Spring Festival - 13th April 2026

We really mean it. The entire country will be out partying and picnicking on April 13, 2026, during this ancient celebration welcoming Spring – and you can be a part of it. Join families, couples, and throngs of Cairo’s revelers. Everyone will be out strolling the parks, the gardens, the beaches, even on the banks of the Nile, eating traditional foods and soaking up the fresh morning breeze… literally. Sham El-Nessim means “smelling the breeze”!

This national holiday falls each year on Easter Monday, but is celebrated by all Egyptians, regardless of religion. Traditional foods are part of the fun – popular dishes like fesikh, a heavily salted fish, are everywhere, accompanied by lettuce, symbolizing fertility, and chickpeas associated with the rebirth of Spring.

The Botanical Gardens

Adding an extra bloom of festival color, One Horizon will bring you to one of the world’s great public spaces, Al-Azhar Park, the largest in Cairo, inspired by historic Islamic gardens. With its magnificent views of the City, you’ll stroll past splendid fountains and perhaps enjoy a popular festival snack, lupin beans, served in paper cones, with a sprinkling of chili flakes.

Watch for families decorating and painting boiled eggs with ornate designs, another symbol of the holiday. The eggs suggest renewal, and those harboring special dreams write these wishes on the eggs, hanging them from trees as has been done for centuries or more. Participants believe that as the sun’s rays fall upon the eggs, their wishes will manifest.

Continuing An Ancient Tradition

Your participation in Sham El-Nessim continues a tradition dating to over 4,500 years of Egyptian culture. The arrival of Spring and the planting season were essential for the continuation of life. Hence, the offerings of salted fish, onions, and more to the ancient Egyptian gods were of incredible importance to ensure a bountiful crop.

We will celebrate the day’s abundance with the people of Cairo and will set up a special feast for you at one of Al-Azhar Park’s fine restaurants.

Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to watch, enjoy, and mix with fellow celebrants, and get to know up close, the fun and lively spirit of this joyous holiday.