Cairo Book Fair

23 January - 4 February

The biggest event of its kind in the region, this very popular book fair draws thousands of readers and merchants, along with literally millions of books in Arabic, French, Italian and other languages.

Nitaq Festival

February - March

Poetry, music, art - almost all branches of artistic endeavor are covered during the popular culture festival, held in various venues around Cairo.

Moulid al-Nabi (Maulid-ur Rasul)

31 March

This major religious festival celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a.), and is an occasion for street festivities, processions and other related events.

Sham el-Nessim

9 - 10 April

This traditional event follows Coptic Easter and is a national (if unofficial) holiday, when the Egyptians celebrate the arrival of spring with a get-together, usually with picnics and long dinners.

Moulid el-Hussein

May - June (tba)

One of the biggest festivals in Cairo, this event honors the Prophet's grandson, who was killed in Iraq in 680 A.D. Centering on the El-Hussein Mosque, it involves a week of exotic revelry, from street poets to zikr dances, musical parades, and much more.

Pharaoh's Rally

28 September - 8 October

International 4WD teams come to the deserts around Cairo to race around the pyramids, making this one of the most unique rallies in the world.

Moulid of Sayyida Zeinab

October (tba)

Another major religious festival much like the Moulid el-Hussein, this one is held in honour of the Prophet's daughter, and is another week of colourful, noisy and wholly exotic activities, from fortune tellers to parades and more.

Cairo International Film Festival

28 November - 8 December

One of the biggest film festivals in the region, this particular event is well attended by local viewers, in particular because the films shown during the festival are, or are supposed to be, completely uncensored.