The Rose Festival in Kelaat M'Gouna celebrates the harvest of the perfume rose in the Dades Valley, south of the High Atlas, every May. It combines a rose fair, where cooperatives sell rose water and oils, with a carnival of flower-decked floats through the town's streets. The 61st edition was held from May 7 to 10, 2026.
Origins and meaning of the festival
The queen of the valley is the Damask rose, Rosa damascena. Kelaat M'Gouna calls itself the capital of the rose, and the region is nicknamed the “Valley of Roses.” Local cooperatives turn the petals into rose water and essential oils for cosmetics.
Roses support about 6,000 farmers spread across seven rural municipalities of Kelaat M'Gouna and the Dades, according to figures from the regional agricultural office cited by TelQuel. Average production is around 3,700 tons a year. It was expected to reach 5,000 tons in 2026.
The work is hard. Picking starts at dawn and lasts for hours, as an AFP report described in 2021. It takes 4 to 5 tons of flowers to make a single kilo of essential oil.
We earn just enough to live on.
The Rose Festival: what you will see
The festival combines two events. The International Perfume Rose Fair, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture with Tinghir province, brings together growers, cooperatives and businesses. You will find essential oils, cosmetics and local products. In 2026 its theme was the perfume rose in the service of sustainable oasis development.
The rose carnival is the highlight. In 2026, according to Hespress, Avenue Mohammed V became an open-air stage. Vehicles decorated with thousands of roses paraded alongside folk troupes, bands and processions in traditional dress. Miss Rose 2026 led the procession with her two runners-up.
| Moment | What you see |
|---|---|
| Rose fair | Cooperative stands, oils, rose water, cosmetics, local products |
| Rose carnival | Flower floats, folk troupes, traditional dress, the Miss Rose pageant |
| Rose Trail | A 5 km run through the valley, a few days before the fair in 2026 |
The carnival also showcases the region's craftspeople and painters, who exhibit their work.
Dates and venues
The festival takes place in Kelaat M'Gouna, in Tinghir province. The dates change every year but stay in May. In 2026 the fair ran from May 7 to 10 and the carnival was held on Saturday, May 9. The 2027 dates had not been published as of mid-October 2026.
The Damask rose blooms for about a month in spring. The harvest takes place around April and May, mostly done by the women of the valley.
Our advice
Arrive a day or two before the carnival. Get up early to watch the picking, which starts at dawn, then visit the fair during the day.
Attending the Rose Festival
Getting there
Kelaat M'Gouna is about 90 km from Ouarzazate and about 300 km from Marrakech, according to the Routard guide. The road from Marrakech crosses the High Atlas: leave early and avoid driving at night, as France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) recommends for the whole country.
Accommodation
Kelaat M'Gouna has hotels, and the villages have hikers' lodges (gîtes d'étape) and guesthouses. Demand is high during the festival: book ahead.
Buying rose water
Buy from the cooperatives at the fair if you can. You will know where the product comes from and who made it.
Photos and respect
The pickers are working, not performing. Always ask before photographing someone, especially a woman.
Entry requirements
Depending on your nationality, you will enter Morocco visa-free or need to apply for a visa: check your case on our Morocco entry requirements page. With a French passport, entry is visa-free for up to 90 days. For health and safety, see our Morocco page. The Tinghir region is not in an area advised against. Also check your own government's travel advice.
Watch out
The M'Goun Valley is also a trekking region. In the mountains, hire a local guide: Mount M'Goun rises above 4,000 m and the trails are demanding.
The country's other major celebrations are gathered in our calendar of festivals in Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
When are the roses in bloom?
In spring, around April and May, for about a month. The festival takes place in May, at the height of the harvest, but the exact bloom date depends on the year's weather.
Do you have to pay for the Rose Festival?
The sources we consulted do not mention a ticket for the carnival, which takes place in the street. Ask locally about the fair.
What should you bring back from Kelaat M'Gouna?
Rose water, essential oil and rose-based cosmetics, bought from the cooperatives. The essential oil is expensive, because it takes tons of flowers to produce a single kilo.
