Vodun Days is the major festival of vodun cultures, held every January in Ouidah, about forty kilometers from Cotonou. For Vodun Days Ouidah 2027, the 4th edition is announced for January 2 to 9: a week of ceremonies, mask outings and concerts by the sea. The festival grew out of Benin's national Vodoun holiday, which remains its high point.
Origins and meaning of Vodun Days
Since the 1990s, Benin has celebrated a national holiday devoted to vodun and the so-called indigenous religions. Long held on January 10, it already drew worshippers and visitors to Ouidah. In 2024 the government expanded the day into a two-day festival, renamed Vodun Days. Tourism minister Jean-Michel Abimbola explained to Global Voices that the name keeps the Beninese spelling “Vodun” rather than “voodoo,” while “Days” speaks to an international audience.
The project has a stated aim: to change how people see vodun and to make Ouidah a cultural destination. According to Financial Afrik, the first edition drew nearly 100,000 participants, including groups from the United States, Haiti and Brazil. Bénin Tourisme, the public agency that presents the program, emphasizes the ties with people of African descent.
Every year in January, Vodun Days celebrates the richness of Vodun arts, culture and spirituality.
The town is a fitting setting. A former Atlantic slave trade port, Ouidah still has the Door of No Return, the Slave Route, the Python Temple and the sacred forest of Kpassè. The ceremonies take place at these very sites.
What you will see during the festival
The program mixes rituals and performances. According to the official review of the 2026 edition, published by the Beninese government, the three days were organized as follows:
- Day one: opening of the Vodun Days village near the Door of No Return, with worship and outings all over town. Kabada worship in the Kpassè forest, a Zangbéto parade on the esplanade of the French fort, Egungun outings on Place Maro, Sakpata rituals along the Slave Route. In the evening, a big concert on the beach.
- Day two: an ecumenical ceremony and the annual consultation of Fâ, the oracle, which gives a sign for the year.
- Day three: performances by groups and masks at the Arène de Ouidah, facing the Atlantic, followed by DJs in the evening.
The straw-covered Zangbéto are the guardians of the night. The Egungun are masks that represent the ancestors. The seaside concert features headliners: Angélique Kidjo, Davido and Meiway played in 2026.
Our advice
Ceremonies happen at the same time in several neighborhoods. Pick one or two sites per half day and arrive early: crowds build fast around the Egungun and Zangbéto, and you see little from the back row.
Dates and venues
In 2027 the festival grows from three to eight days. Government spokesman Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji explained the choice in August 2026: to keep the diaspora who come for the year-end holidays and to spread out visitor arrivals. Cultural activities build up from January 2 to 6. The major ceremonies follow at the end of the week.
| Edition | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 (1st) | January 9 and 10 | 2 days |
| 2025 (2nd) | January 9 to 11 | 3 days |
| 2026 (3rd) | January 8 to 10 | 3 days |
| 2027 (4th) | January 2 to 9 | 8 days |
Thursday, January 7 and Friday, January 8, 2027 are public holidays in Benin, for the celebration of indigenous religions. January 4, 5 and 6 remain working days. The detailed 2027 program had not been published as of mid-October 2026: follow the official Vodun Days website.
Attending
Entry requirements. Depending on your nationality, you may need an e-visa: check your case on our Benin entry requirements page or on the official portal evisa.bj. For a French passport it is required and costs €50 for 30 days, single entry, according to the portal. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory. Apply one to two weeks before you leave.
Getting there. You arrive at Cotonou airport, and Ouidah is about an hour away by road. Avoid driving at night and avoid motorcycle taxis: France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) points out that road accidents are a leading cause of death in the country.
Accommodation. Ouidah is very busy during the festival. Book in the fall, or stay in Cotonou and accept the round trips.
Tickets. Official ticketing will open on the festival's online shop. As of mid-October 2026 it was announced as “coming soon,” with no prices published. So we do not give any prices.
Watch out
Southern Benin, including Ouidah, is under heightened vigilance according to France Diplomatie, but the north of the country has areas where travel is strongly advised against. Swimming is not recommended at any time of year: the beach at Ouidah is not for swimming.
Respecting the rites. The ceremonies are not shows like any other. Do not touch the Zangbéto or the Egungun, let them pass and follow the organizers' instructions. Ask permission before photographing a follower, and put your camera away when asked.
Also check your own government's travel advice. For the rest of your trip, see our Benin guide and the other festivals in Benin, including Benin Voodoo Day (the Fête du Vodoun).
Frequently asked questions
Are Vodun Days and Benin Voodoo Day the same thing?
Not quite. Voodoo Day (the Fête du Vodoun) is the national public holiday, celebrated across the country. Vodun Days is the festival held in Ouidah around that date, with concerts and a cultural program.
Do you have to pay to attend the ceremonies?
The festival has ticketing, but 2027 prices had not been published as of mid-October 2026. Many mask outings take place in the streets: ask locally about each site.
Can you go with children?
Yes, but crowds are dense at mask outings and concerts. Keep children close and agree on a meeting point.
