Yennayer is the Amazigh (Berber) New Year, celebrated on January 12 in Algeria. Families gather for a big meal, often couscous, and cultural festivities take place across the country, especially in Kabylie and the Amazigh regions. January 12, 2027 will mark the start of the year 2977 in the Amazigh calendar.
It has been a paid public holiday in Algeria since 2018.
Origins and meaning of Yennayer
An agrarian calendar
Yennayer is the first day of the Amazigh agrarian calendar. It corresponds to January 1 in the Julian calendar, which runs 12 days behind ours. That is why it is celebrated on January 12, sometimes on the 13th or 14th depending on the region and the interpretation.
Some say the name comes from the Berber words yan (“one”) and ayyur (“month”), meaning the “first month.” Other scholars link it to the Latin ianuarius, January.
King Shoshenq
The count of years starts in 950 BCE. That year, according to tradition, the Berber king Shoshenq I (Chachnaq) became pharaoh of Egypt and founded the 22nd Dynasty. Hence the gap between the year 2026 and the Amazigh year 2976.
A celebration made official
For a long time, Yennayer was celebrated within families, with no official status. It was declared a paid public holiday on December 27, 2017, and officially celebrated for the first time on January 12, 2018, as Le Petit Journal Alger recalls.
Yennayer, a unifying event rooted in the historical and cultural depth of the Algerian nation.
Yennayer traditions: how it unfolds
The heart of the celebration is the evening meal, the imensi n yennayer. Everyone must eat their fill, as a sign of a year of plenty. The dishes vary from region to region.
| Dish or rite | What it is |
|---|---|
| Couscous | The centerpiece, often with legumes and poultry, especially in Kabylie |
| Berkoukes | Large pasta pearls in broth, with vegetables and meat, sometimes served the night before |
| Cherchem | Fava beans, chickpeas and durum wheat, flavored with cumin |
| Baghrir and sfenj | Thousand-hole pancakes and fritters |
| Dried fruit | Almonds, dried figs and sweets, with mint tea |
Other rituals accompany the celebration depending on the family, according to an intangible heritage inventory sheet hosted by the French Ministry of Culture:
- people finish the past year's work, such as weaving in Kabylie;
- they give the house a thorough cleaning and replace worn-out objects;
- they set a spoon in a plate for those who are absent and the recently departed;
- sometimes a child's hair is cut for the first time.
People avoid sad or negative words, which are said to bring bad luck for the year. They wish each other “Assegas ameggaz,” happy new year in Amazigh.
Dates and venues
Yennayer falls on January 12 every year in Algeria. It is celebrated first and foremost within families, all over the country. It is especially vibrant in Kabylie, with Berber songs and traditional dress.
Each year the High Commission for Amazighity also organizes national celebrations in a different province. In 2025 they were held in Timimoun. In 2026 they took place in Béni Abbès from January 10 to 12, with a market, craft exhibitions, performances and an award for Amazigh literature, according to Ennahar. The host province for 2027 had not been announced as of mid-October 2026.
Our advice
January 12 is a public holiday: government offices and many shops close. Plan your shopping and errands for the day before.
Experiencing Yennayer as a traveler
Being invited
The best Yennayer is spent at the table with a family. If you are invited, bring dried fruit or pastries. Eat heartily: on that evening, eating your fill is a wish for abundance in the year ahead.
Visa
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa for Algeria: check your case on our Algeria entry requirements page. For a French passport it is required, and you apply at the consulate that covers your place of residence. Submit your application at least two weeks before you leave, and earlier if you can.
Safety
Algiers and Oran are at the normal alert level according to France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice). The Sahara requires a guide and a licensed agency. Also check your own government's travel advice.
Watch out
France Diplomatie advises against all travel, unless strictly necessary, to the provinces of Aïn Defla, Batna and Sétif, as well as the Aurès and Chréa mountain ranges. If a celebration takes place in one of these areas, skip it or check with your embassy before you leave.
Find the country's other celebrations in our calendar of festivals in Algeria, and health and money advice on our Algeria page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yennayer on January 12 or January 14?
In Algeria it is January 12, a public holiday. Depending on the region and how the calendar is interpreted, some families celebrate from January 12 to 14.
Why is the Amazigh year 950 years ahead?
The calendar starts in 950 BCE, the year the Berber king Shoshenq I is said to have become pharaoh of Egypt. So January 2027 marks the start of the year 2977.
Is Yennayer only celebrated in Kabylie?
No. It is celebrated throughout Algeria, each region with its own dishes and customs. Kabylie and the Amazigh regions make it an especially lively celebration.
