If one event deserves the title of capital of tbourida, it is the Moussem Moulay Abdellah Amghar. Every summer, on the Atlantic coast just south of El Jadida, the small commune of Moulay Abdellah becomes a city of tents, horses and gunpowder for a week. In 2026 the organisers announced a record 134 troupes and 2,140 riders, men and women — more than anywhere else in the country.
Here is what to expect at the Moussem Moulay Abdellah, when it takes place and how to reach it from Essaouira or Marrakech.
When is the Moussem Moulay Abdellah?
The moussem is held every year in August. The 2026 edition ran from 7 to 14 August. Dates for 2027 are usually announced in early summer; if you plan your Moroccan trip around it, keep the first half of August free and check our moussem calendar.
A tent city by the ocean
The most striking thing about Moulay Abdellah is its scale. Families from the Doukkala region and beyond pitch their tents along the coast for the whole week; in 2026 the press reported some 35,000 tents and millions of expected visitors over the week. The saint's shrine stands at the heart of it all, and the days alternate between prayers, family visits, shopping at the fair and long afternoons on the riding grounds.
The tbourida: the best troupes in Morocco
Moulay Abdellah is to tbourida what a grand tournament is to tennis. Dozens of sorbas follow one another on several tracks from the afternoon until sunset, each trying to produce the perfect volley — a single detonation from a perfectly straight line. The Doukkala region is famous for its riders, and many of the troupes that compete in the national Hassan II Trophy come here. Women's troupes also perform; the region has had a female allama, or troupe leader, since the early 2000s — read more in our article on female tbourida.
If it is your first fantasia, read tbourida explained before you go: you will enjoy the passages far more once you know what the judges and the crowd are looking for.
Falconry and other traditions
The moussem is also known for its falconers. The Kwassem falconers of the Doukkala, a tradition passed down in a few families, show their birds to the crowds. Add the folk music in the evenings, the Barb horses being groomed between two passages — see our guide to the Barb horse — and the fair, and you can easily spend a full day.
A day at the Moussem Moulay Abdellah
Most visitors who are not camping arrive in the early afternoon. Start with a walk through the tent city and the fair, then find a place along one of the riding tracks around four o'clock: from then until sunset the troupes follow one another almost without a break, and the crowd grows with every passage. Stop at a tea tent between two series, watch the falconers, and stay for the last passages in the golden light. In the evening the fair lights up and music plays late into the night — a good moment to start the drive back before the roads fill up.
Practical tips
- Go on a weekday if you can; the weekend crowds are enormous.
- Arrive early afternoon and stay until sunset, when the light and the passages are at their best.
- August is hot. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and a scarf for the dust; the sea breeze helps.
- Book accommodation early in El Jadida, Azemmour or Oualidia — the whole region is full.
- Dress modestly, carry small change and keep an eye on your belongings in the crowd.
- Be patient with traffic. The roads around Moulay Abdellah are busy every evening of the moussem.
Our general guide to what a moussem is covers the etiquette, and our tips on how to photograph a fantasia will help you come home with great images.
Getting to the Moussem Moulay Abdellah
Moulay Abdellah is about a quarter of an hour south of El Jadida.
- From Essaouira: about three and a half to four hours along the coast via Safi and Oualidia. Our Essaouira to Oualidia transfer (about two hours, from €120 per vehicle at the time of writing) is a good first leg, with a night at the lagoon — see our Oualidia travel guide. The rest of the way is on request.
- From Marrakech: about two and a half to three hours. We can drive you there and back, or drop you on the way to Casablanca — our Marrakech to Casablanca transfer can be adapted.
- Flying home from Casablanca? Combine the moussem with the coastal route of our Essaouira to Casablanca airport transfer.
A private driver who waits for you is by far the most comfortable option: parking is improvised, taxis are full and the best passages end at nightfall. For a group, our minibuses carry up to seventeen passengers. Contact us with your dates and the number of travellers, and we will prepare a quote for the Moussem Moulay Abdellah.
Not in Morocco in August?
Closer to Essaouira, the Moussem of Sidi El Mokhtar takes place from 22 to 25 October in 2026, on the road to Marrakech. And the complete guide to the Moroccan fantasia lists the other options through the year.
