The vapour phase acylation of furan and pyrrole was carried out over HZSM-5(19.7), HZSM-5(30), HZSM-5(280), CeHZSM-5(30), LaHZSM-5(30), HY and CeHY zeolites in a fixed bed reactor at atmospheric pressure using acetic anhydride as an acylating agent. The catalytic activity of the zeolite catalysts was dependent on the reaction temperature and the type of cation promoter used in the modification of the zeolite surface. The activity of the catalysts varied with the acidity of the zeloite systems tested. The yields of 2-acetylfuran and 2-acetylpyrrole with respect to the conversion of furan and pyrrole were 67.5% and 75.5% respectively. The acylation was found to be more active on Bronsted acidic sites available over zeolite systems.