Blankets and Wine announces 2026 Nairobi season with three festival dates

The first event will be held on 7 June at Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Centre, followed by additional editions on 6 September and 20 December.

Organisers said the 2026 programme will be delivered under a new campaign titled Your Taste Lives Here, launched on 14 April in Nairobi during a Storytellers Lab event attended by media and industry stakeholders. The campaign is expected to run across all three editions, focusing on identity and cultural expression through music, food and creative enterprise.

The June edition will feature a line-up of artists from across Africa, including Kenyan performers Labdi, Mordecai (Dexx), Mejja, Serro, Mutoriah and Watendawili, alongside Nigerian singer Fave. The programme spans genres such as Afro-fusion, Genge and Afrobeats, reflecting current trends in African music.

The festival’s Onja Onja stage, which focuses on electronic and alternative sounds, will also return with an expanded format. The line-up includes South African DJ Goldmax, as well as Kenya-based acts Hiribae, DJ IV, LA Dave, Suraj and Sir M. Organisers said the stage will feature a mix of Afro-house, amapiano, gqom and other electronic styles.

Blankets & Wine, produced by GoodTimes Africa, marks its 17th year in 2026. The festival has developed into a multi-disciplinary event combining music, food, fashion and small business participation.

Founder and creative director Muthoni Ndonga said the festival continues to evolve beyond its music programme.

“Every edition of Blankets & Wine begins with a question: what does it mean to gather well in this moment? Seventeen years of asking that question has taught us that the answer is never just about the lineup. It’s about the entire ecosystem, the music, the food, the energy, the people who show up and what they bring with them,” she said.

The Onja Onja Market, a curated retail space for locally produced goods, will also return in 2026. Brand manager Michelle Njeri said the market reflects the broader theme of the campaign.

“The Onja Onja Market is where ‘Your Taste Lives Here’ becomes something you can touch, taste and take home. Every vendor is curated with the same intentionality as the line-up, these are the brands and makers who represent where Kenyan creativity is right now,” she said.

Ndonga added that the Onja Onja stage continues to play a central role in the festival’s programming.

“Onja Onja has always been the home of the vibes at the festival. This evolution is about going deeper, giving the stage its own identity and the freedom to push the sound forward,” she said.

Organisers also confirmed the continuation of a flexible ticketing option allowing attendees to pay in instalments, aimed at broadening access to the event.

The 2026 editions are expected to build on the festival’s longstanding role in showcasing African music and creative industries while attracting both local and international audiences.