Uganda‘s Nyege Nyege Festival will hold its 11th edition at Adrift, Kalagala Falls, from 19 to 22 November 2026, with programming across music, film, visual art, culture and adventure.
The event returns to Kalagala Falls for a second consecutive year after marking its 10th anniversary at the site in 2025.
Wakaliwood collaboration#
The 2026 edition is built around a collaboration with Wakaliwood, Uganda’s independent film movement based in Wakaliga, Kampala. Organisers have named it the Wakaliwood Edition.
More than 200 artists will perform across seven stages. Filmmaking will be woven into the event, with scenes for a new film shot during the four days. Artists, performers and festivalgoers can take part in the production, and parts of the festival site will operate as a live film set.
Co-founder Derek Debru said the partnership reflects a shared approach to independent cultural production.
“After ten editions, we wanted to enter the next chapter by doing something that could only happen here. Nyege Nyege and Wakaliwood share a similar spirit: creating with what you have, building your own world and then finding ways of sharing that world far beyond Uganda,” Debru said.
“This year those two universes come together. The festival becomes part music festival, part movie set, part playground, with the Nile running through the middle of it all.”
Music and stage programme#
Music remains central. The lineup will bring together artists and scenes from Uganda, East Africa and other parts of the continent, alongside international acts. Electronic music, live bands, traditional forms, club sounds and experimental music will all feature.
The festival will bring back its Dub & Reggae Stage and host dedicated takeovers focused on music scenes from Kenya and Rwanda. The first wave of artists and the full stage programme are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Talent Africa Group chief executive Aly Allibhai said the 2026 edition will connect music with other parts of Uganda’s creative and tourism industries.
“We are excited to officially announce the return of Nyege Nyege Festival for its 11th edition. This year we are building an even broader festival experience, bringing together music, tourism, adventure, film, fashion and Uganda’s creative industries,” Allibhai said.
“Returning to Kalagala Falls gives us an extraordinary setting to welcome Uganda, East Africa and the world back to the banks of the Nile.”
The SO UG Stage, powered by Uganda Waragi, will return with a focus on contemporary Ugandan music and popular culture. Announced participants include:
- King Saha
- Sheila Gashumba
- Etania – The Life of the Party
- Linus
- Abeeka Band
- Jackie Chandiru
Comedy, fashion, visual art and interactive activities will also be part of the stage’s programme.
Boiler Room will return in 2026, with a programme intended to connect Ugandan and African artists with its international audience. Further details are expected as part of the wider lineup announcement.
Venue and tourism additions#
Organisers said changes for 2026 will include improvements to entrances, parking, movement around the venue and accommodation. An expanded camping village will accommodate about 1,000 people, and Adrift River Club will be incorporated into the festival site for the first time. Visitors will also have access to adventure activities on and around the Nile.
In partnership with Explore Uganda, the national tourism brand of the Uganda Tourism Board, the festival will offer tourism experiences and packages aimed at connecting visitors with destinations and cultural and adventure activities across the country.
The programme will also include an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)-themed experience alongside the music and cultural activities.
African Electronic Music Conference#
Before the festival, Nyege Nyege will host the second edition of the African Electronic Music Conference (AEMC) from 17 to 19 November.
The conference will bring together artists, collectives, labels, promoters and cultural organisations from Africa and its diaspora. Discussions will focus on touring and mobility, artist development, creative infrastructure, collaboration and the development of Africa’s independent music ecosystem.
AEMC was launched in 2025 alongside the festival and is being developed as a year-round platform for connecting artists, clubs, organisations and music scenes involved in electronic and alternative music across the continent.
Nyege Nyege was established in Kampala in 2015 and has since developed into an international festival focused on music and culture from Uganda and across Africa. Its 11th edition will expand its programme to include film, tourism, fashion and other creative disciplines alongside its established music programme.
Further announcements on the artist lineup, stages, tickets, camping, tourism packages and travel information are expected ahead of the festival.
