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.

October 2026

Festival

Fri 16 Oct – Mon, 19 Oct 2026 · Beneath the Baobabs, Kilifi · From KES 2,000

Four-day wellbeing, music and culture gathering at Beneath the Baobabs, Kilifi.

Festival

Sat 17 Oct – Sun, 18 Oct 2026 · ASK Arena, Nairobi · KES 1,500–10,000; table of ten KES 100,000

Kalenjin heritage festival: music, art, food and culture.

Festival

Fri 23 Oct – Sat, 31 Oct 2026 · The Terrace Art Space and other venues, Kilifi Creek · Not published; booking via tickets.sanaapost.com

A nine-day film and culture festival along Kilifi Creek, screening works from over 50 countries.

Festival

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:00 · Carnivore Simba Saloon, Nairobi · KES 2,000–7,200

Gusii (Kisii) culture: music, dance, dress, food and storytelling.

Festival

Tue 27 Oct – Sat, 31 Oct 2026 · Bagamoyo festival grounds · Not published

Tanzania's long-running coastal arts festival, with a pre-festival gala and 146 performing groups.

Details come from the organisers' own pages and can change; please check with the organiser before you go. Tell us about an event →