Nyege Nyege Festival returns back to Kalagala Falls from November 19 to 22, 2026.
The announcement was made at the Talent Africa rooftop in Kampala, where organisers unveiled plans for the next chapter of Africa’s premier cultural and music festival.
The return to Kalagala Falls, which organisers have designated as the festival’s permanent home, marks the beginning of a new partnership aimed at expanding the event’s scale, cultural footprint and economic impact.
“Nyege Nyege and Uganda Waragi are both as authentically Ugandan as it gets,” said Hilda Aguti, Head of Mainstream Spirits at Uganda Breweries Limited.
“Last year, we proudly celebrated a decade of Nyege Nyege, reflecting on how far this movement has come. Now, as we look to the future, we are excited to welcome the world to Kalagala Falls as we broaden the festival’s scale for this movement that truly celebrates the spirit of our people.”
Over the years, Uganda Waragi has supported the festival’s growth through initiatives including the UG Stage, hydration points promoting responsible celebration and improvements to the event’s interactive and photo-friendly installations.
The 2026 edition will remain rooted in music while expanding its overall experience, with more than 200 artists expected to perform across seven stages.
The festival will feature an expanded Uganda Waragi UG Stage, alongside the return of the popular Reggae Stage and Boiler Room stages.
The UG Stage will feature acts including Zonke Africa DJ Collective, King Saha, Linus Tattoos, Abeeka Band, DJ Akio (Strictly Soul) and Etania, with additional artists expected to be announced.
“After ten editions, we wanted to enter this next chapter around creating with what you have, building your own world and finding ways to share that world far beyond Uganda,” said Derek Debru, co-founder of Nyege Nyege.
“This year, those universes come together as the festival becomes part music festival, part movie set and part playground, with the Nile running through the middle of it all.”
The 2026 edition will adopt the “Wakaliwood Edition” theme in partnership with Ramon Film Productions. Celebrated filmmaker Isaac G. G. Nabwana confirmed that Nyege Nyege 2026 will serve as an active film set for Wakaliwood’s next feature film.
Aly Alibhai, CEO of Talent Africa Group, said the festival’s renewed partnership with Uganda Waragi and other partners under a three-year agreement would provide a foundation for further expansion.
“Having Uganda Waragi and all our partners support the vision through a long-term three-year deal is a game-changer for Nyege Nyege,” Alibhai said.
“This new agreement gives us the strategic foundation to expand the festival’s scale, upgrade our infrastructure at Kalagala Falls, and showcase the best of African music and tourism to the world.”
Organisers have also undertaken several site improvements aimed at enhancing the experience for revellers, including parking facilities closer to the venue, improved navigation around the festival grounds and expanded accommodation and camping options.
As part of the 2026 festival rollout, Uganda Waragi will also launch a community tree-planting initiative in areas surrounding Kalagala Falls.
The initiative will involve planting indigenous trees to support environmental conservation, restore natural habitats and provide long-term benefits to communities living around the festival site.
The festival is also expected to provide a boost to local tourism and the hospitality sector, with increased demand for accommodation and other services in Jinja and the wider Eastern Region.
The influx of visitors is also expected to create opportunities for food vendors, arts and crafts traders and other local businesses that benefit from the annual event.
Ahead of the main festival, regional warm-up parties will be held in Kenya and Rwanda. The events will be hosted by media personalities Sheila Gashumba and Kenya’s Azeezah Hashim, who attended the Kampala announcement.
