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Revolution Day
Morocco

Revolution Day 2023, 2024 and 2025 in Morocco

On 20 August, Morocco celebrates “King and People’s Revolution Day”, or just “Revolution Day” for short. The day commemorates the time when Mohammed V returned from exile in far-off Madagascar and set off a series of events that led to the end of French colonial rule in Morocco.

YearDateDayHoliday
202320 AugSunRevolution Day
202420 AugTueRevolution Day
202520 AugWedRevolution Day
202620 AugThuRevolution Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Both the Spanish and French had dominated Morocco for a long time. The Spanish had held the territory longer, but France ended up taking almost all of it, leaving Spain only a few outposts on the northern coast. But France sought to make their rule “more official” by demanding Mohammed V sign a “pact of surrender” and that he do what he could to stem the tide of Moroccan nationalism that was threatening a revolt.

Mohammed V refused to cooperate with the French, and so they exiled him to French Madagascar. But upheavals in Morocco finally convinced the French to allow him to return. When he arrived in Morocco on 20 August, 1955, the overwhelming support he received ultimately convinced France to back down and begin negotiations for independence.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
202220 AugSatRevolution Day
202120 AugFriRevolution Day
202020 AugThuRevolution Day
201920 AugTueRevolution Day
201820 AugMonRevolution Day
201720 AugSunRevolution Day