Ramadan feast | 1 day | prayers on the Idi grounds, date confirmed late |
| Cameroon | Djouldé Soumaé | 1 day | much of the north advised against |
| Chad | Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan feast | 1 day | avoid big prayers and crowded markets |
| Djibouti | Eid al-Fitr | 2 days | city lit up, celebrations late into the night |
| Comoros | Eid al-Fitr | 3 days expected in 2027 | date often a day later, cash essential |
Morocco: Aïd sghir and two public holidays
Moroccans also say “Aïd sghir”. Morocco makes its own sighting: on the 29th day of Ramadan, after the sunset prayer, observers watch for the crescent. The Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs announces the result that same evening. The country often celebrates a day after Saudi Arabia, but not always. There was a one-day gap in 2025 according to FNH, and none in 2026 according to Hespress.
For 2027, estimates point to Wednesday, March 10, with a second public holiday on the 11th. Both days are paid public holidays, according to Wafir.ma. The first day of Ramadan is not.
Royal prayer, djellabas and gazelle horns
In 2026, the Higher Council of Ulemas set zakat al-fitr at 25 dirhams per person, payable in cash (maroc.ma). The king, as Commander of the Faithful, performs the Eid prayer: in 2026, at the Ahl Fès mosque of the Mechouar, in Rabat. People dress in traditional clothes, often new: djellaba, gandoura, caftan, babouches. A djellaba with its jabador and babouches can cost up to 1,000 dirhams, according to Hespress.
Families visit from house to house over mint tea and sweets, according to Le360 and Morocco World News. That day, shops close, and markets and taxis are quiet.
| Moroccan sweet | What it is |
|---|---|
| Kaab el-ghzal | “gazelle horns”, thin pastry filled with almond paste |
| Ghriba | shortbread cookie, often made with almonds |
| Mhencha | a coiled “snake” of flaky pastry with almonds |
| Msemen and baghrir | flaky flatbreads or “thousand-hole” pancakes, with honey |
| Chebakia | sesame and honey pastry |
Traveling in Morocco during Ramadan
In 2026, government offices worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays during Ramadan (H24info). Morocco also returned to GMT from February 15 to March 22, before switching back to GMT+1. Outside the big cities and tourist sites, many cafés and restaurants close during the day and reopen for ftour, the evening meal. Bars close and alcohol sales generally stop, according to Morocco World News. Just before ftour, most shops close, then reopen in the evening.
Article 222 of the Penal Code punishes a person known to be Muslim who publicly breaks the fast with one to six months in prison. It does not apply to non-Muslim foreigners, but eat and drink out of sight. In 2026, the ONCF rail company ran extra trains from March 17 to 29 and fewer on Eid itself: buy your tickets early (see train or bus in Morocco).
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: the “night of doubt” and three days off
In Algeria, too, people say Aïd sghir. On the 29th day of Ramadan, the National Crescent Sighting Commission meets at Dar al-Imam, in Mohammadia (Algiers). The session, broadcast by the media, is known as the “night of doubt”. In 2026, Eid was set for Friday, March 20, according to TSA.
Since a 2023 decision of the Council of Ministers, the holiday brings three paid days off instead of two, from 1 to 3 Shawwal (Algérie Eco). In 2026, the civil service confirmed them for both the public and private sectors. Zakat al-fitr was set at 170 dinars per person, up from 150 the year before (Algérie 360).
Makrout, visits and “Saha Aïdek”
The prayer, preceded by religious chants, is held early in the mosques. In 2026, the president performed it at Djamaâ El Djazaïr, the Great Mosque of Algiers. Then, at last, people eat in the morning: pastries and coffee. Children receive presents, many visit the graves of relatives, and families call on one another with boxes of pastries (Le Petit Journal Alger). Makrout, tcharek, baklava, samsa and ghribia are among the best sellers in Algiers (TSA).
Our advice
To wish someone a happy Eid in Algeria, say “Saha Aïdek” or “Eid Mubarak”. In Kabyle, people say “Saha l'aïd-ik”.
Traveling in Algeria during Ramadan
During the day, most restaurants and cafés are closed, and travelers turn to the big hotels (Algérie Eco). In Algiers, public transport runs late: in 2026, ETUSA buses until 1:30 a.m., the metro and tramway until 1 a.m. (Algérie 360). During Eid 2025, the metro ran from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and SNTF trains from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (AllAfrica, APS). The state requires shopkeepers to keep a rota: more than 55,700 stayed open in 2026, including 627 bakeries in Algiers (Algérie 360). Choice is still limited: do your shopping the day before.
Watch out
According to France Diplomatie, eating, drinking and smoking in public during Ramadan, from dawn to sunset, is forbidden and can lead to prosecution. Algiers and Oran are at normal vigilance. 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: the mufti's announcement
Tunisians say Aïd esseghir. On the evening of the 29th day, the National Institute of Meteorology organizes the crescent sighting, then the Mufti of the Republic confirms the date (Webdo). In 2025, with no sighting in any region, Eid was set for Monday, March 31 (Kapitalis). In 2026, it fell on Friday, March 20, Independence Day (La Presse). For 2027, La Presse, via AllAfrica places it around March 9 or 10.
The decree of December 7, 2021 gives public employees three days off (Tuniscope). In the private sector, it depends on collective agreements: two days in some. Zakat al-fitr was 2 dinars per person in 2026 (Managers).
Our advice
In Tunisia, avoid planning any paperwork between March 9 and 12, 2027: government offices will close for three days, on a date known only at the last minute.
In the weeks before, families buy new clothes in the evening, at the Boumendil souk or on Rue d'Espagne in Tunis (La Presse, via AllAfrica). On the table: kaak warka from Zaghouan, scented with nesri (rose water), makroudh from Kairouan, ghraiba, baklava, zlabia and makhareq (AllAfrica).
Traveling in Tunisia during Ramadan
Most cafés and restaurants close during the day outside tourist areas (Le Petit Journal Tunis). Government offices switch to a single shift, until about 2 p.m. Alcohol sales are banned during the month, except in tourist complexes, and places that serve food during the day may seat you out of sight, sometimes behind screens, according to the British government (GOV.UK). Outside Ramadan, supermarkets do not sell alcohol on Fridays. Away from the beach resorts, clothing seen as inappropriate causes more offense during this month.
No law requires cafés to close, Human Rights Watch points out. Yet a café owner in Kairouan was convicted in 2019 for offending public morals. In 2026, the Ministry of Transport added 40% more bus capacity and 16 SNCFT train runs from March 13 to 23, and allowed louages (shared taxis) to operate nationwide (La Presse, via AllAfrica).
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: henna, daraa and cash
The National Crescent Sighting Commission, part of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, sets the date of Eid as it does for Tabaski. Its announcement sometimes comes late. In 2025, it declared on Saturday evening that Sunday would be the holiday, when most countries had already set theirs, which caused debate (AllAfrica). In 2026, Eid fell on Friday, March 20 (Madar). The day of the holiday is a public holiday. Calendars disagree on a second day: the Embassy of Japan counts only one in its 2026 list.
Our advice
An announcement made in Saudi Arabia or Morocco does not apply to Mauritania: wait for the Mauritanian commission's announcement, reported the same evening by the local press.
In the last days of Ramadan, markets and shopping malls are packed. Tailors are swamped with orders for daraa, the men's long robe, and women have henna applied (Hespress). Many families also buy a sheep, and a married man often gives one to his in-laws. Madar noted a sharp rise in livestock prices in 2026. The imam of the Great Mosque of Nouakchott recommends paying zakat in staple foods (AMI). After the prayer, children receive an eidiya (a gift of money) and families head out to the parks.
Traveling in Mauritania: cash, alcohol and photos
Bring cash: shops do not accept cards. On the eve of Eid 2016, ATMs in Nouakchott were empty or out of order (Le360 Afrique). During Ramadan, the British government asks travelers not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during the day, including in a car (GOV.UK).
Watch out
Alcohol is banned for everyone, all year round, and France Diplomatie notes that possessing it can lead to police custody. It also lists mosques among the places not to photograph.
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 the PK55 checkpoint), north of the Choum-Aghouedir line, east of the Aghouedir-Tichit line, southeast of the Tichit-Kaédi line, and in Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka. Nouakchott is at increased vigilance, with violent thefts by motorbike riders: avoid beaches and isolated neighborhoods at night.
See also Mauritania entry requirements and festivals in Mauritania.
Senegal: Korité and its two dates
In Senegal, the holiday is Korité, and it often falls on two dates. The National Crescent Consultation Commission (Conacoc), followed by the majority, announces its decision on the evening of the sighting. The Coordination of Muslims of Senegal (CMS) and the Omarian family make their own sighting. In 2025, Conacoc celebrated on Monday, March 31 and the others on Sunday, March 30 (AllAfrica). In 2026, it was Saturday, March 21 versus Friday, March 20 (Senego).
Korité is a legal public holiday under Law No. 74-52 of 1974 (Vie publique Sénégal). When it falls on a Sunday, Monday is also a day off, according to a legal expert quoted by Senego.
“Baal ma ak”, lakh and the “chicken feast”
Forgiveness is the heart of the holiday: after the prayer, people say “Baal ma ak”, “forgive me” in Wolof. Before the holiday, each head of household pays the “mouroum koor”, the zakat al-fitr (Au Sénégal). The daily Le Soleil followed a Dakar family through the day in 2025:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early morning | the women prepare lakh, a millet porridge with nutmeg and vanilla |
| Morning | Eid prayer, then greetings and forgiveness between neighbors |
| After the prayer | lakh is served with curdled milk or a sweet peanut sauce |
| Daytime | a big meal centered on chicken, hence the nickname “chicken feast” |
| Afternoon and evening | visits to parents, grandparents and friends, in festive clothes |
Before the holiday, Dakar's tailors work until midnight. A decent outfit cost 15,000 to 20,000 CFA francs in 2025, according to Senego. In the evening, children go door to door asking for “ndéwénal”, a few coins given by relatives. There is no big public show: being invited is what makes the holiday. Do your shopping and withdraw cash several days ahead, because the markets are mobbed.
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 along the border with Mali, in the Matam department near Mauritania, along Casamance's borders with The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau away from main roads, and in the Bayot forest. Road accidents are very common: avoid driving at night.
See also Senegal entry requirements and festivals in Senegal.
Guinea: the Ramadan feast and the day after
Guineans speak of the “Ramadan feast”. The General Secretariat for Religious Affairs sets the date based on the sighting commissions. That evening, mosques delay the 8 p.m. prayer while waiting for the result, broadcast by RTG (Guinéenews). The 1995 decree on public holidays, amended in 2022, lists Eid al-Fitr and the day after the Night of Destiny (Guinéenews). If the holiday falls on a non-working day, the next working day is off: in 2025, with the holiday on Sunday, March 30, Monday was a day off (Guinéenews).
In the Fouta Djallon, towns such as Koula Mawdhé, near Labé, or Kourémalé, near Siguiri, celebrated a day after the national date in 2025 (Guinéenews). If you are there, ask locally.
In Conakry, the main gathering is at the Faisal Grand Mosque. Reopened in late 2023 after a $5 million renovation funded by Saudi Arabia, it holds more than 12,000 people (Arab News). In 2026, the sermon there was translated from Arabic into Maninka (Guinéenews). Arrive early and stay at the back if you are not Muslim. In Labé, a full outfit for a 4-year-old cost 390,000 Guinean francs in 2022 (Guinéenews). The partying is often bigger the next day: in Conakry, in 2022, crowds stayed out past 2 a.m.
Watch out
France Diplomatie advises against travel unless essential to the border areas with Mali and Côte d'Ivoire, including Siguiri and Mandiana. The rest of the country is at increased vigilance. Demonstrations, frequent since 2022, “can lead to violent incidents” (our translation): avoid gatherings and the Route Le Prince from Hamdallaye onward. In Conakry, armed robberies are rising, especially at night.
See also Guinea entry requirements and festivals in Guinea.
Mali: Sunkalo and sambè-sambè
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). In July 2021, at the Tabaski prayer at the Great Mosque of Bamako, the transitional president was targeted in a knife attack (Africanews). This section describes the holiday; it is not an invitation to travel.
The month of fasting is called “Sunkalo” in Bambara. In Bamako, the weeks before it are wedding season (Maliweb). The National Moon Sighting Commission validates the sightings, then the Ministry of Religious Affairs issues a statement. In 2026, Korité was set for Thursday, March 19 (Seneweb). A legal holiday since Law No. 05-040 of 2005, it brought two paid days off that year, the day itself and the next (Bamada).
People break the fast with moni, a millet or corn porridge, kinkeliba tea and bissap and ginger juices, then tô, rice cooked in sauce (riz gras) or millet couscous (Sahel Tribune). Near the end of the month, the Night of Destiny keeps the faithful together until dawn, as at the Zawiya of Niamakoro (Le360 Afrique). On the afternoon of the holiday comes sambè-sambè: visits, forgiveness and wishes to “meet again in peace next year”. Children receive gifts of money or grain, a custom that is fading according to Le360 Afrique. See festivals in Mali.
Burkina Faso: open-air prayers for peace
Watch out
France Diplomatie places all of Burkina Faso in its red zone: “all travel to Burkina Faso is strongly advised against” (our translation), Ouagadougou included. It rates the risk of kidnapping as very high and warns of a risk of arrest or detention. The country broke off diplomatic relations with France in 2026, and the French embassy is closed. This section describes the holiday; it is not an invitation to travel.
People speak of the “Ramadan feast”. The Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina (FAIB) sets the start and end of the fast by statement. In 2026, the holiday fell on Friday, March 20, a day after Mali (Burkina 24). It is one of the eleven paid public holidays in the law of January 9, 2026, which also ended the extra Monday off when a holiday falls on a Sunday (Burkina 24).
In Ouagadougou, the prayer is held on the Place de la Nation, where white dominates the outfits (Burkina 24). In Bobo-Dioulasso, about a thousand faithful surrounded the grand imam of Dioulassoba on the Place Wara Wara in 2026 (allAfrica). Christians join in: in 2026, the Catholic Church and evangelical churches prayed for peace alongside Muslims in Ouahigouya (allAfrica). During the month, galettes, massa and zom-kom are sold in the streets of Ouagadougou (Le360 Afrique). See festivals in Burkina Faso.
Niger: the Hawan Kaho of Zinder
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, and reports kidnappings for ransom near the border with Nigeria. The French embassy in Niamey is closed. This section describes the holiday; it is not an invitation to travel.
The Islamic Council of Niger announces the date that evening on public television and radio. In 2026, the crescent was seen in Mirriah, Garin Dogo and Baroua, and Korité was celebrated on Thursday, March 19 (ActuNiger). On March 3, 2026, an ordinance amending the 1997 law on legal holidays made both the holiday and the day after public holidays (government of Niger).
In Zinder, on the eve of the holiday, the Sultan of Damagaram presides over the Hawan Kaho: in front of the palace, butchers take on bulls. The tradition is said to date back to around 1865, according to Le Sahel, and the sultan then gives a horse and a black robe, the “koré”, to the head of the butchers. The next day, after the prayer at the Nassarawa Idi mosque, notables renew their allegiance with horse races (Le Sahel). In Niamey, the 2026 sermon was given in Arabic, Hausa and Zarma. Food travels “from compound to compound”, and people wish one another “Barka da Sallah” and “kayessi” (ANP). See festivals in Niger.
Togo: the big prayer at Tokoin
Locally, people tend to say “Ramadan feast”. The Muslim Union of Togo (UMT) sets the date by statement after the crescent sighting. The government then declares it a paid public holiday for the public and private sectors, as on Friday, March 20, 2026 (Republic of Togo).
Our advice
In Togo, do your shopping and withdraw cash before the holiday: the UMT's announcement comes at the last minute, and the day itself is off.
The UMT sets the start of the big prayers at 8 a.m. In Lomé, the main prayer is held in the open air on the grounds of the Tokoin high school, attended by the head of state in 2025 (Koaci). In Kara, it takes place on the esplanade of the conference center. Sokodé, capital of Tchaoudjo, is a key city for the country's Muslims (Koaci). As early as 1997, it prayed at several sites, including the municipal stadium (Togo-Presse archives, Islam in West Africa). Lomé's big stores close on the day of the prayer.
Since May 18, 2026, there is no longer a visa on arrival. African nationals enter visa-free for 30 days, after registering on voyage.gouv.tg at least 24 hours ahead. Everyone else applies for an e-visa on the same portal.
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 whole Savanes region, Dapaong included, is advised against unless essential: the state of emergency there has been extended until March 13, 2027, and foreigners need written permission from the Ministry of the Armed Forces, requested 30 working days in advance. The rest of the country is at increased vigilance. Avoid driving at night.
See also Togo entry requirements and festivals in Togo.
Benin: the Idi grounds from Cotonou to Parakou
People mostly speak of the “Ramadan feast”. According to the 2013 census, cited by the US State Department, 27.7% of Beninese are Muslim, mainly in the north. The Islamic Union of Benin (UIB) sets the date after the sighting commission has done its work. In 2026, as the crescent was not validated on March 18, the holiday took place on Friday, March 20 (La Nouvelle Tribune). A legal holiday since the law of July 27, 1990, it is declared a paid public holiday every year, for the public and private sectors (Pulaaku, Bénin Web TV).
People pray in the mosques and on the “Idi grounds”, in their finest boubous. In Cotonou, the newspaper La Nation described the prayer on the Idi ground of Akpakpa as early as 1995 (Islam in West Africa). Porto-Novo prays in its mosques and on its Idi grounds (La Nouvelle Tribune). In Parakou, the prayer is held on the Carder, Zongo and Dokparou Est grounds (La Nation). In 2025, the mayor arrived on horseback, “thus respecting tradition” (Le Béninois Libéré).
Cotonou is the easiest base: see where to stay in Cotonou, and a car with driver to go further. According to evisa.bj, African nationals can stay visa-free for up to 90 days, and others generally apply for an e-visa.
Watch out
France Diplomatie strongly advises against the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, the Pendjari and W parks and their surroundings, Banikoara, the northwestern border with Togo and the northeastern border with Nigeria as far as Nikki. Travel is advised against unless essential in central Atakora and in a strip from Kandi to Tchaourou, which includes Parakou. The rest of the country is at increased vigilance.
See also Benin entry requirements and festivals in Benin.
Cameroon: Djouldé Soumaé and the lamidos
The official calendar calls it Djouldé Soumaé (Office Holidays), and people also say “Ramadan feast”. It is a public holiday under the 1973 law on legal holidays (237online). March 20, 2026 was a “public holiday throughout the national territory” (BVMAC).
The National Lunar Crescent Commission (CNCL) watches for the moon in all ten regions and announces the date on the 8:30 p.m. news on CRTV (Journal du Cameroun). Another body, the Cameroonian Lunar Crescent Council, sometimes announces a different date. In 2021, the Minister of Territorial Administration recalled that the CNCL is “the only organization authorized to scan the sky” (Journal du Cameroun). Go by its date: in 2025, it set the holiday for Monday, March 31. In 2026, both bodies agreed on Friday, March 20 (Cameroun24).
From Yaoundé to the lamidates of the north
In Yaoundé, the main prayer is held at the Tsinga Islamic complex (Cameroon Tribune). La Briqueterie is the capital's most Muslim neighborhood (Le360 Afrique). In the north, the lamidos, traditional Fulani rulers, attend the prayer: in Ngaoundéré on the prayer ground of the Onaref neighborhood (Cameroon Tribune), in Garoua at the great mosque of Poumpoumré, reopened in 2024. After the prayer, people take photos in front of the mosques and in public gardens. Visas are applied for only on evisacam.cm, at least two weeks ahead (see our Cameroon visa guide).
Watch out
The holiday is at its most spectacular in the north, but France Diplomatie strongly advises against the whole Far North region (including Maroua), Mayo-Louti, a 30 km strip along the borders with Nigeria, Chad and the Central African Republic, the North-West and part of the South-West. The rest of the North region (including Garoua), Vina (Ngaoundéré), Mbéré and the rest of the South-West are advised against unless essential. It considers Westerners potential targets and requires a military escort on some roads. Yaoundé remains the easiest place.
See also Cameroon entry requirements and festivals in Cameroon.
Chad: the prayer at the King Faisal Grand Mosque
Watch out
All of Chad is classified orange or red by France Diplomatie, N'Djamena included, with a high threat of kidnapping targeting Westerners. 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 anywhere at night, and points out that stopping near, photographing or approaching the presidential palace is strictly forbidden. We do not recommend joining the big prayers.
The Higher Council for Islamic Affairs announces the end of the fast (Alwihda Info). The Minister of Public Service then declares a single public holiday: Friday, March 20, 2026, with Saturday remaining a working day (Alwihda Info). In 2025, the holiday fell on a Sunday, and Monday was declared a working day.
Our advice
If you have Muslim friends or family in Chad, call them on the morning of the holiday, after the prayer: that is when people offer their good wishes.
The official prayer takes place at the King Faisal Grand Mosque in N'Djamena. In 2026, the Presidency published a timed program: the head of state arriving at 7:45 a.m., prayer at 8 a.m., greetings at the palace from 10 to 11 a.m. (Alwihda Info).
The Mufti quoted a saying there: “It is the feast of the year, you upset no one” (Alwihda Info). In the last days, N'Djamena's central market is packed day and night, mostly in the evening because of the heat (Tchadinfos). Some shoppers there report thieves. In Abéché, cookies, candy and juice are in high demand (Tchadinfos). Visas have gone through evisa.td since May 11, 2026. See Chad entry requirements and festivals in Chad.
Djibouti: two days of celebration and ambabour
Eid al-Fitr brings two public holidays in Djibouti, according to the Embassy of Qatar and Office Holidays: March 20 and 21 in 2026, after 30 days of fasting (La Nation). The week before, Djibouti City lights up, from Boulevard de Gaulle to Route de l'Unité. Shops on Route de Venise, the Grand Mall and the streets around Place Mahmoud Harbi stay open late (La Nation). The evening before, women prepare ambabour for breakfast, often baked in the oven rented from the neighborhood bakery.
In the morning, alms and meals for the poorest come before the prayer (La Nation). People pray in the open air, on large grounds, and in the mosques, with men and women in separate areas. In 2023, the Balbala ground and the Hassan Gouled stadium each welcomed about 5,000 worshippers (La Nation).
| Year | Head of state's prayer | Other main sites |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Place Ras Dika | Balbala ground, Hassan Gouled stadium |
| 2026 | Awled ground, the traditional site of the big prayers | the city's large mosques and esplanades |
In the afternoon, cafés and pastry shops are full, children spend their gift money on toys and firecrackers, and the celebration runs late. March falls in the most pleasant season, from November to April.
Watch out
Djibouti City is at increased vigilance for France Diplomatie, which strongly advises against the area near the border with Eritrea, the Loyada road toward Somaliland beyond the Refuge Décan, 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.
See also Djibouti entry requirements and festivals in Djibouti.
Comoros: goudougou and open doors
Sunni Islam is the state religion, with 98.4% of the population Muslim according to Aid to the Church in Need (2025). The Muftorat sets the date, often a day after other countries. In 2026, it announced Eid for Saturday, March 21, when the Grand Mosque of Paris chose the 20th (Habari za Comores). Office Holidays lists three public holidays in 2027, from March 9 to 11, to be confirmed by the official announcement.
Before the holiday, the streets of Moroni fill up. At the Volo-Volo market, a shoe seller calls it “the most important period of the year” (Comores Infos). The day before, many residents head back to their villages. Houses get a fresh coat of paint, and families cook samboss, goudougou, mkatre wa siniya, couscouma and haluwa. “An Eid without goudougou is not an Eid”, a resident of Iconi told La Gazette des Comores in 2026 (our translation). That year, the president led the prayer in Mitsudje, his hometown. Afterward, doors stay open and people greet one another with “Happy Eid!”.
During Ramadan, do not eat in public during the day, and cover your shoulders and knees (GOV.UK). Drinking alcohol in the street is forbidden. Almost everything is paid in cash, and ATMs are unreliable. March is the rainy season. Visa rules depend on your nationality: with a French passport, the visa is issued at Moroni airport for about €30. The feast of the sacrifice has its own page here: Eid al-Adha in the Comoros.
Watch out
France Diplomatie places the archipelago at increased vigilance, with no area advised against. It asks travelers to avoid gatherings and night driving, and never to board a kwassa-kwassa (small fishing boat).
See also Comoros entry requirements and festivals in the Comoros.
Traveling during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Ramadan does not shut any country down, but it changes its rhythm: quiet days, shorter office hours, very lively evenings after the fast is broken. The rules vary from country to country, from the discretion expected of visitors to a ban on eating in public (Algeria) and a total ban on alcohol (Mauritania).
- Date: it is only known the evening before. Allow a day or two of leeway around March 9, 2027 for any appointment.
- Money: withdraw cash several days ahead. The day of the holiday is off everywhere.
- Transport: trains and buses fill up before and after the holiday. Buy your tickets early.
- Clothing: loose, covering clothes, especially near places of prayer. To enter a mosque, cover your shoulders and legs, and women cover their hair.
- Photos: do not photograph worshippers at prayer without their consent, and stay at the back if you are not Muslim.
- 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 on the day of Eid, accept at least a cup of tea or a piece of cake. “Eid Mubarak” or a simple “happy Eid” works everywhere.
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, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Chad. The year's other holidays are in our festival calendar.
Eid al-Fitr: frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?
It is estimated for Tuesday, March 9 or Wednesday, March 10, 2027, depending on whether the crescent is seen on the evening of the 8th. Each country announces it the evening before. The Comoros, Morocco or part of Senegal sometimes celebrate a day later.
Korité, Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan feast: is it the same holiday?
Yes. It is called Korité in Senegal, Mali and Niger, the “Ramadan feast” in Guinea, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, Djouldé Soumaé in Cameroon, Aïd sghir in Morocco and Algeria, and Aïd esseghir in Tunisia.
How many public holidays for Eid al-Fitr?
One day in most of West and Central Africa. Two in Morocco, Djibouti, Niger (since 2026) and Mali in 2026. Three in Algeria (since 2023), in Tunisia for public employees, and in the Comoros according to Office Holidays.
Why don't two neighboring countries celebrate on the same day?
Each follows its own crescent sighting or its own religious authority. When the moon is not seen on the evening of the 29th, Ramadan lasts 30 days and the holiday moves back a day.
