Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine

View on map
Religious & SpiritualPopenguine
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageDespite Senegal being a majority Muslim
Language["fr"]Currency: XOF
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine in Popenguine

The Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine is Senegal's national Catholic pilgrimage, held each spring at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Delivrande sanctuary in the coastal village of Popenguine. Marking over 137 years of observance by 2025, it draws well over one hundred thousand pilgrims from Senegal and neighboring West African countries.

Popenguine is a small coastal village about seventy kilometers south of Dakar on Senegal's Petite Cote, founded according to local history in the seventeenth century by Mandinka settlers, and later favored as a retreat by figures including Senegal's first president and poet, Leopold Sedar Senghor, whose poem Retour a Popenguine gave the modern spelling of the village's name.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Despite Senegal being a majority Muslim country, the Popenguine pilgrimage draws crowds rivaling many of the country's Islamic gatherings, with more than 150,000 pilgrims recorded in 2026, reflecting the sanctuary's status as the recognized national Marian shrine for the bishops' conference covering Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau

02

The mystery stays covered

The pilgrimage centers on a striking Black Madonna venerated at the sanctuary, a devotional image whose local significance predates the site's formal recognition, and the surrounding village doubles as a protected coastal nature reserve, giving the pilgrimage an unusually scenic setting compared to most religious sites

03

The city starts moving

Each year adopts a specific theme addressing Senegalese society, recent editions focused on justice, peace and unity, giving the event a civic dimension beyond devotional practice

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The pilgrimage centers on veneration of a Black Madonna at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Delivrande sanctuary in Popenguine

Water and renewal

Living ritual

a devotion dating to the late nineteenth century that has grown into the recognized national Marian pilgrimage for the Catholic bishops' conference of Senegal

The sacred route

Living ritual

Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Modest, respectful dress appropriate to a Catholic religious pilgrimage: covered shoulders and knees, comfortable walking shoes for standing through mass and processions, and a hat or light...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

["fr"] · XOF

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map14.56 N, 17.11 WOpen in Google Maps

Popenguine, Thies, Senegal

Nearest airportDSS — Blaise Diagne
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

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 Popenguine via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Popenguine, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearModest, respectful dress appropriate to a Catholic religious pilgrimage: covered shoulders and knees, comfortable walking shoes for standing through mass and processions, and a hat or light layer for coastal sun and breeze.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Senegal 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 Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine?

Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine is listed for Past edition: 23–25 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Pelerinage Marial de Popenguine take place?

The festival is listed in Popenguine, Senegal. 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?

Popenguine, Thies, Senegal

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 URLpelerinagepoponguine.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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