Cairo Events and Festivals

Coptic Christmas: Held at the beginning of January, the city sees many celebrations including colourful parades, dancing and festive music. These festivities can be seen throughout the Coptic Quarter of Cairo during December and January in both pre and post-Christmas revelry

Book Fair: This annual event is held at the Cairo Exhibition Grounds and celebrates the art of writing. Many books of both national and international acclaim can be found at the fair along with many established and up-and-coming authors. Literary buffs will be in their element here.

Coptic Easter: This is a very important festival in the Coptic calendar. Feasts are eaten and family members are visited, while it is also a time for church-goers to attend services.

Shem al Nessim: The name Shem al Nessim can roughly be translated to mean ‘the first day of the new spring’, with a direct translation into English being ‘sniffing the breeze’. The first day of spring is always celebrated on the first Monday after Coptic Easter. It is a national holiday and many families like to have picnics or partake in other outdoor activities.

Evacuation Day: This festive day marks the declaration of the Republic in 1953 and the removal of foreign troops in 1956.

Revolution Day: Celebrated throughout the country, this day marks the anniversary of the fall of the Egyptian royal government as well as the rise of the Republic in 1952.

Cairo International Song Festival: Held at various locations throughout the city, this festival celebrates music as well as the singers and songwriters who produce it. It is a tribute to those international stars that have had a major impact on the musical world. The festival also incorporates a major international competition, with performers from across the word singing their hearts out for the coveted first prize.

The Experimental Theatre Festival: This annual celebration offers new experimental theatre groups the chance to take over theatres in the city centre and to perform for enthusiastic audiences. The groups are also given the chance to exchange ideas with theatre groups from around the world.

Armed Forces Day: In 1973, the Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal during the war with Israel. In 1981, Sadat was assassinated while watching the Armed Forces Day parade. This national holiday both celebrates and commemorates these events.

Arabic Music Festival: Held at the Cairo Opera House, this festival celebrates the long tradition of Arabic music and invites leading musicians and singers as well as established ensembles to perform for eager listeners.

The Cairo International Film Festival: This annual film festival hosts previews of some very obscure worldwide films. This event has been held for 25 years and was the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Religious Festivals
The primary religious festivals of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr take place a month earlier each year as they follow the Islamic calendar.

Ramadan: Ramadan is a principal religious festival that takes place for an entire month. During this period, devout Muslims allow nothing to pass their lips, such as food, drink and cigarettes, during the hours of daylight. From sunset to sunrise is the most active time as huge family feasts last throughout each night. Many shops and offices will have erratic opening hours during the day time, as people tend to sleep during the afternoon. It is considered very impolite to eat or drink in public while the fast is taking place, so visitors must use discretion, although they are not expected to observe Ramadan themselves. Tourist hotels will be largely unaffected, but some restaurants may close for the entire month.

Eid al-Fitr: Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with three full days of feasting as well as the slaughter of sheep and goats. Many residents leave Cairo to visit friends and family during this holiday, but the city is no quieter, as the animals who await their fate are often left in pens along the streets. If you are sensitive to animal welfare, it may be wise to leave the city during this time.