The short answer
It is the busiest week of the year. Agafay desert camps hold gala dinners with fire, Gnawa music and a midnight countdown under the stars; medina riads host long dinners; Hivernage and Palmeraie venues hold parties; and Jemaa el-Fnaa is a public street party. New Year's Eve 2026 is a Thursday. Book early.
In more detail
Our calendar marks the Christmas and New Year fortnight, about 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, as the busiest of the year for visitors from Europe. Camps and riads book out first. Agafay camps publish their programmes in autumn, and at least one closes New Year bookings on 15 December.
It is cold. Marrakech nights in late December fall to about 7 °C, and desert nights near freezing, so the camps use heaters and fires. Return transfers from the Agafay after midnight must be booked in advance. New Year's Day 2027 is a Friday and a public holiday, so some shops close around midday prayer.
We plan several shapes: an Agafay gala evening, a riad dinner in the medina followed by an Atlas day on the 1st, a 3-day Sahara New Year at Merzouga, or a sunrise balloon flight on 1 January, weather permitting. All are quoted in writing.