What is the name of the ancient Egyptian royal jubilee festival?

The ancient Egyptian royal jubilee festival was the Sed festival.

Also called the Heb Sed or Feast of the Tail, it celebrated the continuation and renewal of a pharaoh’s rule. The ceremony reaffirmed the king’s authority over Upper and Lower Egypt and symbolically renewed his physical strength, divine power, and religious leadership.

Traditionally, a ruler held the first Sed festival after about 30 years on the throne, followed by additional celebrations at shorter intervals, often every three or four years. The rituals included processions, offerings, temple ceremonies, and symbolic acts such as the raising of a djed, an emblem associated with stability and endurance.

The festival is attested from Egypt’s earliest dynasties. Pharaoh Den of the First Dynasty and Djoser of the Third Dynasty are among the early rulers connected with it. Detailed surviving scenes include reliefs from the Fifth Dynasty sun temple of Neuserra, Amenhotep III’s reign, and Osorkon II’s temple at Bubastis. Despite the nickname, the “tail” referred to the animal tail once attached to the king’s ceremonial garment—not to a separate animal festival.