NBO Film Festival has announced its seventh edition, set to run from October 15 to 25, 2026, across four venues in Nairobi—Prestige Plaza, Unseen Cinema, Kaloleni Social Hall and Alliance Française Nairobi—according to a press release dated September 2, 2026.

The organisers said the 2026 festival will combine public screenings with community programmes, “City Dialogues” and filmmaker conversations, positioning the event as part of Nairobi’s broader cultural calendar. The programme will operate under the theme “Cinema for Us,” which the festival describes as a push for African audiences to access and experience African films locally.

The announcement comes as Kenya’s film and creative economy continues to broaden, with festivals and industry platforms increasingly serving as routes for distribution, networking and project development. For Nairobi, a multi-venue festival format can drive foot traffic for host sites and offer local filmmakers additional routes to reach audiences and engage potential partners, including regional and international industry players.

According to the press release, the festival will expand its competitive slate to three juried competitions. It will retain the Fiction Feature Film Competition and add two new categories: the Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary and a Short Film Fiction competition.

The festival said it will announce the competition jury chairs on September 4, followed by competition selections on September 7.

Mbithi Masya, Artistic Director of NBO Film Festival, said the theme is designed 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.”

For the first time, the festival will also mount a filmmaker retrospective, dedicated to Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis, with Gomis expected to attend both audience and industry events. The retrospective is supported by EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture), the organisers said. The full retrospective line-up is scheduled to be revealed on September 9, followed by the announcement of the festival’s opening film and major Special Presentations on September 10.

Beyond programming for audiences, the festival said it will expand its industry programme, aimed at connecting 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 and widening access to mentors, financiers and commissioning editors.

In a timeline shared by the organisers, the festival trailer and ticket sales are set to launch on September 12, with the complete programme and screening schedule expected on September 14.

The organisers have not disclosed ticket prices, sponsorship figures or projected attendance in the press release. Key near-term milestones include the publication of competition selections, retrospective details and the opening-film announcement ahead of the October event.

Jägermeister will debut its Haus of Kühl experiential cultural platform in Nairobi on Saturday, September 26, 2026, taking over Sk8City at Diamond Plaza 2 from 6pm to 4am, the company said in a press release dated August 31, 2026. The event is positioned as the brand’s first entry into the East African market and will feature two South African acts—KMAT and MfanaTouchLine—alongside more than 36 Kenyan performers.

The company said Mariah and Sameer Bry will host the event, which is set to run across multiple stages and themed spaces. Jägermeister also listed Kenyan acts expected to appear, including singer Iyanah, dancers Ian Tico and Thee Iconic, and a DJ line-up that includes Basthma, Burugu, Calvin The Curator, Coco Kahi, DJ Lyta, DJ Mani, DJ Rayma, Hiribae, Jayeda, JM1, Kamz, Kaneda, Kiptala, Kurtiss E, Love, Mani, Monzo, Mura, Mtu Solo, Mr. Arkitech, N!k, Njeri wa Baaba & Santa Currie, Safari Oontz Collective, Selekta V, Selo, Shi, Sir M & Mista C, Suraj, The Vibe Initiator, Tinashe The DJ, Wembe Waves and Zhai.

The Nairobi edition expands a platform the company said it introduced in South Africa in 2023, with previous editions held across Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The launch in Kenya comes as global beverage brands increasingly invest in live events and experiential marketing to build consumer engagement, a trend that has helped grow Nairobi’s nightlife economy and demand for event production, venue operations, security and creative services.

Ephraim Manana Snr, Culture & Experiential Marketing Manager at Jägermeister, said the company viewed Nairobi as a key creative market. “As a Culture Brand, bringing Haus of Kühl to Nairobi for the first time is an exciting milestone for us because Nairobi is a city with such a powerful and constantly evolving creative pulse,” Manana said. He added that the concept aims to extend beyond music by incorporating “music and dance to fashion, art, discovery and community.”

According to the press release, programming will be split across a Main Stage, a Dance Stage focused on underground sounds, and a Silent Disco curated by Studio Can-V featuring emerging DJs through head-to-head battles. The company also outlined additional areas, including a “Manifest Speakeasy” space offering tarot readings, a “Meister Market” streetwear pop-up featuring brands Pesos and HAGT, and a gaming zone with activities such as giant Jenga and console games.

The company said the event will also include a “Safe Now Zone,” described as a wellbeing and support area for guests to “pause, hydrate, recharge and access support from the event team when needed,” framing it as part of responsible enjoyment measures.

For Kenya’s creative economy, the arrival of a structured international brand platform signals potential for more cross-border bookings, higher production budgets and new commercial opportunities for local DJs, dancers, fashion labels and visual artists. It may also increase competition among venues and promoters as brands shift spend toward owned events with tightly curated line-ups and on-site merchandising.

Jägermeister said tickets are available via Hustle Sasa. The company has not disclosed ticket prices, expected attendance, or local partners involved in event delivery in the press release. The next milestone will be the release of additional operational details—such as gates and security arrangements—and confirmation of the full performance schedule ahead of the September 26 date.

ANZA MMA will stage its third professional mixed martial arts event, ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3, on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Village Market in Nairobi, bringing together fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan, according to a press release dated August 31, 2026.

The promotion said the event will feature eight bouts across the main card and preliminaries, headlined by Kenyan bantamweight George Itumo against Angolan Jorge Correia. The line-up also includes an announced professional debut for Angolan amateur world champion Daniela Mandanji, who is scheduled to face Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi in a flyweight bout.

The announcement comes as combat sports promoters in Kenya continue to test demand for ticketed live events that blend sport and entertainment. Village Market has increasingly hosted such events, benefiting from established foot traffic and proximity to Nairobi’s higher-spending consumer segments.

In its statement, ANZA MMA positioned the September event as a regional showcase, with Kenyan fighters matched against opponents from across the continent. “ANZA MMA Pro Nights is back, returning to Nairobi on Saturday, September 19, as ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 bringing some of Africa’s most exciting Mixed Martial Arts talent to Village Market for an international 8-fight showcase featuring fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan,” the organisation said.

At the top of the bill, the promotion said Itumo’s match-up carries an added narrative tied to his record. “There is also an intriguing subplot to the matchup: his only professional defeat to date came against another Angolan fighter, giving him an opportunity to put together a statement performance against Angolan opposition,” the press release said.

ANZA MMA listed four bouts on the main card: George Itumo (Kenya) vs Jorge Correia (Angola) at bantamweight; Rashid Mlegelo (Tanzania) vs Kennedy Serunyange (Uganda) at featherweight; Brian Munyi (Kenya) vs Cyplian Katumba (Uganda) at featherweight; and Kevin Odongo (Kenya) vs Kasozi Umaru (Uganda) at heavyweight.

The preliminary card, according to the release, adds Alhassan Mosala (South Sudan) vs Michael Olara (Uganda) at middleweight; Lawrence Mukiibi (Uganda) vs Tsinjo Rakotomaria (Madagascar) at lightweight; Daniela Mandanji (Angola) vs Rebecca Amongi (Uganda) at flyweight; and Chris Tibenda (Tanzania) vs Farouk Ogwal (Uganda) at flyweight.

The promotion also referenced past event performance as a driver of interest for the Nairobi market, particularly local fighters who appeared at its earlier Pro 002 event. “Joining Itumo on the main card are Kenyan standouts Munyi and Odongo, both coming off spectacular performances at ANZA Pro 002,” the statement said, adding that Munyi “knocked his opponent out after a breathtaking throw,” while Odongo stopped a heavyweight opponent late in the third round.

For Kenya’s sports business ecosystem, the ability of local promotions to attract athletes from multiple countries can influence sponsorship demand, venue partnerships and media rights discussions, particularly as combat sports compete with football, rugby and athletics for corporate marketing budgets. Cross-border cards can also expand audience reach beyond Kenya through streaming and social platforms, though ANZA MMA did not disclose expected attendance, pricing, or broadcast arrangements.

In an “About” section, ANZA MMA said it is “Kenya’s first licensed MMA promotion under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation” and claimed its events have drawn “more than 1,000 fans,” without providing independent verification or event-by-event breakdown.

ANZA MMA said Pro Nights 3 is scheduled for September 19 at Village Market, Nairobi, and noted the event is presented by Cheza Cheza. The promotion did not provide financial details on event investment or projected revenue, but the card signals continued efforts to formalise professional MMA event operations in Kenya ahead of future editions.

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.