etunisie
The El Jem Roman amphitheatre
Things To Do

Festivals & events worth a trip

Tunisia's festival calendar is rich and largely under-publicised abroad. A few of these events are themselves the reason to come — orchestras playing inside a 1,800-year-old Roman amphitheatre, camel races at the edge of the Sahara, Sufi music in the holy city of Kairouan.

Jul–Aug
Peak festival season
Carthage
Biggest cultural event
Dec
Sahara Festival, Douz
Free–€60
Typical ticket range

Carthage International Festival (July–August)

The country's biggest cultural event. For 6–8 weeks every summer, the Roman amphitheatre of Carthage hosts a full programme of music (Arab world headliners, French chanson, jazz, world music), theatre and dance. Past names: Sting, Lauryn Hill, Fairouz, Khaled, Caetano Veloso, Tinariwen, plus dozens of major Arab artists. Tickets: 30–120 TND, often released a few weeks before. The amphitheatre seats around 7,500. Combine with dinner in Sidi Bou Said before or after.
Ancient Roman amphitheatre stage by the sea, Carthage Festival venue
El Jem amphitheatre

El Jem International Symphonic Festival (July–August)

Orchestras play inside the 3rd-century amphitheatre at El Jem. Classical, opera and major touring symphonic acts, with the giant Roman walls amplifying the sound and the desert sky as the ceiling. Genuinely extraordinary. Four to six concerts over the festival's run. Tickets: 25–80 TND. Combine with a day at the El Jem ruins and a sunset stop at Mahdia on the way back.

International Festival of the Sahara, Douz (December)

Three days at the edge of the Sahara: camel races, traditional Bedouin poetry contests, sloughi (greyhound) racing, falconry displays, traditional music, marriage processions and an enormous market. The biggest gathering of southern Tunisian tribes of the year. Pair it with a desert camp stay for the most magical possible 5-day trip — Douz is at its liveliest, the desert is at its perfect winter temperature, and the dune light in late December is unbeatable.
Sahara camels in Douz
A street vendor at night

Ramadan in the medina (date varies)

Ramadan is when the Tunisian medinas are at their most magical. After the iftar (sunset breaking of the fast), the souks reopen — lit by lanterns, full of pastry vendors, music spilling from cafés, families promenading until 2 or 3am. The Tunis medina, in particular, transforms. The dates shift earlier by ~11 days each year. In 2026, Ramadan begins around 18 February. Easy to incorporate as part of any winter trip.

Other festivals to know

Festival International de Hammamet (July–August): theatre, music and dance in the open-air theatre by the sea. Festival International de Carthage du Film (Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage, October–November): the oldest film festival in Africa and the Arab world. Festival of Malouf, Testour (June): Andalusian classical music in a charming Moorish-Spanish village. Festival of Ksour, Tataouine (March–April): celebration of the southern Berber culture, ksars, music and crafts. Festival International de la Médina, Tunis (Ramadan): nightly Sufi music, malouf and theatrical performances inside the medina's historic palaces. Falconry Festival, El Haouaria (June): the Cap Bon village's centuries-old falconry tradition celebrated with displays and competitions.

Ready to plan your Tunisia trip?

Build a custom 3, 7 or 14-day itinerary in 60 seconds with our AI Trip Planner.

Plan My TripBrowse Experiences