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KAMPALA, UGANDA — 19 September 2026Nyege Nyege Festival returns to the banks of the River Nile from 19–22 November 2026 for its 11th edition, bringing together more than 200 artists across seven stages for four days of music, film, art, culture, fashion and adventure.
Following its landmark 10th-anniversary edition in 2025, Nyege Nyege enters its second decade with a bold new creative direction: The Wakaliwood Edition.
Through a collaboration with Uganda’s internationally recognised independent film movement, Wakaliwood, parts of the festival site at Kalagala Falls, Kangulumira, will be transformed into a living movie set.
Artists, performers and festivalgoers will become part of the action as scenes from a new film are captured during the four-day festival—turning Nyege Nyege into an experience audiences can watch, participate in and ultimately become part of.
Because at Nyege Nyege, life feels like a movie.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR NYEGE NYEGE
After ten editions, Nyege Nyege is entering a new chapter by exploring the intersection of Uganda’s music, film and wider creative culture.
“After ten editions, we wanted to enter the next chapter by doing something that could only happen here. Nyege Nyege and Wakaliwood share a similar spirit: creating with what you have, building your own world and finding ways to share that world far beyond Uganda. This year, those two universes come together. The festival becomes part music festival, part movie set and part playground, with the Nile running through the middle of it all,” said Derek Debru, Co-founder of Nyege Nyege.
The Wakaliwood collaboration will create a dedicated world within the festival while bringing filmmaking directly into the festival environment. It will celebrate the DIY imagination, humour and distinctly Ugandan creative language that has taken Wakaliwood from Wakaliga to audiences around the world.
“We are excited to welcome the world back to the banks of the River Nile for the 11th edition of Nyege Nyege Festival. This year, we are delivering an even richer experience that brings together music, film, fashion, tourism, adventure and Uganda’s creative industries. Through the Wakaliwood collaboration and our expanded festival programme, we want to showcase Uganda’s originality, energy and cultural influence while creating meaningful opportunities for artists, communities and the wider tourism economy,” said Aly Allibhai, CEO of Talent Africa Group.
SO UG: UGANDA TAKES THE STAGE
The SO UG Stage, powered by Uganda Waragi, returns as a vibrant celebration of contemporary Ugandan music, entertainment and culture.
The stage will feature artists and personalities including King Saha, Sheila Gashumba, Etania—The Life of the Party, Linus and Abeeka Band, with further names to be announced.
Beyond music, SO UG will bring together comedy, fashion, visual art and interactive experiences, creating a space dedicated to the energy and diversity of contemporary Ugandan popular culture.
“Nyege Nyege and Uganda Waragi are both as authentically Ugandan as it gets,” said Hilda Aguti, Head of Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries Limited.
“Last year, we proudly celebrated 60 years of Uganda Waragi and a decade of Nyege Nyege, reflecting on how far this movement has come. As we look to the future, we are excited to welcome the world to Kalagala Falls and broaden the scale of a festival that truly celebrates the spirit of our people.”
CULTURE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT
Speaking during the press conference panel on the role of culture in Uganda’s tourism and investment story, Ambassador Rosa Malango, Special Presidential Advisor on Tourism and Trade, said:
“Major cultural events such as Nyege Nyege are much more than moments of entertainment; they are platforms through which Uganda can tell its story to the world and create real economic opportunities at home. When people travel to Uganda for a festival, they are not only buying a ticket—they are staying in hotels and camps, using transport, eating at local restaurants, buying from creatives and businesses, and discovering destinations they may return to or recommend to others.”
At the festival, Ambassador Malango will also showcase TAKC Africa—the Tumaini African Knowledge Centre—a Pan-African partnership, knowledge and solutions platform focused on supporting African entrepreneurs, women and young people, building partnerships and contributing to Uganda’s positioning as a sustainable investment hub.
In partnership with Explore Uganda, the national tourism brand care of the Uganda Tourism Board, Nyege Nyege 2026 will once again use the festival as a gateway to discovering more of the country.
A dedicated tourism experience will connect visitors with destinations, cultural experiences and adventure activities across Uganda, with curated packages designed for both international visitors and Ugandans seeking to extend their festival journey.
The festival will also host a special AFCON experience, bringing football into the wider programme alongside music, culture and entertainment.
“Nyege Ny
ege Festival provides a powerful platform to showcase Uganda’s tourism, culture and creative energy to regional and international audiences. Its setting on the banks of the River Nile allows visitors to experience our music and hospitality alongside the adventure, natural beauty and cultural diversity that make Uganda such a remarkable destination. Through our partnership with the festival, we invite guests to come for Nyege Nyege and stay longer to explore everything Uganda has to offer,” said Arthur Lwamufu, Senior Segment Lead at the Uganda Tourism Board.
200+ ARTISTS. SEVEN STAGES. FOUR DAYS.
While this year’s creative concept expands beyond music, music remains at the heart of Nyege Nyege.
More than 200 artists from Uganda, East Africa, across the African continent and beyond will perform across seven stages. The programme will span electronic music, live bands, club sounds, experimental music, traditional forms and emerging underground scenes.
The popular Dub & Reggae Stage will return, alongside dedicated Kenyan and Rwandan takeovers, highlighting some of the artists and musical movements shaping East Africa.
The first wave of artists and the full stage programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
BACK TO THE NILE
Nyege Nyege returns to Kalagala Falls for a second consecutive year, bringing the festival back to the spectacular natural landscape that hosted its 10th-anniversary edition in 2025.
The riverside setting allows the festival to exist at the intersection of music, nature, culture and adventure. Building on lessons from last year, the 2026 edition will introduce improvements to entrances, parking, movement around the site and accommodation.
An expanded camping village will accommodate approximately 1,000 people, providing visitors with a more accessible and affordable way to stay within the festival environment.
The expanded festival footprint will also incorporate Adrift River Club, giving festivalgoers additional accommodation options and access to adventure experiences around the Nile.
“We are excited to welcome Nyege Nyege back to the Nile. Adrift was built around adventure, the river and creating memorable experiences, so it is exciting to see that energy come together with one of Uganda’s biggest cultural gatherings,” said Leanne Haigh, CEO of Adrift.
BOILER ROOM RETURNS
Boiler Room will return to Nyege Nyege in 2026, connecting Ugandan and African artists with its global audience.
Its return continues a relationship that has helped document and amplify alternative music scenes emerging from Uganda and across the continent.
The Boiler Room programme will be announced alongside the upcoming lineup reveal.
AFRICAN ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONFERENCE RETURNS
Ahead of the festival, Nyege Nyege will host the second edition of the African Electronic Music Conference (AEMC) from 17–19 November 2026.
The conference will bring together artists, collectives, labels, promoters and cultural organisations from across Africa and its diaspora to discuss touring and mobility, artist development, creative infrastructure, collaboration and the future of Africa’s music ecosystem.
Launched in 2025, AEMC is also developing into a year-round platform connecting the scenes, artists, clubs and organisations shaping electronic and alternative music across the continent.
MORE THAN A FESTIVAL
Born in Kampala in 2015, Nyege Nyege has grown into an international meeting point for music, art and culture.
Over the past decade, the festival has connected audiences with new artists, genres and creative scenes from Uganda and across Africa, while attracting visitors, artists, journalists, cultural organisations and music professionals from around the world.
Its 11th edition opens a new chapter—one that remains rooted in music and discovery while increasingly connecting the festival to film, visual culture, tourism, fashion and Uganda’s wider creative economy.
Same river. New chapter. Different madness.
Further announcements covering the first artist lineup, stages, tickets, camping, tourism packages, travel information and additional collaborations will follow.
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
The 11th edition of Nyege Nyege Festival is supported by:
Explore Uganda / Uganda Tourism Board — Tourism Partner
Uganda Waragi — Official Alcohol Partner
MTN MoMo — Official Ticketing and Cashless Partner
SafeBoda — Official Transport Partner
Next Media / NBS Television / KISS FM — Official Media Partner
Talent Africa Group — Festival Promoter, Event Management and Production Partner
CREATIVE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS
The festival will also work aside industry partners such as National Tourism Events Organisers Federation, Linus Tatoos, Abryanz Fashion, Wakaliwood, TAKC Africa and The Ikon Awards and more.
