Calendar · Kenya
What is on in Nairobi
Everything ArtempireMJ is tracking in Nairobi: what to see if you are going, and what to apply to if you make the work.
Festivals
To see
- Nairobi Arts Biennale 2026 24 Oct 2026 to 8 Nov 2026 House of Friends, HOF Gallery Kibera and city-wide
- Peterson Kamwathi: Tabula Rasa 25 Apr 2026 to 23 Aug 2026 Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI)
- Circle Art Gallery Year-round, a new show roughly every 4 to 6 weeks Circle Art Gallery, Victoria Square, Lavington
- Art Auction East Africa Annual, historically around November Circle Art Gallery
- One Off Contemporary Art Gallery Year-round, regular rotating shows Rosslyn Lone Tree Estate Road, Rosslyn
- Polka Dot Art Gallery Year-round exhibitions, classes and workshops Souk Shops, Karen
- Shifteye Studios Year-round photography exhibitions and events Priory Place, Hurlingham
- Kuona Artists Collective Year-round working studios and open-studio days Dennis Pritt Road, Likoni Lane
- Brush Tu Art Studio Year-round collective studio with shows and residencies Buruburu
- GoDown Arts Centre Year-round exhibitions, performances and open days Dunga Road, Industrial Area
- Manjano Visual Arts Exhibition Annual juried competition, running since 2009 GoDown Arts Centre and Village Market
- Nairobi Design Week Annual, usually March Multiple venues across the city
- Rangi za East street-art festival Annual graffiti and street-art gathering BSQ Crew, Nairobi neighbourhoods
- East Africa Art Biennale (EASTAFAB) 2026 15 Sep 2026 to 20 Nov 2026 GoDown, Nairobi Gallery, Kuona and Circle Art, with regional satellites
- Macondo Literary Festival 18 Sep 2026 to 20 Sep 2026 Macondo Literary Festival
- Noir Fashion Week 6 Aug 2026 to 9 Aug 2026 Noir Fashion Week
- Kalasha International Film and TV Festival Usually late April Kenya Film Commission
- Slum Film Festival Annual since 2010 Slum Film Festival
- Asian Literary Festival, Africa edition Usually May Asian Literary Festival
- Nairobi Fashion Week Usually January Nairobi Fashion Week
- Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week Usually late April ASFW Nairobi
- Koroga Festival Twice yearly, around July and December Koroga Festival, Tatu City
- Thrift Social Nairobi Recurring editions through the year Thrift Social Nairobi
- Banana Hill Art Gallery Year-round rotating exhibitions Banana Hill Art Gallery