Jägermeister will host its first “Haus of Kühl” event in Nairobi on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Sk8City in Diamond Plaza 2, with organisers integrating the SafeNow personal safety app and an on-site safety and wellness space for attendees. The event is scheduled to run from 6pm to 4am, according to a press release dated September 23, 2026.

The company said the Nairobi edition will include performances by South African acts KMAT and MfanaTouchLine, alongside “more than 36” Kenyan performers, DJs, dancers and fashion and art creatives. Hosts Mariah and Sameer Bry will lead the programme, which will also include appearances by singer Iyanah and dancers Ian Tico and Thee Iconic, the statement said.

The event format, as described by Jägermeister, spans multiple areas including a main stage, dance stage, silent disco, a “Manifest Speakeasy,” “Meister Market” and a gaming zone. Tickets are being sold via Hustle Sasa, according to the release, though ticket prices were not disclosed.

In addition to the performance lineup, Jägermeister said fashion will be part of the programme through limited-edition collaborations with streetwear brands Have A Good Trip and Pesos, which are expected to debut at the event. The company did not disclose expected sales volumes or the size of the merchandise run.

Safety measures are a core element of this edition, with organisers asking guests to download the SafeNow app before arriving. Jägermeister described SafeNow as a platform that allows users to set up a trusted network of contacts and send rapid alerts if assistance is needed, including while travelling to and from the venue.

Ephraim Manana Snr, Culture & Experiential Marketing Manager at Jägermeister, said the company is using the partnership to extend safety coverage beyond the venue. “Great nightlife starts with creating spaces where people feel safe, supported and free to enjoy the moment. With SafeNow, we're giving our guests another layer of support, from the moment they leave home, throughout the event and as they make their way home. We want people to come ready to experience Haus of Kühl, knowing that their wellbeing is part of the experience,” Manana said in the press release.

The company said the venue will include a “Safe Now Zone” designed as a quiet space with phone charging, free Wi‑Fi, water and silent-disco headphones playing “calming ambient immersive soundscapes.” The intention, according to the statement, is to provide a designated area where guests can take breaks away from the main event.

The Nairobi event adds to a growing pipeline of branded experiences tied to entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle spending in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi’s night-time economy. While organisers did not disclose investment figures, the scale of programming—international acts, dozens of local creatives and multiple themed areas—signals increasing competition for consumer attention in the city’s events market, as brands seek direct engagement with audiences.

Meera Karia, Director Business Development at Viva Global Kenya, said the company is partnering with Jägermeister in Kenya and urged attendees to plan safe transport. “At Viva Global, we are super proud to partner with Jägermeister in Kenya and are excited to bring this first-of-its-kind Haus of Kühl experience to Nairobi. We look forward to welcoming guests to an unforgettable celebration of music, culture and creativity. As always, we encourage everyone to enjoy the experience responsibly by planning a safe journey home, using ride-hailing services and never drinking and driving,” Karia said.

Jägermeister said “Haus of Kühl” was first introduced in South Africa in 2023 and has since run in multiple cities including Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The Nairobi event will be the platform’s first edition in Kenya, with organisers indicating that updates will be shared on the brand’s social channels ahead of Saturday’s show.

NBO Film Festival has announced its seventh edition across four Nairobi venues from 15 to 25 Oct 2026 with an expanded competition programme.

The festival announced the dates in a press release dated 2 Sep 2026.

NBO Film Festival Artistic Director Mbithi Masya said the theme aims to centre local audiences in African cinema’s growth.

“Cinema for us means creating a space where audiences can discover, celebrate and engage with the stories being made across Africa and beyond,” Masya said.

“We want this festival to be part of Nairobi’s public life and a place where people come together to experience cinema, exchange ideas, recognise excellence and imagine what comes next.”

Screenings will take place at Prestige Plaza, Unseen Cinema, Kaloleni Social Hall and Alliance Française Nairobi.

The organisers said the festival will combine public screenings with community programmes, “City Dialogues” and filmmaker conversations as part of Nairobi’s broader cultural calendar.

The festival said its theme “Cinema for Us” calls for African audiences to access and experience African films locally.

The announcement comes as Kenya’s film and creative economy continues to broaden.

Festivals and industry platforms increasingly serve as routes for distribution, networking and project development.

The format matters to Kenya because it can bring visitors to host venues and give local filmmakers additional routes to audiences.

It can also connect Nairobi filmmakers with potential partners including regional and international industry players.

The festival said it will expand its competitive slate to three juried competitions.

It will retain the Fiction Feature Film Competition and add the Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary and a Short Film Fiction competition.

The festival said it will announce competition jury chairs on 4 Sep and competition selections on 7 Sep.

The festival will also present its first filmmaker retrospective dedicated to Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis.

Gomis is expected to attend both audience and industry events.

The organisers said EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) supports the retrospective.

The full retrospective line-up is scheduled for release on 9 Sep.

The festival will announce its opening film and major Special Presentations on 10 Sep.

The festival said its expanded industry programme aims to connect filmmakers and professionals through the NBO Project Showcase, creative labs and professional exchanges.

Such platforms can influence deal-making and co-production pipelines in East Africa by giving projects visibility earlier in development.

They can also widen access to mentors, financiers and commissioning editors.

The organisers have not disclosed ticket prices, sponsorship figures or projected attendance in the press release.

The organisers said the festival trailer and ticket sales will launch on 12 Sep.

The complete programme and screening schedule are expected on 14 Sep ahead of the October event.

Jägermeister will bring its Haus of Kühl cultural platform to Sk8City in Nairobi on 26 Sep 2026 for its first East African edition.

The company said the event will run from 6pm to 4am at Diamond Plaza 2 in its press release dated 31 Aug 2026.

Ephraim Manana Snr is Jägermeister’s Culture & Experiential Marketing Manager.

Manana said “As a Culture Brand, bringing Haus of Kühl to Nairobi for the first time is an exciting milestone for us”.

He said Nairobi appealed “because Nairobi is a city with such a powerful and constantly evolving creative pulse”.

He said the concept extends beyond music to incorporate “music and dance to fashion, art, discovery and community.”

The event matters to Kenya’s creative economy because it brings international bookings alongside work for local performers and event services.

Jägermeister said South African acts KMAT and MfanaTouchLine will perform alongside more than 36 Kenyan performers.

The company said Mariah and Sameer Bry will host the event across multiple stages and themed spaces.

Kenyan performers listed by the company include singer Iyanah and dancers Ian Tico and Thee Iconic.

The DJ line-up includes Basthma, Burugu, Calvin The Curator, Coco Kahi and DJ Lyta.

DJ Mani, DJ Rayma, Hiribae, Jayeda and JM1 also feature in the line-up.

It also includes Kamz, Kaneda, Kiptala, Kurtiss E and Love.

Mani, Monzo, Mura, Mtu Solo, Mr. Arkitech and N!k are also listed.

Other listed acts are Njeri wa Baaba & Santa Currie, Safari Oontz Collective, Selekta V, Selo, Shi and Sir M & Mista C.

Suraj, The Vibe Initiator, Tinashe The DJ, Wembe Waves and Zhai complete the company’s list.

Jägermeister said it introduced the platform in South Africa in 2023 and previously held editions across Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The Nairobi launch brings the beverage brand’s live-event marketing approach into Kenya’s nightlife market.

Such events can create demand for production, venue operations, security and creative services as brands seek closer consumer engagement.

The company said programming will include a Main Stage and a Dance Stage focused on underground sounds.

Studio Can-V will curate a Silent Disco featuring emerging DJs through head-to-head battles according to the press release.

The company said a “Manifest Speakeasy” space will offer tarot readings.

A “Meister Market” streetwear pop-up will feature brands Pesos and HAGT according to the company.

The company said a gaming zone will offer activities including giant Jenga and console games.

Jägermeister said its “Safe Now Zone” will provide a wellbeing and support area as part of responsible enjoyment measures.

Guests can “pause, hydrate, recharge and access support from the event team when needed,” the company said.

The platform could create opportunities for cross-border bookings and higher production budgets in Kenya.

Local DJs, dancers, fashion labels and visual artists could gain commercial opportunities from the event format.

Brand-owned events with selected line-ups and on-site merchandising could also increase competition among venues and promoters for marketing budgets.

Jägermeister said tickets are available through Hustle Sasa.

The press release does not disclose ticket prices, expected attendance or local partners involved in delivering the event.

Operational details including gate arrangements and security remain outstanding alongside confirmation of the full performance schedule ahead of Saturday 26 Sep 2026.

ANZA MMA will stage its third professional mixed martial arts event at Village Market in Nairobi on 19 Sep 2026 with fighters from six African countries.

The promotion announced ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 in a press release dated 31 Aug 2026.

The Saturday event will feature eight bouts across the main card and preliminaries with Kenyan bantamweight George Itumo facing Angolan Jorge Correia.

“ANZA MMA Pro Nights is back,” the organisation said.

The line-up includes fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan.

The event matters to Kenya’s sports business as promoters test demand for ticketed entertainment and seek audiences for professional combat sports.

Village Market has increasingly hosted such events and benefits from established foot traffic and proximity to Nairobi’s higher-spending consumer segments.

ANZA MMA said Itumo’s only professional defeat to date came against another Angolan fighter.

The promotion presented the match against Correia as an opportunity for Itumo to respond to that record against Angolan opposition.

Angolan amateur world champion Daniela Mandanji will make her professional debut against Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi in a preliminary flyweight bout.

ANZA MMA said the main card will feature four bouts including Itumo’s bantamweight contest.

Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo will face Uganda’s Kennedy Serunyange at featherweight.

Kenya’s Brian Munyi will meet Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba in another featherweight bout.

Kenyan heavyweight Kevin Odongo will face Uganda’s Kasozi Umaru.

The preliminary card also includes South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala against Uganda’s Michael Olara at middleweight.

Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi will meet Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria at lightweight.

Tanzania’s Chris Tibenda will face Uganda’s Farouk Ogwal at flyweight alongside the Mandanji and Amongi contest.

The promotion said Munyi and Odongo previously competed at ANZA Pro 002 and linked their performances to interest in the Nairobi event.

Munyi “knocked his opponent out after a breathtaking throw,” the statement said.

ANZA MMA said Odongo stopped a heavyweight opponent late in the third round.

International fight cards can influence sponsorship demand and venue partnerships as Kenyan promoters compete for corporate marketing budgets.

Combat sports face competition from football, rugby and athletics for that spending.

Cross-border participation can also support media rights discussions and expand audiences beyond Kenya through streaming and social platforms.

ANZA MMA did not disclose expected attendance or provide ticket pricing and broadcast arrangements.

The promotion said it is “Kenya’s first licensed MMA promotion under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation”.

Its events have drawn “more than 1,000 fans,” ANZA MMA said.

The release did not provide independent verification of that figure or an event-by-event breakdown.

ANZA MMA said Cheza Cheza presents Pro Nights 3 but did not provide financial details on event investment or projected revenue.

The event forms part of the promotion’s efforts to formalise professional MMA operations in Kenya ahead of future editions.

Pro Nights 3 follows ANZA Pro 002 and is scheduled for Saturday 19 Sep 2026 at Village Market in Nairobi.

Blankets & Wine, a Nairobi-founded live music festival produced by GoodTimes Africa, opened its 2026 season on Sunday, June 7, 2026, with a June edition held at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, according to a press release dated June 8. Organisers said the event ran across two performance areas—the Main Stage inside the arena and the Onja Onja Stage at The Annex—alongside an outdoor Onja Onja Market for vendors.

The June edition featured Kenyan and African performers, including Labdi, Mordecai Dex, Mejja, Serro, Mutoriah and Watendawili, with Nigerian artist Fave also on the lineup, the organisers said. The Onja Onja Stage hosted electronic and DJ sets featuring DJADE, DJ Paps, Sir M, Kaneda, One Down, DJ IV, Goldmax, Suraj, LA Dave and Hiribae, among others.

The event forms part of Blankets & Wine’s 17th year of operation. The festival was founded in Nairobi in 2008 by Muthoni Ndonga and has staged editions in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the UK, according to the same statement.

Organisers said the Main Stage programme opened with Labdi, followed by performances by Mordecai Dex and Serro. The festival said Fave performed a set during the event, while Mejja and Mutoriah appeared later on the bill. Watendawili closed the night, with the organisers citing surprise guest appearances by Charisma and Xeniah Manasseh during the set.

On the Onja Onja Stage, the organisers said DJADE opened before DJ Paps, with a back-to-back set from Sir M and Kaneda and additional performances by One Down and DJ IV. The statement also cited a performance by South African artist Goldmax, and said the stage ended with a joint set by Suraj, LA Dave and Hiribae.

The June edition also served as the rollout of the festival’s year-long platform dubbed “Your Taste Lives Here,” which the organisers described as a cultural programme focused on Kenyan music, food, fashion and community experiences.

“Every edition of Blankets & Wine begins with a simple question: what does it mean to gather meaningfully in this moment?” said Muthoni Ndonga, Founder and Creative Director. “This June, we introduced some bold changes and our audience once again reminded us that the true power of the festival lies in intentional gathering, shared experiences and the sense of community that continues to define and shape Blankets & Wine.”

The festival said the Onja Onja Market, located outdoors next to the Onja Onja Stage, brought together food vendors, fashion brands and creative entrepreneurs. “We are grateful to everyone who explored The Onja Onja Market, it was exciting to see audiences discovering, supporting and engaging with local brands,” said Michelle Njeri, Brand Manager.

For Kenya’s entertainment and events economy, large-format festivals like Blankets & Wine create business for event production, venue operations, hospitality, transport, and micro and small enterprises that sell food, beverages, fashion and merchandise on-site. The Onja Onja Market segment signals continued interest in festival-linked retail opportunities, where independent brands access concentrated footfall and brand visibility.

GoodTimes Africa said upcoming editions are scheduled for September 6 and December 20, 2026.

Kenya Airways has partnered with Trace as the official airline partner for “Africa Forward — Le Concert,” a cultural event linked to the Africa-France Summit programme set for May 12, 2026 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, according to a press release dated May 11, 2026.

The airline said the arrangement will see it support travel logistics for “hundreds of accredited travelers,” including artists, management teams and production staff arriving in Nairobi from multiple African and European cities. The event is being held under the patronage of President William Samoei Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, the organisers said.

The concert’s line-up includes African and French diaspora artists such as Yemi Alade, Fally Ipupa, Youssou N’Dour and Abigail Chams, among others, according to the statement.

The partnership places Kenya Airways at the centre of a high-profile summit-linked programme that blends diplomacy, culture and international travel flows. For Kenya’s aviation and hospitality ecosystem, summit-related events typically increase demand for flights, accommodation, ground transport, event production services and security, while also serving as a showcase for Nairobi as a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination.

Captain George Kamal, Ag. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Kenya Airways, said the airline views the arrangement as part of its role in facilitating cross-border movement tied to major moments on the continent. “At Kenya Airways, we believe that travel is about more than moving from one destination to another but rather about enabling the moments that bring people, culture, and opportunity together,” Kamal said. “Africa Forward — Le Concert is one of those defining moments, and we are proud to play our part in welcoming Africa and the world to Nairobi and reinforcing our broader commitment to customer value and innovation.”

Olivier Laouchez, Executive Chairman at Trace, said the partnership is intended to support delivery of the event across audiences. “Trace and our Kenyan partners are proud to produce Africa Forward to place African creativity at the centre of a global conversation,” Laouchez said. “Partnering with Kenya Airways allows us to deliver that vision with the care and the connectivity this moment deserves and inspire audiences at scale.”

Organisers said the partnership will also extend to Trace’s “Futuristic Outfit Competition,” where two winners will receive complimentary return air tickets. The press release did not disclose the value of the tickets or routes covered.

In audience estimates provided by the organisers, Africa Forward — Le Concert is expected to host 4,500 VIP guests at the venue and reach an estimated 500 million viewers globally through Trace television channels and digital platforms, as well as TV5 Monde, YouTube, TikTok and African national TV networks. The press release did not provide an independent methodology for the viewership estimate.

For Kenya Airways, the deal highlights the commercial and brand value of strategic partnerships tied to large international gatherings, which can generate incremental passenger traffic while reinforcing Nairobi’s status as a regional hub. For Trace and other media platforms, Nairobi-based productions offer a route to pan-African distribution and advertiser interest aligned to music, fashion and youth culture audiences.

The next milestone will be the staging of the concert on May 12, 2026, alongside associated travel movements into Nairobi and broadcast distribution across partner networks and digital platforms, as outlined in the press release.

ANZA MMA will stage its Fight Nights 007 event on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at The Alchemist in Nairobi, with the promotion confirming a Kenya-heavy amateur fight card headlined by a bantamweight bout between Hassan Wasswa Muhammed of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Maina Morgan of Shadow Strikers.

In a press release dated March 18, 2026, ANZA MMA said doors will open at 6pm and fights will start at 7pm. Tickets will be sold online via Hustle Sasa, which the organiser described as its official ticketing platform.

The event is the latest in a series of fight nights aimed at building the domestic mixed martial arts (MMA) pipeline, as gyms across the country expand training programmes and athletes seek competitive platforms without leaving Kenya. Hosting the event at a Nairobi entertainment venue also underscores the growing overlap between sports content and the night-time economy, where live events drive footfall for hospitality businesses and create opportunities for sponsors, merchandise sellers and digital content producers.

ANZA MMA said the March 26 card will include a co-main event in the featherweight division, with Dickson Aomo of Diani Fight Club set to face Hamza Fahim of Mombasa Sharks. The press release described Aomo as coming off two victories, while Fahim was described as making his MMA debut with a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and karate.

The promotion also listed two additional main-card matchups: Samuel Laurian of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy versus Brayan Ray in a featherweight bout, and Bobby Kamande of Chanuka Self Defense against Lwano Matthew of Marine Gym.

On the preliminary card, organisers confirmed six bouts: Augusto Kohn vs Erick Ogola (welterweight), Guraib Rukwaro vs Chris Mutea (strawweight), Alex Njathi vs Shadrack Otieno (lightweight), Felix Tole vs Evans Kaburia (super lightweight), Josiah Aoncha vs Rai Tsuma (lightweight), and Hashim Sefu vs Wayne Achoki (featherweight).

“Tickets are available online via Hustle Sasa – the official ANZA MMA ticketing platform,” the organiser said in the statement.

ANZA MMA said Fight Nights 007 is “notable for the number of new athletes entering the sport,” adding that “11 fighters” will make their amateur debuts on the card. The organiser also said that, unlike its previous event that included fighters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the upcoming line-up is dominated by Kenyan athletes travelling from Kisii, Kakamega, Mombasa and Diani, as well as multiple Nairobi gyms.

For Kenya’s sports business landscape, a locally dominated card can reduce travel and logistics costs while deepening regional rivalries between gyms—an element that can help sustain ticket sales and viewership. It also points to a broadening talent base, which could support more frequent events and, over time, a clearer pathway from amateur competition to professional bouts. However, growth will depend on consistent event scheduling, safety standards, and the ability to attract sponsorship and broadcast or streaming partnerships.

In its background notes, ANZA MMA said it is “Kenya’s first licensed MMA Promotions under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation.” It also referenced “KO Fight Night by ANZA MMA” in 2025 as Kenya’s “first-ever professionally sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts event,” according to the organiser.

ANZA MMA said further event information and media inquiries can be directed to press@anyiko-pr.com, while ticketing support is available via support@hustlesasa.com.

Pungulu Pa Productions, a Nairobi-based animation studio, hosted the inaugural Pungulu PArty! Children’s Festival on December 7, 2025 at the Parade Ring, Ngong Race Course, positioning the event as an off-screen extension of its Uli & Tata African Nursery Rhymes animated series.

In a statement dated December 16, 2025, the company said the first edition drew more than 400 attendees and featured a mix of screenings, storytelling, music, dance, workshops and interactive activities targeted at families. The festival comes as Kenyan creative businesses increasingly look to diversify revenue beyond digital content through live experiences, brand partnerships and licensing-linked events.

The studio said the festival programming included a screening experience curated by the Zamaleo Storytellers, which it described as blending cinema with a drum-circle format where children participated through singing and movement. A puppet show by Buni Media’s Matata and Friends also featured as part of the day’s activities.

The event included appearances by lead voice actors associated with the Uli & Tata series. John Sibi-Okumu, who voices the bird character Tuki, and Fadhilee, who voices Tata, attended alongside members of the production team, including the series’ music director, Fancy Fingers, according to the press release.

Chief Nyamweya, creative director of Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes, linked the festival to perceived gaps in Nairobi’s family entertainment market. “As young parents, my co-founders and I had long felt the lack of engaging and affordable activities for children in Nairobi,” Nyamweya said. He added that demand from audiences of the series helped shape the concept: “Parents of kids who love our show had been asking for over a year for more off-screen experiences connected to the series.”

Live music formed part of the event’s line-up. Pungulu Pa Productions said performances featured Kenyan acts Liboi, Komora and Papillon Musa, while DJ sets were provided by Santuri. The studio also said children participated in an introductory Jiu-jitsu session delivered by Nairobi Jiu-jitsu Academy.

Sarah Mallia, producer of the Uli & Tata series, said the event was intended to create a space for families to engage with cultural themes embedded in the show. “We witnessed something powerful - families reconnecting with the songs, stories and traditions that make us who we are,” Mallia said. She added that the company interpreted the turnout as evidence of demand for child-focused cultural programming: “The success of the event affirms how deeply Kenyan families long for spaces where our cultural heritage is honoured, shared and passed on.”

The festival is part of a broader push by Kenyan content producers to commercialise intellectual property across formats, including live events. While the company did not disclose ticketing, sponsorship or revenue figures, the ability of local animation IP to mobilise paying family audiences is increasingly relevant as producers seek sustainable models in a competitive media and entertainment landscape.

Pungulu Pa Productions said it plans to hold another edition of Pungulu PArty!, though it did not provide dates or venue details. The studio also outlined its wider work on children’s content, stating that much of its animation is completed by Kenyan animators and that its creative team conducted research across Kenya and Tanzania to collect nursery rhymes used in the series.

Separately, the studio acknowledged institutional and programme support for the Uli & Tata African Nursery Rhymes series, naming the French Government’s Creation Africa programme, the National Geographic Society, Afrique Créative (financed by Agence Française de Développement), the Kenya Film Commission, Africa No Filter and Braid Arts & Culture Fund among partners cited in the statement.