Festivals in Dar es Salaam: The Year's Calendar
Music, food, fashion, arts and trade fairs in and around Dar es Salaam: Swahili Fashion Week, the Bagamoyo arts festival, Sabasaba, Hip-Hop Asili, the Nyama Choma Festival and Sauti za Busara, with dates.
Dar es Salaam3 min readUpdated 16 September 2026
Dar es Salaam's calendar is not packed with festivals, but the ones it has are big, and several more are within an easy trip. Here they are in date order from now.
October
Bagamoyo International Arts and Culture Festival
- Dates
- 28–31 October 2026
- Gala
- 27 October
- Where
- TaSUBa, Bagamoyo
- Edition
- 44th
Held at the Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Institute (TaSUBa) in the old coastal trading town of Bagamoyo, about an hour and a half north of Dar. Music, dance, theatre and visual art from Tanzania and abroad, now in its 44th edition. Combine it with a look at the town's history; see our things to do guide.
December
Swahili Fashion Week
- Dates
- 4–6 December 2026
- Where
- Dar es Salaam
- Founded
- 2008
Founded in 2008 by designer Mustafa Hassanali, Swahili Fashion Week is one of the biggest fashion events in Africa, showcasing designers from Swahili-speaking countries and beyond. Follow @swahilifashionweek for venue and tickets.
December also brings Christmas and New Year's Eve.
March
Sauti za Busara, Zanzibar
- Dates
- 19–21 March 2027
- Where
- Old Fort, Stone Town
- Edition
- 24th
East Africa's best-known music festival, inside the Old Fort in Stone Town. For 2027 it moves from its usual February slot to 19–21 March, after Ramadan and Eid. Most visitors travel via Dar; see our Sauti za Busara stopover guide.
June and July
Hip-Hop Asili Festival
- When
- Last week of June
- Where
- Dar es Salaam
- Since
- 2021
Billed as the first international hip-hop festival in East Africa: rappers, DJs, breakdancers, graffiti artists, workshops and competitions. It has been held at Nafasi Art Space, Alliance Française and, more recently, TaSUBa in Bagamoyo.
Sabasaba: Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair
- When
- Late June to mid-July
- Where
- Sabasaba Grounds, Kilwa Road
- Last_Edition
- 28 June – 13 July 2026, the 50th
Tanzania's biggest trade fair, built around Saba Saba Day, 7 July. The 2026 edition, the 50th, ran from 28 June to 13 July. Huge crowds, exhibitors from across the region, and plenty of food. Expect the 2027 fair on similar dates.
In 2027, June and July also bring AFCON. See where to watch AFCON 2027.
Through the year
The Nyama Choma Festival
A barbecue festival, running since 2011 and held several times a year, billed as the largest barbecue showcase in East Africa. Dates are announced on its social media (@nyamachomafestival). More on the food in our Swahili food guide.
Practical
- Check dates before booking. Festivals move, as Sauti did for 2027.
- Buy tickets from official channels.
- Crowds mean pickpockets. Phone away, bag in front.
- Bolt to and from venues, and book the ride home early.
Finish The Day On The Roof
Sunset seating in Masaki, Jamaican and Swahili cooking, and the last of the light over the city. Message or call to book.
Common questions
- What festivals are held in Dar es Salaam?
- Swahili Fashion Week in early December, the Sabasaba international trade fair from late June to mid-July, the Hip-Hop Asili Festival in the last week of June, and the Nyama Choma Festival, a barbecue festival held several times a year. Close by are the Bagamoyo International Arts and Culture Festival at the end of October, and Sauti za Busara in Zanzibar, which is in March in 2027.
- When is Swahili Fashion Week 2026?
- 4 to 6 December 2026, in Dar es Salaam. It was founded in 2008 by designer Mustafa Hassanali and is one of the largest fashion events in Africa.
