The Festival of Heritage Cities, also called the Festival of Ancient Cities, is held every December in one of Mauritania's four old caravan towns: Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt or Oualata. Over five days, it brings together camel races, music, poetry, crafts and talks on the history of the Sahara. The 14th edition took place in Ouadane in December 2025.
The host town changes with each edition, and so does the level of risk. Always check the chosen town on the map of France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice). Also check your own government's travel advice.
Origins and meaning of the festival
The festival celebrates four towns founded in the 11th and 12th centuries to serve the caravans crossing the Sahara. According to UNESCO, which added the ancient ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata to the World Heritage List in 1996, they became centers of Islamic culture. Their courtyard houses line narrow lanes around a mosque with a square minaret.
Chinguetti is nicknamed the “Sorbonne of the desert” for its libraries of ancient manuscripts. The festival celebrates this learning as much as nomadic life.
For the Mauritanian government, the festival has become much more than an annual celebration.
The festival is no longer a seasonal event, but has become an integrated national project.
The Festival of Ancient Cities: what you will see
The program mixes tradition, scholarly culture and competitions. In Ouadane in 2025, according to the Mauritanian news agency (AMI) as reported by Cridem, hundreds of artists and poets performed over five days in the country's national languages.
| Strand | What you see |
|---|---|
| Nomadic heritage | Camel races, horse races, traditional shooting |
| Arts | Dances, music, poetry, evening performances |
| Crafts | Artisans' village: weaving, engraving, jewelry making |
| Learning | Manuscript readings, talks on the caravan routes |
| Religious contests | Quran recitation, hadith, life of the Prophet |
The 2024 edition in Chinguetti, from December 13 to 17, welcomed UNESCO's Director-General, Audrey Azoulay. In 2025, the festival was also the occasion to sign an agreement to restore the ancient towns using local materials.
Dates and places
The festival takes place in December, the coolest season in the desert. The host town rotates among the four cities: Ouadane in 2021, Chinguetti in 2024, Ouadane in 2025. For the December 2026 edition, neither the town nor the dates had been announced as of mid-October 2026.
| Town | Region | Risk level according to France Diplomatie |
|---|---|---|
| Chinguetti | Adrar | Heightened vigilance, check on the map |
| Ouadane | Adrar | Heightened vigilance, check on the map |
| Tichitt | Tagant | On the Aghouedir-Tichit line, at the edge of an area advised against |
| Oualata | Hodh Ech Chargui | In the east of the country, in an area advised against |
Attending the Festival of Ancient Cities
Safety depends on the town
This is the first question to settle, even before buying tickets.
Watch out
France Diplomatie advises against travel, unless absolutely necessary, to the areas north of the Choum-Aghouedir line and east of the Aghouedir-Tichit line, and advises against all travel to the east and the border strip with Mali. If the edition is held in Tichitt or Oualata, do not go. For Chinguetti or Ouadane, locate the town precisely on France Diplomatie's up-to-date map.
In the desert, France Diplomatie recommends experienced guides and, off paved roads, convoys of at least two vehicles. At checkpoints, declare your route and do not change it. Taking part in an organized event does not exempt you from respecting the areas advised against.
Going with a tour operator
Tour operators offer trips built around the festival. In 2025, an eleven-day tour from Nouakchott, including the festival day in Ouadane, was sold from €2,390 per person. An agency handles logistics, guides and vehicles.
Visa and health
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa: check your case on our Mauritania entry requirements page or on the official website anrpts.gov.mr. French passport holders must obtain a visa authorization online on that site before boarding, then pay for the visa on arrival: €55 for 30 days. Apply one to two weeks before departure. The yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended: a single dose lasts a lifetime for most adults.
Our advice
December nights can be cold in the desert. Bring warm clothes, a headlamp and a power bank for your phone.
Respect
In manuscript libraries, ask before taking photos and do not touch the documents unless invited to. During the religious contests, keep a low profile.
For the rest of your trip, see our Mauritania page and our calendar of festivals in Mauritania.
Frequently asked questions
Where will the festival be held in December 2026?
The town had not been announced as of mid-October 2026. It changes every year among Chinguetti, Ouadane, Tichitt and Oualata. Wait for the official announcement, then check its area on France Diplomatie's map.
Can you go without a tour operator?
It is possible for Chinguetti or Ouadane, but not advisable for a first trip. In the desert, France Diplomatie recommends an experienced guide and two vehicles.
Do you need a vaccine for Mauritania?
The yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended, and mandatory if you are coming from a country where the disease circulates. Also talk to your doctor about malaria.
