New Year's Eve 2025 Morocco During AFCON
13 days to kickoff
For the first time in the tournament's history, the Africa Cup of Nations spans Christmas and New Year. December 31, 2025, falls on the final day of group stage matches, creating a unique proposition: watch decisive football in the afternoon, then celebrate the arrival of 2026 in one of the world's most compelling destinations.
Morocco knows how to mark occasions. The country's luxury hotels have spent decades perfecting New Year's Eve galas, and this year they're preparing for an influx of football supporters alongside their usual clientele. The result is a New Year's Eve unlike any other: continental football drama followed by world-class celebration.
NYE 2025 During AFCON
Booking Reality
Luxury NYE options in Morocco sell out weeks in advance in normal years. With AFCON bringing hundreds of thousands of additional visitors, availability is tightening faster than usual.
If you're reading this in December, your window to secure the best options is measured in days, not weeks.
December 31 Match Schedule
The final round of group stage matches takes place on December 31, with two groups completing their fixtures:
Group E (Afternoon, Rabat and Agadir)
- Algeria vs Equatorial Guinea
- Burkina Faso vs Sudan
Group F (Late Afternoon/Evening, Casablanca and Marrakech)
- Ivory Coast vs Gabon
- Cameroon vs Mozambique
These are decisive matches. Third-place finishes determine knockout qualification. For supporters of teams in Groups E and F, this is the day that decides whether your tournament continues or ends.
January 1: No matches. The tournament pauses until the Round of 16 begins on January 3. This means New Year's Day offers genuine recovery time before knockout football resumes.
Marrakech: The Premier NYE Destination
For atmosphere, gastronomy, and sheer celebratory energy, Marrakech is Morocco's New Year's Eve capital. The city's luxury hotels compete to outdo each other, and the medina buzzes with energy that builds throughout the evening.
La Mamounia
The grand dame of Marrakech hospitality pulls out all stops for New Year's Eve. Multiple restaurants host special menus, live entertainment runs from December 27 through January 1, and the gardens transform into a midnight celebration venue.
What to expect:
- Special menus at the Italian restaurant, Moroccan restaurant, and main dining room
- Prix fixe ranging from 4,500 to 7,000 MAD per person (~$450-700 USD)
- Live music from The Phly Boyz (December 27 through January 1)
- Midnight celebration in the illuminated gardens with champagne service
- Atlas Mountain backdrop for the countdown
The AFCON angle: La Mamounia sits 12 kilometers from the Grand Stade de Marrakech. Attend the Ivory Coast vs Gabon match, return to the hotel by 9:00 PM, and settle into dinner as the evening builds toward midnight.
La Mamounia Booking
La Mamounia's NYE dinners typically sell out by early December. Contact the hotel directly for current availability.
Royal Mansour
The Royal Mansour takes a different approach: intimacy over spectacle. With its private riad accommodations and trio of world-class restaurants, the celebration feels personal even amid the grandeur.
What to expect:
- New Year's Eve at La Grande Brasserie (Hélène Darroze, three Michelin stars in Paris)
- Sesamo by Massimiliano Alajmo (three Michelin stars in Italy)
- Le Jardin for Moroccan cuisine
- Midnight celebration at Patio Bleu with champagne
- French brunch on January 1
The AFCON angle: The Royal Mansour's private riad model means you can celebrate midnight on your own terrace, watching fireworks over the medina, then retire without navigating crowds. For supporters processing a tournament exit or celebrating advancement, the privacy is valuable.
Rooftop Celebrations
Marrakech's rooftop bars offer a more accessible alternative to hotel galas, with open-air views of the medina and Atlas Mountains.
Nomad in the medina serves modern Moroccan cuisine with terrace seating overlooking the spice souk. Their NYE celebration is more casual than hotel galas but still requires advance booking.
El Fenn's rooftop bar draws a stylish crowd and offers views across the medina. The atmosphere is sophisticated without the formality of a seated gala.
Casablanca: Morocco's Cosmopolitan Option
If your December 31 match is at Casablanca's Mohammed V Stadium (Cameroon vs Mozambique in Group F), celebrating in the city makes logistical sense.
Four Seasons Casablanca
The Four Seasons brings its global NYE expertise to Morocco's business capital. Bleu restaurant hosts an Italian-themed New Year's Eve dinner with Mediterranean cuisine, Atlantic views, and midnight celebrations.
What to expect:
- Prix fixe dinner at Bleu restaurant
- Live entertainment and countdown celebrations
- Ocean-facing venue with terrace access
- More contemporary atmosphere than Marrakech's traditional palaces
The AFCON angle: The Four Seasons sits on the Corniche, roughly 30 minutes from Mohammed V Stadium depending on traffic. Post-match transfer to the hotel is straightforward.
Desert Camp New Year's Eve
For couples or groups seeking something entirely different, New Year's Eve in the desert offers a counterpoint to city celebrations. The silence, the stars, and the intimacy of a camp setting create memories that hotel galas simply cannot match.
Agafay Desert (45 Minutes from Marrakech)
Luxury camps in the Agafay Desert have created NYE experiences that combine remoteness with comfort. The landscape is more stone than sand, but the camps deliver genuine desert atmosphere with modern amenities.
What to expect:
- Heated luxury tents with king beds and private bathrooms
- Multi-course Moroccan dinner under stars
- Berber musicians and traditional entertainment
- Midnight champagne around fire pits
- Camel ride options for December 31 afternoon
- Return to Marrakech on January 1 for knockout rounds
Camps to consider: Inara Camp, Scarabeo Camp, and Agafay Luxury Camp all offer NYE packages. Book directly with camps for best availability.
Merzouga (Sahara)
The true Sahara is seven hours from Marrakech, making it impractical for supporters who need to return for Round of 16 matches. But for those whose tournament ends on December 30 or 31, extending into a Sahara New Year's creates a memorable conclusion to the trip.
Rabat and Tangier Options
Rabat
Morocco's capital hosts matches on December 31 (Group E fixtures), and several hotels offer NYE celebrations:
Fairmont La Marina overlooks the Bouregreg River with waterfront dining and midnight celebrations. The setting is elegant without the intensity of Marrakech.
La Tour Hassan Palace offers a more traditional NYE gala in historic surroundings near the Hassan Tower.
Tangier
No matches are scheduled for Tangier on December 31, but the city offers a distinctive Mediterranean atmosphere for New Year's. The Fairmont Tazi Palace hosts celebrations in its restored 1920s setting.
Practical Booking Timeline
If you're reading this in early December: You have perhaps two weeks to secure luxury options. Contact hotels directly rather than relying on online booking systems, which may not show real-time availability.
Priority booking order:
- La Mamounia or Royal Mansour dinner reservations (if Marrakech-based)
- Accommodation for December 31 (if not already booked)
- Desert camp packages (if choosing the alternative route)
- Rooftop restaurant reservations (more flexibility, but still competitive)
What sells out first:
- Hotel restaurant seatings with premium timing (9:00 PM onward)
- Desert camp NYE packages
- Suites and premium room categories
- Private dining options
What remains available longer:
- Earlier dinner seatings (6:00-7:30 PM, less ideal for post-match dining)
- Standard room categories
- Standalone bar and lounge access (no dinner commitment)
Sample NYE Schedule for AFCON Supporters
For Group F supporters (Marrakech or Casablanca match):
- 2:00 PM: Light lunch at hotel
- 4:00 PM: Depart for stadium
- 6:00 PM: Match kickoff
- 8:15 PM: Match ends, post-match atmosphere
- 9:00 PM: Private transfer back to hotel
- 9:30 PM: Arrive hotel, brief refresh
- 10:00 PM: NYE dinner seating begins
- 12:00 AM: Midnight celebration
- 1:00 AM: Return to room or continue at hotel bar
For supporters not attending December 31 matches:
- Morning: Sleep in, recover from previous matches
- 1:00 PM: Lunch in medina or hotel
- 3:00 PM: Hammam and spa treatment
- 5:00 PM: Watch other matches from hotel lounge
- 7:00 PM: Begin NYE preparations
- 8:30 PM: Pre-dinner drinks
- 9:30 PM: NYE dinner
- 12:00 AM: Midnight celebration
NYE 2025 Quick Reference
Ready to Book?
The combination of tournament football and Moroccan New Year's Eve creates something genuinely unique. Whether your December 31 brings elimination heartbreak or qualification joy, the celebration that follows deserves to match the occasion.
We coordinate NYE packages that include match tickets, transfers, hotel bookings, and restaurant reservations. The logistics of moving from stadium to celebration require careful timing.
We respond within 2 hours during business hours.
Yalla Visit Morocco designs private travel experiences for visitors who want more than a surface-level tour. We specialize in luxury, cultural depth, and logistical precision—exactly what a New Year's Eve celebration during AFCON requires.