Photo: iStock
Afro Nation festival in Portugal, Culture Dance Clash (CDC) festival, the Africa Oyé festival and a host of other festivals with a lineup of artists like Wizkid, Tyla, Angelique Kidjo, Asake, Awilo Longomba amongst other stars, the year 2026 looks to be gearing up to bring the very best of black music, art, culture and entertainment on to Europe’s biggest stage.
Among the many events lined up in Europe this year, Black music, art, and cultural festivals are becoming common occurrences in several cities. From Afrobeat events to the celebration of Black culture, Black-inspired programs and events are poised to set Europe alight and to provide the opportunity to spotlight the creative essence that has always been the hallmark of Black excellence. Below are the Black Music, Art, and Cultural Festivals happening in Europe in 2026.
Afro Nation Portugal
Photo: Facebook | Afro Nation
Perhaps the biggest festival coming out of Europe next year, the Afro Nation music festival is set to provide audiences with the very best of Afro beats, Amapiano, Dancehall, and the very best of Black music to the city of Portimão, in Portugal.
Set to hold from the 3rd to the 5th of July, 2026, the event will feature a lineup of artists that includes Awilo Longomba, Young John, Bien Darkoo, Asake, Wizkid, Tyla, and a whole host of other Black artists and stars who have honed their music on the global stage.
History
Founded in 2019 by co-founders Smade and Obi Asika, they noted that the idea of the event came from what they saw as a lack of representation in the event space for the Afrobeats artists they worked with. The festival which provides a platform to showcase African and International artists across genres like Amapiano, Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Dnacehall and RnB held its maiden edition in 2019 in Praia da Rocha in Portimão, Portugal. Since then, the 3-day event has showcased the very best of Black artists from the likes of Burna Boy, Davido, 50 Cent, Chris Brown, and a host of other famous artists.
In 2026, organizers of the event have taken steps to guarantee a 3-day fun-packed musical entertainment for all those who will be attending. Hotel lodging options have also been put into consideration to ensure that visitors have available rides to the venue of the event without hassles. Lodging accommodations range from between €314 – €493, while event tickets start from about €362. Visit https://www.afronation.com/ for more information on ticketing and hotel packages.
Africa Oyé
Photo: Africa Oyé
Celebrating Africa’s music and culture in Liverpool, Africa Oyé is one of the largest annual celebrations of everything Africa and will be held in Sefton Park from 20th to 21st June 2026.
The event will feature live performances from both local and international artists as well as DJ’s, a display of various African arts and crafts, cuisines that cut across several African traditional dishes, and workshops amongst many others.
History
Running for 3 decades now, the Africa Oyé festival began as far back as 1992 and was founded by Kenny Murray. The festival provides a platform to showcase new and upcoming African and Caribbean artists as well as other musicians in the diaspora. Celebrating cultures across continents where Black people are originally found, the festival offers a collection of genres that also include Salsa, Reggae, and Soca.
Tickets to the event range from £11 to £21 with early bird tickets currently on sale on their website https://africaoye.com/. Visitors to the event can find comfortable lodging in hotels around the area such as The Resident Liverpool, The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection by IHG, and Pullman Liverpool.
International Africa Festival
Photo: International Africa Festival
The 37th International Africa Festival is among the oldest and largest festivals celebrating African music and culture in Europe. Having in attendance more than 7,940 musicians as well as artists from 56 countries that are a combination of African and Caribbean origins, the event is set to be held in Würzburg, Germany.
History
While the origins of its founder are not readily available online, the International Africa Festival started in 1989 and provided an opportunity to bring into European cultural spaces African music, art, fashion, and cultural uniqueness. The festival follows in the mould of the International African Arts Festival in Brooklyn, FESTAC ’77 in Nigeria, and Festival au Désert in Mali.
Taking place from 22nd May to 25th 2026, the festival will showcase various artists like the multi Grammy award winner Angélique Kidjo who will be thrilling audiences with songs from her new album “Hope”. Other artists to look out for are Ami Warning, Made Kuti, Jahcoustix, Lokua Kanza & Guests among several others.
Ticket sales commenced in October 2025 and are currently available at the discounted price range of €39 up until 31 January 2026. From thereon concert tickets will range from €44 – €49 with a €99 fee for a 3-day pass.
CDC Dance Festival
Photo: CDC Festival
From May 13–17, 2026, the Culture Dance Clash Dance (CDC) Festival, an annual event will be held this year in Gemeinschaftshaus Gropiusstadt, Berlin, Germany. The event which celebrates dance cultures, street dance, and Afrodiasporic creativity across Africa, Caribbean cultures also has as part of its line-up of events workshops, conferences, and dance theatre shows.
With this year’s theme “Connecting the Movement”, the dance festival provides an opportunity to showcase a different form of art that is expressed through dance.
History
Founded in 2014, the festival was developed as a way to celebrate and exchange Afrodiasporic cultures as well as celebrate an art form that promotes identity and joy amongst the Black community. The event features dance clashes, dance styles like Azonto and Afrobeat, as well as a dance camp where international teachers come to share their ideas and experiences.
Ticket sales for this year’s event go for €280. Visitors can make accommodation arrangements in hotels like Courtyard by Marriott Berlin City Center, Myer’s Hotel Berlin, ADELANTE Boutique Hotel, and Locke at East Side Gallery.
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
