Vodun Days · Ouidah, Benin
Vodun Days 2027 takes place from Saturday January 2 to Saturday January 9, 2027 in Ouidah, Benin. The Grand Ceremony is on Friday January 8. The public holidays are Thursday January 7 and Friday January 8, 2027.
Vodun Days is the national festival of Benin's traditional religions, often searched in English as “Ouidah Voodoo Festival”.
Verified on September 26, 2026
Next check: when the Beninese state publishes the official programme. This page is updated as soon as it is released.
| Date | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 2, 2027 | Opening of Vodun Days | State festival |
| Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Start of the official core | Public holiday |
| Friday, January 8, 2027 | Grand Ceremony | Public holiday |
| Saturday, January 9, 2027 | End of the official core and closing of the festival | State festival |
| Sunday, January 10, 2027 | Outside the official calendar in 2027 | Not a holiday |
Since 1996, Benin's national festival of traditional religions was held every January 10, a date set by law no. 97-031 of August 20, 1997. Law no. 2024-32 of September 2, 2024 replaced it and ties the festival to the second Friday of January: Vodun Days ran from January 9 to 11 in 2025, then from January 8 to 10 in 2026.
In 2027, the second Friday of January falls on the 8th, and the government extended the festival to a full week. January 10 is a Sunday and is no longer part of the official calendar. The “January 10” or “January 9 to 12” dates still seen for 2027 belong to past editions.
Saturday January 2 to Saturday January 9, 2027, in Ouidah. The official core runs on January 7, 8 and 9, and the Grand Ceremony is on Friday the 8th.
Thursday January 7 and Friday January 8, 2027, under law no. 2024-32 of September 2, 2024. Saturday the 9th is the last day of the festival, not a public holiday.
No. Since law no. 2024-32, the celebration follows the second Friday of January, which falls on the 8th in 2027. January 10, 2027 is a Sunday, outside the official calendar.
The Beninese state. The official programme, tickets and official campsite are published on vodundays.bj.
Vodun Days is the state festival. After Vodundays is the hosting programme of ONG Wa Afriki, from December 30, 2026 to January 16, 2027, which accompanies travellers before, during and after the festival.
Vodun Days is organized by the Beninese state. After Vodundays is the hosting programme of ONG Wa Afriki (No. 0108/MISP), from Wednesday December 30, 2026 to Saturday January 16, 2027: it accompanies travellers before, during and after the festival.
WhatsApp +229 01 61 70 36 66 · contact@aftervodundays.com