AFESTACC 2026: Ghana to Host Four Days of African Food, Fashion, Music and Culture

Africa’s creativity is coming together in Accra this December! From the flavours of traditional African cuisine to colourful fashion, music, dance and art, Ghana is preparing to host the inaugural African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC 2026).

Taking place from 9–12 December 2026, the four-day celebration will bring together artists, designers, chefs, cultural organisations, entrepreneurs and visitors from across Africa and the diaspora.

And here’s some good news if you’re planning to attend: the festival is free to attend, with registration available through the official event website.

Whether you’re interested in African culture, discovering new designers, sampling food from across the continent or simply looking for something different to experience during December in Ghana, AFESTACC promises an exciting addition to Accra’s festive calendar.

What is AFESTACC 2026?

AFESTACC stands for the African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives. It’s a new pan-African celebration designed to showcase the continent’s cultural heritage and the creative industries shaping its future.

Organised by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the Government of Ghana, the festival will bring together African countries to celebrate music, fashion, food, theatre, crafts and other forms of creative expression.

But there’s more to AFESTACC than entertainment.

The festival also aims to create opportunities for African artists, young entrepreneurs and businesses to connect, develop new skills and showcase their work to international audiences.

It draws inspiration from historic pan-African cultural gatherings, including the First World Festival of Black Arts held in Dakar in 1966 and FESTAC ’77 in Lagos.

Sixty years after the Dakar festival, Ghana is helping to bring that spirit of African cultural exchange to a new generation.

When and where is AFESTACC 2026 taking place?

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to attend:

• Dates: Wednesday 9 – Saturday 12 December 2026
• Location: Accra, Ghana
• Main venue: La Palm Royal Beach Hotel
• Additional planned venues: National Theatre, Independence Square area and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
• Admission: Free, with registration available online
• Official website: https://events.auda-nepad.org/afestacc26
• Registration: https://events.auda-nepad.org/afestacc26/register

Most of the festival’s activities will take place at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, with selected cultural performances, fashion activities and visitor experiences planned at other locations around Accra.

The organisers are continuing to finalise parts of the programme, so it’s worth checking the official website for the latest venue and session information before travelling.

What can visitors experience at AFESTACC?

One of the most exciting things about AFESTACC is the variety of experiences planned across the four days.

African food and the Afro Gastro Festival

Food lovers have something to look forward to!

The Afro Gastro Festival will celebrate the flavours, ingredients and cooking traditions that connect communities across Africa and the diaspora.

Visitors can look forward to culinary showcases exploring how familiar African ingredients are prepared differently across countries and cultures.

It’s also an opportunity to discover the stories behind African food and the people keeping those traditions alive.

African fashion, textiles and crafts

Expect a celebration of African style, from contemporary fashion to traditional textiles, jewellery, handmade crafts and creative design.

The festival will feature fashion showcases and a creative marketplace where designers, artists and craftspeople can exhibit their work.

Visitors will have opportunities to discover African-made products, meet creatives and support businesses producing everything from fabrics and beads to pottery, paintings and woodwork.

Music, dance and live performances

What would an African cultural festival be without music and dance?

AFESTACC will feature cultural performances and celebrations showcasing the continent’s musical and artistic diversity.

The programme also includes theatre and opportunities to experience different forms of African creative expression.

Specific performers and evening entertainment schedules are still being finalised.

Creative workshops and opportunities for young people

AFESTACC isn’t just about watching performances or exploring exhibitions.

A major part of the festival is helping young Africans develop skills, build businesses and find opportunities within the creative economy.

Through discussions, workshops and Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA 2026), participants will be able to engage with industry professionals and explore careers in creative industries, enterprise and technical skills.

For aspiring designers, artists, entrepreneurs and students, this could be one of the most valuable parts of the festival.

AFESTACC 2026: The four-day programme

Here’s an overview of what visitors can expect.

The programme also includes the AFESTACC Village, where participating countries, creative businesses and cultural organisations can showcase their work.

Visitors should check the official schedule for confirmed times, sessions and venues.

Why Ghana was chosen to host AFESTACC

There’s an interesting Ghanaian story behind this new continental festival.

During an interview on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily, Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, explained that AFESTACC grew from the success of the Afro Gastro initiative held at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in 2025.

The original idea was to bring together African embassies, high commissions and communities with African ancestry to celebrate food.

Participants would explore local markets, find familiar ingredients and prepare dishes in the different ways they are enjoyed across their cultures.

The African Union took an interest in the initiative and subsequently worked with Ghana to develop the idea into a wider continental celebration incorporating fashion, music, theatre, crafts and skills development.

For the Minister, the festival represents an opportunity to broaden how Ghana promotes itself to the world.

While Ghana is internationally recognised for its historic forts, castles and heritage sites, the country’s culture is also experienced through everyday life — its food, fashion, languages, music and dance.

AFESTACC brings these different experiences together.

It’s also part of a wider ambition to position Ghana as a centre for African cultural exchange, creativity and tourism.

Why AFESTACC matters for Africa and the diaspora

AFESTACC arrives at an interesting time for Ghana’s tourism and creative industries.

The country continues to attract visitors interested in reconnecting with their heritage, exploring contemporary African culture and discovering opportunities across the continent.

For members of the African diaspora travelling from the UK, United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere, the festival offers another reason to experience Ghana beyond the usual December parties and concerts.

It also creates a meeting place for artists, designers, cultural organisations and entrepreneurs who may not otherwise have the opportunity to collaborate.

The organisers hope AFESTACC will become a recurring continental platform, supporting cultural exchange, investment and new opportunities for African creatives.

The inaugural event is expected to attract participants from across Africa and beyond, although final attendance figures will only be known after the festival.

How to attend AFESTACC 2026 — is it free?

Yes. AFESTACC 2026 is being promoted as a free event.

During her Channel One TV interview, Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie confirmed that the public would not be required to purchase tickets to participate in the festival’s activities.

However, visitors are encouraged to register in advance through the official event platform.

Register for AFESTACC 2026:
https://events.auda-nepad.org/afestacc26/register

The registration form allows visitors to indicate which days and activities they are interested in attending.

It also provides options for creatives, exhibitors, potential partners, sponsors and international delegates.

Registration and accreditation arrangements are managed by the organisers, and some sessions or participation categories may have additional requirements.

If you’re an artist, designer, craftsperson or entrepreneur hoping to exhibit your work, early registration is particularly important because exhibition space will be limited.

For questions about participation, the organisers can be contacted at [email protected].

Make the most of your visit to Accra

If you’re travelling to Ghana for AFESTACC, why not make a few extra days of it?

December is one of Accra’s busiest and most exciting periods, with concerts, festivals, restaurants, cultural experiences and nightlife happening across the city.

Since much of AFESTACC takes place around the Labadi and central Accra areas, visitors can also explore some of the capital’s best-known attractions.

Consider visiting Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, exploring Ghana’s history at Osu Castle where visitor access is available, or discovering the city’s food scene and restaurants.

And if you’re staying longer, there’s plenty more happening throughout December.

Explore our December in Ghana 2026 guide to discover upcoming events, concerts, festivals and experiences.

You can also browse viewGhana for restaurants, attractions and places to visit during your stay.

Found somewhere you’d love to visit? Save it to My Trip in the viewGhana app and start putting together your own Ghana experience.

A celebration of African creativity

AFESTACC 2026 promises to bring something different to Ghana’s December calendar.

It’s a celebration of the things that make Africa special — its people, cultures, food, music, creativity and shared heritage — while also creating opportunities for the next generation of African talent.

Whether you’re a food lover, fashion enthusiast, creative entrepreneur, student or simply curious about Africa’s diverse cultures, there should be plenty to discover.

AFESTACC 2026 takes place from 9–12 December in Accra. Admission is free, with registration available through the official event website.

Visit https://events.auda-nepad.org/afestacc26 for the latest programme and registration details.