Arts & culture
Arts & culture in Nairobi and East Africa
Exhibitions, festivals, music, theatre and talks, checked by our culture desk, with dates, venues, prices and where to get tickets.
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On now
On now Exhibition
Free
Sanaa Gateja: They Too Are the Earth
New work by veteran Ugandan artist Sanaa Gateja in paper beads, bark cloth, banana fibre and found roots.
On now Exhibition
What the Ground Remembers (Ibyo Ubutaka Bwibuka)
A participatory exhibition at the Rwanda Art Museum where six people pair their memories of the 1994 genocide with photographs of ordinary places.
On now Exhibition
Free
Mau: A Forest Imaginarium — Kairos Futura
An exhibition imagining the Mau Forest.
On now Exhibition
Free
Dressing the Imaginary: Italian Ingenuity in Stage Costume Between Africa, the East, and Legend
Free exhibition of historic Italian theatre costumes, including Queen of Sheba, Solomon, Aida and Turandot looks, at the Italian Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa.
On now Film
Free
ZIFF Goes Mainland 2026: free EU film festival in five Tanzanian cities
The EU Delegation, ten EU member states and the Zanzibar International Film Festival screen films free in Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Mwanza, Iringa and Dodoma from 20 October to 2 December.
On now Film
Free
European Union Film Festival Addis Ababa 2026
A month of free screenings of 27 European films with director Q&As and masterclasses, opening 23 October.
On now Exhibition
Networks of Belonging: watercolours by Hussein Mirghani
Watercolours by Sudanese artist Hussein Mirghani, inspired by his travels in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Harar and Lalibela.
On now Theatre & dance
Kenya International Theatre Festival (KITFest) 2026
The Kenya International Theatre Festival returns to Nairobi in November with the theme 'Reimagining Theatre'.
Programme 24 items in the programme
- Sun 8 Nov Dying Need No Shoes (KITFest)
- Sun 8 Nov 09:00 KITFest African Theatre Market 2026
- Sun 8 Nov 12:00 Atieno with a Red Hood (KITFest)
- Sun 8 Nov 18:00 Black Box (KITFest, Kenya)
On now Festival
Isôoko Great Lakes Festival (second edition)
A four-day festival of dance, theatre, music and storytelling by artists from the Great Lakes region, across several venues in Kigali.
On now Music
The Bar Symphony: Nairobi
An orchestral night of contemporary hits with cocktails and nightlife at Alloy Bar and Lounge.
On now Music
Funky Town
A nostalgia night at MASSHOUSE, Ngong Racecourse, on 7 November celebrating Nairobi's golden era.
November 2026
Exhibition
Kigali Nzi: exhibition by Yvan King Mukunzi
An exhibition on how people find their way around Kigali through landmarks and memories rather than official street names.
Music
East Africa Gospel Music Awards (EAGMA) 2026
Gospel music awards evening at The Super Dome, Masaki, Dar es Salaam, on 14 November.
Music
Golden Bell Resounds - Harmony Along the Silk Road
A 70-minute concert of Chinese folk instrumentalists and vocalists, created for China-Africa cultural exchange in 2026, at the Kenya National Theatre.
Music
Enoo Napa: Thirteen KE Residency, Night 2
The second of four residency nights by Enoo Napa and guests at KODA Nairobi.
Music
The Bar Symphony: Kampala (2nd edition)
A 12-piece classical orchestra reinterprets contemporary hits in a nightlife setting at Kingdom Kampala.
Talks & books
Storytelling Salon
An evening of stories hosted by Bashir Halaiki with Sara Raj at Suave Kitchen & Social Club in Westlands on 15 November at 5pm.
Festival
Nyege Nyege Festival 2026 (11th edition, Wakaliwood Edition)
Nyege Nyege returns to Kalagala Falls on the Nile near Jinja, 19-22 November, on seven stages.
Music
Eric1Key: KIRA (part three of the Ki Trilogy)
Rwandan artist Eric1Key presents an immersive live performance combining music, spoken word, visual art and digital technology.
Music
Keinemusik Nairobi
Keinemusik present &ME, Rampa and Adam Port at Uhuru Gardens Memorial Park, Nairobi, on 21 November.
Fashion & design
Kenya Fashion Week
Runway shows and industry networking for established and emerging Kenyan designers at MASSHOUSE.
Film
Free
Mashariki African Film Festival 2026 (Reels of Resilience)
Rwanda's annual African film festival returns to Kigali for a week of African cinema, free to attend.
Theatre & dance
Kampala International Theatre Festival (13th edition)
Five days of full productions, play readings, masterclasses, workshops and panels in Kampala, closing with a comedy show.
Programme 1 items in the programme
Talks & books
Industry Talks: brand-building panel and Spotify masterclass
A panel on building brands that create commercial value for artists and creative businesses, plus a Spotify masterclass on turning streams into income.
Market & food
German Christmas Market 2026 (Kigali)
A two-day German-style Christmas market with food, drinks, seasonal music, gifts, crafts and family activities.
Music
The House of Kodong presents All Hands On Deck
Kodong Klan's all-night event at the A.S.K. Dome, Nairobi.
December 2026
Music
AfroCoast 2: Ride the Wave
A one-day beach party on Bamburi Beach with Afro House, Afro Tech, Gqom and Amapiano from sunset to 5am, headlined by South Africa's Jessica Mashaba.
March 2027
Festival
Sauti za Busara 2027 (24th edition)
Three-day music festival in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with the theme 'Let Them Shine', supported by UNICEF.
Every week, every month
Regular Market & food
Maasai Market at Yaya Centre (Sundays)
Sunday Maasai craft market held outdoors on the second floor of Yaya Centre's new parking in Hurlingham, 9am–5pm.
Regular Theatre & dance
Story Za Thuita (street theatre walk)
A guided street-theatre walk through Nairobi's hidden histories, women's contributions and multicultural identity, on two Sundays during KITFest.
Regular Workshop
Painting classes at Inema Art Center
Weekly Monday-evening painting classes at Inema Art Center in Kacyiru, Kigali.
Regular Market & food
Crafts Tuesday at Kenya Cultural Centre
A weekly crafts day, every Tuesday 7am-7pm, listed on the Kenya Cultural Centre events page.
Regular Music
Band Wednesday at Kenya Cultural Centre
A weekly live-band afternoon, every Wednesday 2-5pm, listed on the Kenya Cultural Centre events page.
Regular Market & food
Musical Maasai Market at The Junction Mall (Thursdays)
Weekly Thursday craft market with live cultural performances on the 3rd-floor parking of The Junction Mall, Ngong Road.
Regular Market & food
Maasai Market at Village Market, Gigiri (Fridays)
Friday stop of Nairobi's rotating Maasai craft market, traditionally in the upper car park of Village Market, Gigiri.
Regular Market & food
Maasai Market at High Court Parking, Nairobi CBD (Saturdays)
Saturday stop of the rotating Maasai Market at the High Court parking lot behind the Hilton, often described as the largest.
Regular Market & food
Marula Green Market (formerly Organic Farmers Market), Karen (Saturdays)
Long-running Saturday organic farmers market on Marula Lane, Karen, with produce, artisanal foods and hot food stalls.
Regular Market & food
Farmers Market Nairobi at Rosslyn Square (Saturdays)
Producer-only Saturday farmers market at Rosslyn Square on Red Hill Road, 9am–4pm, rain or shine.
Regular Market & food
Shamba Café Farmers' Market, Loresho (Saturdays)
Saturday farmers' market at Shamba Café & Shop on Loresho Ridge, 9am–5pm; organic Ecoscapes veg also sold on Wednesdays.
Details come from the organisers' own pages and can change; please check with the organiser before you go. Tell us about an event →