Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival

مهرجان نواكشوط للشعر العربي

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Arts & CultureNouakchott
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsThe festival draws on Mauritania's
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: MRU
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival in Nouakchott

The Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival is a three-day event held at the Nouakchott House of Poetry, organized by the Sharjah Department of Culture. It brings together Mauritanian poets with participants from Senegal, Mali, and The Gambia, reaching its 11th edition in February 2026 and serving as a regional platform for Arabic poetic tradition in West Africa.

Mauritania has long carried the nickname Bilad El Million Chaer, the country of a million poets, a reputation built over centuries of Hassaniya and classical Arabic verse produced in the desert scholarly centers that once made towns like Chinguetti and Ouadane into seats of Islamic learning.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival draws on Mauritania's centuries-old reputation as Bilad El Million Chaer, the country of a million poets, and channels that reputation into an internationally backed institution: the Nouakchott House of Poetry was established as the second such institution created under Sharjah's cultural initiative, giving West African Arabic poetry a permanent home

02

The mystery stays covered

Programming pairs celebratory poetry evenings with a specialized critical seminar examining the structural and semantic features of the modern Mauritanian poem, treating poetry as a living art form still evolving

03

The city starts moving

Book-signing sessions with collections published by the Sharjah Department of Culture turn the festival into a genuine literary marketplace, and pulling in poets from Senegal, Mali, and The Gambia makes it a rare cross-border literary gathering in a region where formal cultural infrastructure is often limited

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Mauritania's reputation as a land of poets is rooted in a centuries-old Hassaniya and classical Arabic literary tradition tied closely to the country's history of desert scholarship and Quranic learning

Water and renewal

Living ritual

and the festival's link to Sharjah

The sacred route

Living ritual

a UAE emirate known for major cultural and literary patronage across the Arab world

The local code

Living ritual

reflects a broader pattern of Gulf cultural investment supporting Arabic-language literary institutions in West Africa

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Use Nouakchott transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Modest, formal-leaning attire is appropriate for literary evenings and seminar sessions; traditional Mauritanian dress such as the boubou or draa is common among attendees and performers.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Nouakchott, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

MRU

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map18.09 N, 15.98 WOpen in Google Maps

Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritania

Nearest airportNKC — Nouakchott–Oumtounsy
TransportUse Nouakchott transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Nouakchott, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Nouakchott via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Nouakchott, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearModest, formal-leaning attire is appropriate for literary evenings and seminar sessions; traditional Mauritanian dress such as the boubou or draa is common among attendees and performers.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Mauritania and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival?

Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival is listed for Past edition: 10–12 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Nouakchott Arabic Poetry Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritania

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsdc.gov.ae
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusOfficial source linked
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