Africa Food Festival to Showcase Continent’s Culinary Heritage in Kigali During Major Food Systems Gathering
Kigali is set to host a vibrant celebration of African cuisine and food systems innovation from 31 August to 4 September 2026, as the Africa Food Festival takes centre stage alongside the Africa Food Systems Forum.
The public-facing event will unfold at the Kigali Convention Centre and its surrounding roundabout, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to experience the flavours, creativity and leadership shaping what Africa eats.
Organised by the African Food Fellowship in partnership with the Africa Food Systems Forum, AGRA and the City of Kigali, the festival is designed to extend the conversations of the main forum beyond its expected 5,000-plus delegates.
It aims to engage farmers, food entrepreneurs, chefs, students, traders, producers, creatives and everyday consumers in a lively programme centred on African food, culture and ingenuity.
Attendees can look forward to live cooking demonstrations by chefs from across the continent, street food stalls, tastings, exhibitions by African food businesses and agro-processors, on-stage conversations, TED-style public talks, music and a bustling marketplace.
The festival will provide networking opportunities while allowing food businesses to connect with new markets, investors and partners.
Organisers have indicated the event could draw crowds of up to 10,000 people and have left room for additional partnerships in the final weeks of preparation.
The Africa Food Festival forms an integral part of the broader Africa Food Systems Forum 2026, which runs over the same period under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”
The forum marks two decades of efforts to transform agriculture and food systems across the continent, bringing together policymakers, private-sector leaders, researchers, innovators and development partners at the same Kigali venue.
A Culinary Village within the forum programme will further highlight traditional recipes, live cooking and the journey from farm to plate.
Local organisers, including Pascal Murasira of the African Food Fellowship, have been coordinating preparations for months, emphasising the importance of serving and celebrating African food at an event dedicated to the continent’s agricultural future.
The City of Kigali has actively promoted the festival, underscoring its role in welcoming both local communities and international participants.
As the countdown continues, the Africa Food Festival promises to turn Kigali into a hub of culinary discovery and dialogue, offering a public platform where the people and ideas driving Africa’s food systems can meet, share and inspire.
Those planning to be in the Rwandan capital during the first week of September are encouraged to include the festival in their itinerary for a memorable taste of the continent.
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