Uganda's Nyege Nyege festival returns in November with a live Wakaliwood film shoot

Organisers of Nyege Nyege, East Africa's best-known electronic music festival, have confirmed that its 11th edition will run from 19 to 22 November 2026 at Adrift Overland Camp, Kalagala Falls, on the River Nile in Uganda, near Jinja and about two hours east of Kampala, themed "The Wakaliwood Edition."

The festival's early-bird "Die Hard" ticket tier, priced at UGX 100,000 (about US$27) and covering all four days, is on sale only until 30 September 2026 — tomorrow — according to the festival's official website, festival.nyegenyege.com. Later ticket tiers and full pricing have not yet been published; organisers say further details will appear on the site once the early-bird window closes.

MTN MoMo Ticketing, Tag Ticketing and Resident Advisor are the only official ticket platforms. Buyers in Uganda, Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa can pay on MTN MoMo Ticketing by MTN MoMo, Airtel Money or card, or on Tag Ticketing by mobile money or card; buyers outside East Africa use Resident Advisor with a credit or debit card. Organisers warn that tickets sold anywhere else may be fake and will not be honoured at the gate. Camping and accommodation are booked separately from the ticket.

For help with a purchase, MTN MoMo Ticketing can be reached on WhatsApp at +256 772 123 100, by phone on +256 771 001 000 or at [email protected]; Tag Ticketing on +256 776 653 528 or at [email protected]; and Resident Advisor through its help centre at support.ra.co.

For its 11th year, Nyege Nyege is merging with Wakaliwood, the ultra-low-budget action-film scene based in Wakaliga, a suburb of Kampala best known internationally for films such as "Who Killed Captain Alex?" Founder Isaac G.G. Nabwana (also known professionally as Nabwana I.G.G.), who built the studio from scavenged equipment and homemade special effects, has confirmed a collaboration under which parts of the festival grounds will operate as a live set for a new Wakaliwood production, Pulse Uganda reported. Festivalgoers will be able to appear as extras in scenes filmed during the four days.

Nyege Nyege co-founder Derek Debru told Pulse Uganda that after ten editions, organisers "wanted to enter this next chapter around creating with what you have" — a nod to Wakaliwood's own scrappy, resourceful film-making ethos. Aly Allibhai, chief executive of event promoter Talent Africa, said the expanded programme aims to "showcase Uganda's originality, energy and cultural influence," according to the same report.

Organisers say more than 200 artists will perform across seven stages this year, spanning genres from traditional music and reggae to electronic, singeli and afrobeats. Confirmed acts include Ugandan singer King Saha, singer Etania and the Abeeka Band, alongside dedicated stage takeovers featuring Kenyan and Rwandan artists. A returning Dub & Reggae stage and a livestream partnership with Boiler Room, the online music platform, are also part of this year's programme.

On-site camping capacity has been expanded to around 1,000, with the neighbouring Adrift River Club integrated into the festival grounds to offer white-water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping and sunset cruises on the Nile. Uganda Waragi, the spirits brand, has renewed its festival sponsorship for a further three years, including a tree-planting initiative.

A second African Electronic Music Conference, aimed at artists, labels, promoters and cultural organisations working in African electronic and alternative music, will run from 17 to 19 November 2026 at the same venue, immediately before the festival. Sessions are expected to focus on touring and mobility, artist development and creative infrastructure.

Nyege Nyege began in 2015 as a small underground gathering near Jinja and has grown into one of Africa's largest music festivals, drawing international performers and press attention. It has not always run smoothly: in 2018 a government minister moved to cancel it on moral grounds before the decision was reversed, and in 2022 Uganda's Parliament voted to ban the festival over accusations that it promoted "immorality," a ban that then-prime minister Robinah Nabbanja overturned within a day, Africanews reported at the time.