Staff
Nyege Nyege Festival is set to return to the banks of the River Nile at Kalagala Falls, Kangulumira, from November 19–22, 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 10th-anniversary edition in 2025, the festival is entering a new chapter under the theme The Wakaliwood Edition, through a collaboration with Uganda’s internationally recognised independent film movement.
Parts of the festival site will be transformed into a living movie set, with artists, performers and festivalgoers becoming part of scenes for a new film captured during the four-day event.
According to Nyege Nyege co-founder Derek Debru, the collaboration is designed to bring together Uganda’s music and film cultures in a way that turns the festival into part music festival, part movie set and part playground.
“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,” Debru said.
Talent Africa Group CEO Aly Allibhai said the 2026 edition will bring together music, film, fashion, tourism, adventure and Uganda’s creative industries, while creating opportunities for artists, communities and the wider tourism economy.
The SO UG Stage, powered by Uganda Waragi, will once again showcase contemporary Ugandan music, entertainment and culture.
The stage will feature King Saha, Sheila Gashumba, Etania—The Life of the Party, Linus and Abeeka Band, with additional names expected to be announced.
Beyond music, the SO UG Stage will feature comedy, fashion, visual art and interactive experiences celebrating contemporary Ugandan popular culture.
While film and creative culture will play a bigger role this year, music remains at the centre of Nyege Nyege.
More than 200 artists from Uganda, East Africa, the wider African continent and beyond are expected to perform across seven stages.
The programme will cover electronic music, live bands, club sounds, experimental music, traditional forms and emerging underground scenes.
The popular Dub & Reggae Stage will return, alongside Kenyan and Rwandan takeovers.
The first wave of artists and the full stage programme will be announced in the coming weeks.
In partnership with Explore Uganda, the national tourism brand under the Uganda Tourism Board, Nyege Nyege will again serve as a gateway for visitors looking to explore more of the country.
A dedicated tourism experience will connect festivalgoers to destinations, cultural experiences and adventure activities across Uganda, with packages targeting both international visitors and Ugandans.
The festival will also feature a special AFCON experience, bringing football into the wider programme of music, culture and entertainment.
Uganda Tourism Board Senior Segment Lead Arthur Lwamufu said the festival provides a platform to showcase Uganda’s tourism, culture and creative energy to regional and international audiences.
Nyege Nyege will return to Kalagala Falls for the second consecutive year, building on the experience of its 2025 10th-anniversary edition.
The 2026 festival will introduce improvements to entrances, parking, movement around the site and accommodation.
An expanded camping village will accommodate approximately 1,000 people, while the festival footprint will also incorporate Adrift River Club, offering additional accommodation and adventure experiences around the Nile.
Boiler Room will return to Nyege Nyege in 2026, continuing its partnership with the festival and connecting Ugandan and African artists with its global audience.
The Boiler Room programme will be announced alongside the festival’s upcoming lineup.
Before the main festival, Nyege Nyege will host the second edition of the African Electronic Music Conference (AEMC) from November 17–19, 2026.
The conference will bring together artists, collectives, labels, promoters and cultural organisations from Africa and its diaspora to discuss touring and mobility, artist development, creative infrastructure, collaboration and the future of Africa’s music ecosystem.
Born in Kampala in 2015, Nyege Nyege has grown into an international platform connecting audiences with music, art and creative scenes from Uganda and across Africa.
The 11th edition will expand that identity further by connecting music with film, visual culture, tourism, fashion and Uganda’s wider creative economy.
Further announcements on the artist lineup, stages, tickets, camping, tourism packages, travel information and additional collaborations are expected in the coming weeks.
🔥 NYEGE NYEGE FESTIVAL 2026 OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED!
Talent Africa Group and its partners have officially launched Nyege Nyege Festival, promising four days of non-stop music, entertainment and unforgettable experiences.
📅 November 19–22, 2026 📍 Kalagala Falls#NyegeNyege2026 pic.twitter.com/S3NSHohp2G
— Blizz Uganda (@BlizzUganda) September 19, 2026
