Niger tourism Festival of Air is returning in December 2025 as one of the most meaningful cultural gatherings in the Sahara. At the foot of the Air Mountains, where pale dunes stretch into rock formations shaped by time, the commune of Yferouane is preparing to host the seventeenth edition of the event from 1 to 3 December 2025. The festival is organized under the high patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, and coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts. The theme for this edition is Enhancing domestic tourism and handicrafts, pillars of national sovereignty and resilient development.
Ms. Mariam Rhoumour, Director General of the Niger Tourism Promotion Agency, described the gathering as an important chance to reconnect with the Far North of Niger and rediscover the cultural and tourism value of the Air region.
The festival is known across Niger as a space where history, culture, and community life meet under open desert skies. For visitors and residents, it provides a direct encounter with local heritage and the landscapes that define the region. Ms. Rhoumour noted that the occasion is a moment to highlight crafts, natural sites, historical heritage, and the culinary identity of communities that live around the Air Mountains.
Tourist circuits and guided excursions will lead participants across desert valleys, ridges, and sites that show the geological depth of the region. These routes explain how communities have adapted to their environment over centuries, shaped by trade history, climate, and traditional knowledge. Travelers can expect sweeping views of dune corridors, crisp desert light at sunset, and storytelling rooted in local memory.
Cultural evenings will feature performances, competitions, and artistic showcases that reflect the values of the communities of Air. Activities include singing contests, poetry, traditional clothing exhibitions, and camel racing. Each activity connects to customs that have guided family life, leadership, and community relations across generations. Through these expressions, the festival reinforces the preservation of oral tradition and craftsmanship.
One of the anticipated highlights is the Tendee Night, a fireside gathering built around traditional chants. Performers will share powerful vocals supported by drums that trace back to ancestral practices. The setting is intimate and designed to give guests direct access to a cultural expression that carries spiritual meaning and historical roots in Saharan identity.
In partnership with the High Authority for Peacebuilding, a Forum on Peace and Social Cohesion will be held during the event. The forum aims to support dialogue on how tourism, culture, and community participation can contribute to national stability, unity, and shared progress.
The Festival of Air remains an important marker of Niger’s cultural identity. It brings communities, tourism actors, artisans, artists, and international visitors together in a space that blends heritage with modern development goals. Ms. Rhoumour emphasized that the gathering has become increasingly international while maintaining local roots. The broader vision is to strengthen opportunities for residents, create sustainable tourism value, and ensure that visitors experience the region in an authentic and respectful way.
As preparations continue for the December 2025 edition in Yferouane, the festival stands as a celebration of heritage, social connection, and the enduring presence of the Sahara in Niger’s cultural landscape.
