Name: 37th International Africa Festival Würzburg 2026
Start: 2026-05-22T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-25T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Congress Centrum Würzburg (CCW) + Ehrenhof Rathaus

Africa Festival Würzburg

About Africa Festival Würzburg

The International Africa Festival Würzburg is Europe's largest and oldest festival of African music and culture. Since 1989, it has hosted over 7,940 musicians from 56 African and Caribbean countries on its stages and attracted around 2.75 million visitors. The 37th edition from May 22-25, 2026, will feature a new setup: evening concerts at the Congress Centrum Würzburg (CCW), with a free supporting program including a bazaar and street food in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen.

Dates 22 May — 25 May 2026

Venue Würzburg (09663)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Africa Festival Würzburg — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 37th edition of the International Africa Festival Würzburg will take place from May 22 to 25, 2026. For the first time, the festival will be split between two venues: ticketed evening concerts at the Congress Centrum Würzburg (CCW) and a free supporting program with a bazaar, street food, workshops, and parades in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen.

The 37th edition in 2026 will focus on strong female voices. With Angélique Kidjo (Benin), the festival brings one of the world's greatest African voices to Würzburg. Congolese, Beninese, Senegalese, and German acts will also perform. Over the four days, musical bridges will be built between West Africa, Central Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe.

The free supporting program in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen remains the heart of the festival and is freely accessible: African arts and crafts, jewelry, textiles, and musical instruments at the Bazaar, a culinary journey through Africa, acrobatic performances, street parades, and family workshops.

Highlights Africa Festival Würzburg 2026

Angélique Kidjo (Grammy winner, Benin), Lokua Kanza (Congo), Made Kuti (Afrobeat legacy), Faada Freddy (Senegal), strong female voices, free bazaar with African arts and crafts and street food at the Vierröhrenbrunnen.

Programme Africa Festival Würzburg 2026

Friday, May 22, 2026 — Opening

Afternoon — Opening of Bazaar and Street Food in the Ehrenhof Rathaus
Evening — Opening Concert at the CCW (line-up to be announced on the festival website)

Saturday, May 23, 2026 — Highlight Evening

Daytime — Bazaar, workshops, street parades
Evening — Concert night at the CCW with Angélique Kidjo (Grammy winner, Benin) and Lokua Kanza (Congo)

Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Family Day

Daytime — Family workshops, acrobatic performances, fashion show at the Ehrenhof
Evening — Concert at the CCW with Made Kuti (Afrobeat, son of Femi Kuti), Fafa Ruffino (Benin), and Ami Warning

Monday, May 25, 2026 — Festival Finale

Daytime — Last day of Bazaar and Street Food at the Vierröhrenbrunnen
Evening — Closing Concert at the CCW with Faada Freddy (Senegal, a cappella soul) and Jahcoustix (Reggae, Germany)

Detailed schedule and updates on africafestival.org.

Prices Africa Festival Würzburg 2026

Evening concerts at the CCW: Tickets available via africafestival.org. Day passes and festival passes are offered. The supporting program (Bazaar, street food, workshops, parades) in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen is completely free.

Practical information

Practical information — Africa Festival Würzburg

Getting There

Würzburg Hbf (main train station) with ICE connections. From the station, it's about a 10-minute walk to the city center. CCW: Pleichertorstraße 5. Ehrenhof Rathaus: Rückermainstraße 2. Parking: Talavera parking lot on the Main riverbank (paid, shuttle recommended).

Admission

Evening concerts at the CCW: Tickets available via the festival website, day passes, and festival passes are offered. The supporting program (Bazaar, street food, workshops, parades) in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen is free of charge.

Contact

Africa Festival e.V., Würzburg. Website africafestival.org. Trademark: The dancing figures logo is protected to prevent inferior imitations.

A European Institution Since 1989

The International Africa Festival Würzburg is one of the oldest and most renowned festivals of African music and culture worldwide. Since its first edition in 1989, the rhythmic diversity of Africa and the African diaspora has been the focus every May. Over 7,900 musicians from 56 African and Caribbean countries have graced its stages, and around 2.75 million visitors have attended over the years.

New Venue, New Setup 2026

The 37th edition in 2026 will, for the first time, feature a split setup: the evening concerts will take place in the acoustically superior Congress Centrum Würzburg (CCW). The free supporting program, including the renowned bazaar, a culinary journey through Africa, street parades, and family workshops, will be held in the Ehrenhof of the Town Hall and at the Vierröhrenbrunnen, right in the heart of Würzburg's old town.

Strong Female Voices 2026

The 37th edition places strong female voices at its center. Among the confirmed artists are: Angélique Kidjo — Grammy winner from Benin and one of the most famous African voices globally; Lokua Kanza — Congolese singer-songwriter; Made Kuti — son of Femi Kuti and carrier of the Afrobeat legacy; Fafa Ruffino from Benin; German acts like Ami Warning and Jahcoustix; as well as Faada Freddy with his distinctive a cappella soul from Senegal.

More Than Concerts

From its inception, the Africa Festival has been more than just a music festival: the large Bazaar brings African arts and crafts, textiles, musical instruments, and jewelry to Würzburg. The food stalls along the Vierröhrenbrunnen offer a culinary journey across the continent — from West African rice dishes and Ethiopian injera to North African tagines. Acrobatic performances, fashion shows, and family workshops on African culture complement the program.

Würzburg as a Stage

Würzburg, the capital of Lower Franconia on the Main River, has an unusual cultural anchor in the Africa Festival: a festival that transforms the city into an African-European meeting zone for four days every May. The organizer, the non-profit association Africa Festival e.V., is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry, the City of Würzburg, and the Federal Foreign Office, as well as media partners arte, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and Jazz Thing.