Something big is coming to the Maasai Mara: Maa Cultural Week 2026 (10–14 November)

I've been hearing about Maa Cultural Week for a while, and it's actually happening literally just inside the main Maasai Mara gate (the Sekenani Gate), which is right here! We at Mara Hilltop are like five minutes away from the main gate. It's going to be a massive celebration! I think it's going to be a thing to witness.

It'll be my first time going, but I'm very curious. So this is what we know so far, from this year's news coverage and the last three editions.

The short version:

• It's on 10 to 14 November 2026 (The Standard), just inside the main Maasai Mara gate (Sekenani Gate).
• President William Ruto is expected at the closing ceremony on the last day, Saturday 14 November.
• It's expected to be a lot bigger than the first one in 2023, which had about 12,000 people taking part (The Standard).
• Throughout the week there's a lot of dancing and singing and cultural activities and food, and so many great opportunities to take good pictures.
• It's the short rains in November, so pack a rain jacket.

What Maa Cultural Week is

It's for every community that speaks Maa, so the Maasai from Narok and Kajiado, the Samburu, the Ilchamus from Baringo and Maasai from Tanzania. In 2023, 16 clans came, each with their own dress and traditions (KNA). You'll also see it called the Maa Cultural Festival or the Maasai Cultural Festival.

It's still new. The first one was at Sekenani Gate in 2023, and since then it moves between the Maa counties every year:

What happens during the week

I've heard that this is happening, and although I've not attended it before, from what I'm seeing, this is what happens. The 2026 programme isn't out yet, but from the past editions:

• In 2023 each day had a theme: music, then cattle, then fashion and pageantry, then sports (The Standard)
• The adumu, the jumping dance, where the young warriors take turns jumping as high as they can while the rest chant
• Sword and rungu throwing, and traditional board games
• Elders telling the old stories
• Goat roasting, food stalls and a kids' corner
• Camel races, when it was in Samburu in 2024 (Nation)

Just if you're not aware, the Maasai culture is incredibly beautiful with the colours. It is just stunning. The beads and the beadwork are what's very popular. They make a lot of jewellery, both men and women, and they accessorise themselves, and tourists obviously love buying them as well. It'll be very cool to see what they'll be bringing to the event.

Honestly, I don't know too much about whether there's going to be a cattle auction or something within the event. But I know every Thursday, separately, in a different town, there's a local market for all the Maasai villages around, and they bring their cattle for auctions, which is very cool. We've had our guests go there as well, being the only tourists around, and it's super cool. So given that this is going to be at a much bigger scale, I think it's going to be even cooler to see. I'll be curious to know what the programme is, and I'll be talking to some more of my Maasai friends over the next few days to gather more information.

Taking photos

I'm actually very excited about this one because I'm a photographer, and with all the colours and the different makeup, all the cultural aspects of it, that's going to be something stunning to see, and it probably doesn't happen too often. So I can't wait to witness that.

• Ask before you photograph someone up close.
• Bring a rain cover for the camera.

November in the Mara

The big herds of the migration have mostly gone back to the Serengeti by November, so don't come expecting river crossings. But all 12 months, the Mara will never disappoint, and low season is actually very nice. Fewer cars in the park, and you spend more time intimately with the animals. There's more in our green season guide.

Planning your visit

• The Mara is about 4 to 5 hours' drive from Nairobi. Our transport guide has the bus, shuttle and flight options.
• Mara Hilltop is 2.5 km from Sekenani Gate, so the festival is five minutes down the road, and pickup from Sekenani is free for our guests. We have green season rates, which are already lowered, and on top of that there's an added 10% off when you book on our website (1 November to 10 December). So if you're planning a trip, I think Mara Hilltop is a great place to stay for this event. To compare areas, here's Sekenani vs Talek vs Oloolaimutia.
• If you want the whole trip planned, our sister company RafikiGo put together a 5-day trip around the festival: Lake Naivasha, three nights here, then back to Nairobi, with prices.
• Book early. It's expected to be a lot bigger than 2023, so rooms around Sekenani will go.
• The last day, Saturday 14 November, will be the busiest, with the President coming for the closing ceremony.
• You can do a game drive in the morning and the festival in the afternoon. If you're here on Thursday 12 November, the weekly Maasai cattle market is on too, in a town about 30 minutes away, and we can take you.
• No ticket price has been published yet. We'll update this once we know.

FAQ

When and where is Maa Cultural Week 2026?

10 to 14 November 2026, just inside the main Maasai Mara gate (Sekenani Gate), in Narok County.

Will the President be there?

President William Ruto is expected at the closing ceremony on Saturday 14 November.

Is it the same as the Maasai Cultural Festival?

Yes, in Kenya those names all mean the same event, officially the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival. The Maasai festival in Tanzania is a separate event.

Our backyard

We're blessed to have such a great event happening in our backyard. It's going to be my first time as well, and it's going to be amazing, so I'll keep you posted once I attend.

If you want to come for it, WhatsApp us and we'll help you plan the week.

— NJ