By Bas
- 2 min read
Public holidays in Morocco: three national days to Nov 18
Morocco has national holidays on October 31, November 6 and November 18. What each one marks and how to plan your days in Marrakesh around them.
- holidays
- november
- marrakesh
- practical
Morocco has three national holidays in the next three weeks: October 31, November 6 and November 18. If you are in the country then, it helps to know what they are.
October 31: Unity Day
Unity Day (Aid Al Wahda) is new. King Mohammed VI made October 31 an annual national holiday on November 4, 2025. Morocco World News reported it, citing a communiqué from the Royal Cabinet. The reason given was UN Security Council Resolution 2797/2025 on the Sahara.
On January 15, 2026, Hespress reported that the government had approved two decrees. The first amends the rules on paid public holidays, the second updates the list of holidays for public administrations and state institutions.
November 6: the Green March
November 6 marks the Green March. The march took place on November 6, 1975, under the directives of King Hassan II. Morocco World News calls it a turning point in Morocco's quest for territorial integrity. Last year was its 50th anniversary.
Le Petit Journal Casablanca lists the Green March as a holiday for 2026 as well, on November 6.
November 18: Independence Day
Independence Day falls on Wednesday, November 18 in 2026. The day remembers the speech in which King Mohammed V announced the end of the protectorate in 1955, after his return from exile. Before, the date of commemoration was March 2. King Hassan II asked to move it to November 18.
Le Petit Journal Casablanca also lists this day among the 2026 holidays.
What it means for your trip
What a holiday looks like in practice differs by place and by day. My advice: if there is a sight you really want to see, check the opening hours a few days ahead. Use the website of the place itself or ask your riad. Hours around a holiday can differ.
Plan your days calmly
A holiday does not have to change your plans. Marrakesh has plenty that does not depend on ticket desks: the medina, the Jemaa el-Fna square, a walk through the souks, an afternoon on a terrace. You can shape a city tour of Marrakesh so that you do this on the holiday and keep the sights for another day.
Traveling later in November? The Marrakech film festival is also on the calendar. For what the rest of the season looks like, read the guide to the best time to visit.
My advice is not to fix everything on the holidays themselves. Leave one day open and decide on the spot.
Planning your November already? Send your dates through the chat on the site and we will look at your route together.
Sources
- Morocco World News: King Mohammed VI declares October 31 as national Unity Day (November 4, 2025)
- Hespress: Government council approves Oct. 31 as national holiday (January 15, 2026)
- Morocco World News: Morocco celebrates Independence Day (November 18, 2020)
- Le Petit Journal Casablanca: public holidays in Morocco 2026
Frequently asked questions
Which national holidays does Morocco have in November 2026?
The Green March is marked on November 6 and Independence Day falls on Wednesday, November 18. Before that, on October 31, comes the new Unity Day.
Since when is October 31 a holiday in Morocco?
King Mohammed VI made October 31 an annual national holiday on November 4, 2025, called Unity Day (Aid Al Wahda). In January 2026 the government approved the decrees that set the holiday for the private sector and public administrations.
What does Independence Day mark?
On November 18 Morocco remembers King Mohammed V's 1955 speech after his return from exile. The day replaced March 2 as the date of commemoration, at the request of King Hassan II.
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