Celebrate
Africa's extraordinary richness in music, arts, dance, film, fashion, gastronomy, heritage and creative expression.
EXPLORE THE EVENT
About
African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives
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Register your interest
AFESTACC is AUDA-NEPAD's flagship continental platform that celebrates Africa's cultural wealth while unlocking its power to drive development, enterprise, tourism, investment, employment and continental integration.
Unlock
The economic power of Africa's creative economy to drive investment, tourism, enterprise and employment.
Build
A lasting continental platform for cultural diplomacy, Pan-African unity and the advancement of Agenda 2063.
A legacy restored
Honouring the past. Inspiring the present. Shaping the future.
1966
First World Festival of Black Arts, Senegal
Led by President Léopold Sédar Senghor under the auspices of UNESCO, a landmark of Pan-African cultural identity.
1969
Pan-African Cultural Festival, Algeria
PANAF united African nations in celebrating cultural liberation, heritage and continental solidarity.
1977
FESTAC '77, Nigeria
The Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, Africa's most celebrated continental gathering of arts and creativity.
2026
AFESTACC, Ghana
AUDA-NEPAD restores the spirit of these great movements, reimagined for a new generation.
Why 2026?
AFESTACC 2026 marks the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of the First World Festival of Black Arts (Dakar, 1966): a defining moment to restore Africa's greatest cultural tradition for a new generation.
60years since Dakar 1966: the Diamond Jubilee
69thIndependence Anniversary of Ghana
25years of AUDA-NEPAD
4days in Accra, 9–12 December 2026
Why Ghana?
Birthplace of Pan-Africanism
Home of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, a founding architect of Pan-Africanism and African unity.
Year of Return legacy
Year of Return and Beyond the Return established Ghana as a leading destination for diaspora engagement and cultural tourism.
69th Independence Anniversary
Hosting AFESTACC 2026 connects a major national milestone with a renewed continental movement.
What AFESTACC seeks to achieve
Revive and institutionalise
Africa's premier continental festival of arts, culture and creativity, building on Dakar 1966, PANAF 1969 and FESTAC '77.
Drive development
Position the cultural and creative economy as a driver of investment, tourism, entrepreneurship, innovation, skills and jobs for youth and women.
Celebrate and showcase
The richness, diversity and excellence of African arts through music, dance, film, fashion, gastronomy, beauty, heritage and sport.
Strengthen Pan-African identity
Foster cultural exchange, reconnect Africa with its Diaspora and project Africa's creative excellence globally.
Collaborate and connect
A premier continental platform for collaboration, exchange and cultural diplomacy for Member States, creatives, policymakers and the Diaspora.
Leave a lasting legacy
Establish AFESTACC as a recurring African Union platform that advances Agenda 2063 through culture-led development.
Expected outcomes
- Continental platform established: a recurring AU platform that institutionalises Africa's premier arts and culture festival.
- Investment and enterprise: deals signed, partnerships formed and investment commitments unlocked across the creative economy.
- Cultural diplomacy strengthened: Africa's cultural presence on the global stage elevated, with the Diaspora reconnected.
- Skills and industrial transformation: ISWA delivers measurable skills development and industrial linkage outcomes.
- Pan-African unity deepened: Member States, the Diaspora and partners united under a renewed vision for culture-led growth.
- Lasting legacy delivered: publications, digital platforms and networks that endure beyond the event.
Be part of AFESTACC 2026
An initiative of AUDA-NEPAD, through its Africa Creatives, Sports and Recreation (ACSAR) Programme, in partnership with the Government of Ghana.