Events &
Culture
Festivals, religious celebrations, and cultural events across Ethiopia. From Timkat and Meskel to Irreecha and coffee ceremonies — when to go and how to take part.
Plan your trip around Ethiopia's rich calendar of events.
Festivals & religious events
Major celebrations across the Ethiopian calendar. Book early for Timkat in Gondar and Genna in Lalibela.
Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)
Ethiopian New Year, celebrated with family gatherings, traditional songs, cultural performances, festive meals, and the exchange of New Year wishes.
Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)
The Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Christmas, marked by church services, prayers, hymns, traditional gatherings, and distinctive local customs.
Great Ethiopian Run
A major annual road-running event in Addis Ababa that brings together elite athletes, recreational runners, and communities for a 10-kilometre race and a city-wide celebration of running.
Meskel — Finding the True Cross
A major Ethiopian celebration commemorating the finding of the True Cross, marked by the lighting of the Demera, religious ceremonies, hymns, traditional dances, and community gatherings.
Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany)
A major Ethiopian Orthodox celebration commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ, featuring processions, prayers, hymns, blessed water ceremonies, and colorful cultural traditions.
YeAelafat Zemare
A Christmas Eve gathering at Addis Ababa's Meskel Square featuring Ethiopian Orthodox singing, hymns, prayers, and candlelight in anticipation of Genna, Ethiopian Christmas.
Seasonal highlights
When to go: events by season across Ethiopia
Cultural events & experiences
Year-round and seasonal culture: film, coffee, heritage, and more.
Ashenda
A traditional Tigrayan celebration associated with young women and girls, marked by distinctive dress, singing, dancing, gatherings, and expressions of community and identity.
View event details & guidelines
Irreecha (Oromo Thanksgiving)
A major Oromo thanksgiving celebration marking the transition to the new season, with prayers, traditional songs, cultural dress, and gatherings around lakes and other ceremonial sites.
View event details & guidelines
