Nairobi’s cultural mix blends traditional tribal art with modern expressions, creating a captivating fusion. Whether you’re enchanted by craftworks or fascinated by contemporary murals and visual arts, the city is an endless canvas of inspiration. We’ve handpicked the finest of Nairobi’s artistic and cultural gems. Explore our articles for an insider’s guide to the heart of Nairobi’s art scene.
Ryan Marley’s documentary follows Amadou and Mariam as they travel between Paris, Spain, and Mali to record what would become their final album. The structure is familiar enough: archival footage, talking heads, performance sequences, the slow build toward a homecoming concert.
Playing at Unsene.en Nairobi through Ju
Nairobi is preparing once again to become a meeting point for dancers, choreographers, musicians, and audiences from around the world as the Dance Life Festival returns for its 7th edition on 3rd–5th July, 2026.
The prestigious Davis Cup, the World Cup of Tennis, Group IV Regional will be played at Nairobi Club from 17 – 20 June.
Find all the art iN Nairobi this month….Events, openings and ongoing exhibitions, it’s all here in your monthly art guide.
Nahom Teklehaimanot is an Eritrean visual artist whose work explores migration, memory, displacement, and the fragile architecture of belonging.
In partnership with Storymoja Africa, Start A Library Trust would love you to join in and support the 2026 National Read Aloud World Record Edition, to be held on Friday, 10th July 2026, in celebration of Kenya’s National Reading Day.
We followed the installation from start to finish, joining Franz Cerami and Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco of Italy to Kenya for every step of Jute Portraits.
If you happen to be out in Nairobi on Thursday or Friday evening and something catches your eye (a face glowing on a wall, a building that suddenly looks different), don’t be alarmed. That’s Franz Cerami doing what he does best.
On Saturday 6th June 2026, the Nairobi Arboretum will transform into a vibrant celebration of African creativity, community, and self-expression. One day. One beautiful green space. And an entire programme designed to remind you that creativity lives inside all of us.
Myrna van der Veer (Myrna Art Direction) and Linda Chao Mbugua (Sena Art Gallery) have envisioned a new way of viewing artworks, away from the austere gallery space.
Thaddeus Wamukoya talks to Kenyan sculptor Gakunja Kaigwa about his current body of work.
On June 7th, Nairobi gathers once again for Blankets & Wine. A place where genres blur, scenes overlap, and new musical languages are constantly being written in real time.
Award winning author and poet Adipo Sidang’ brings you a play that promises to be as enthralling as its name: In the Seashell Hum. This theatrical piece deals with the heaviness and complexities of mental health in a way that is multilayered and nuanced, addressing a darker side that we can often see and yet refuse to talk about.
Find all the art iN Nairobi this month….Events, openings and ongoing exhibitions, it’s all here in your monthly art guide.
Step into a magical ballet reimagining of Into the Woods, where beloved fairy tale characters intertwine in a spellbinding production by the Academy of Dance & Arts.
Find all the art iN Nairobi this month….Events, openings and ongoing exhibitions, it’s all here in your monthly art guide.
Nairobi’s literary calendar is about to get its annual jolt of imagination as the fifth edition of Nairobi Litfest returns from 8–10 May, unfolding across some of the city’s most storied public spaces: McMillan Memorial Library, Kaloleni Library and Eastlands Library.
Last Seen – A powerful, humorous, and deeply relatable exploration of friendship and missed connection.
East Africa’s amateur mixed martial arts scene came alive on Sunday night as ANZA MMA Fight Night 008 brought together some of the region’s most exciting rising fighters for a high-intensity showdown at The Alchemist in Westlands.
Find all the art iN Nairobi this month….Events, openings and ongoing exhibitions, it’s all here in your monthly art guide.
This two-hour workshop is not about learning how to structure a book or plan chapters. It is about something much more fundamental than that. It is about the relationship between you and the work that is trying to come through you, and what it means to live your life as the person who is writing it.
What unfolds is a tender, beautifully restrained meditation on family, memory, and the invisible threads that bind us, even when time and distance try to fray them.
NOW SCREENING, UNSEEN NAIROBI, APRIL
For one evening this month, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is inviting Nairobians to lace up their bowling shoes for something a little different: Bowl for a Cause, a high-energy charity tournament that turns every pin knocked down into real-world impact.
Shawry for Trees: The Roots of a Revolutionary, the production runs from April 10–12 at Jain Bhavan Auditorium
Since 2022 an incredible initiative in women’s transportation and healthcare has been shaping in Western Kenya. Boda Girls is empowering Kenyan women to own the road — and drive health, education, and opportunity into their communities.
At the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute, the current exhibition brings together three artists whose practices span continents, generations and artistic languages: Michael Armitage, Maria Lassnig and Chelenge Van Rampelberg.
The R*E*S*E*T Retreat at Nderit House isn’t just a getaway—it’s four days to fully switch off, be looked after, and come back to yourself. With only seven spots available, this is a rare chance to experience something truly personal, intentional, and deeply restorative.
At 27, the Nairobi-based stand-up comedian has become a recognizable voice in Kenya’s comedy scene, building his reputation on a style that feels effortless but is anything but. Laidback, sharply observational, and edged with a kind of playful irreverence, his comedy often lands in that space where you’re not sure whether to laugh immediately or sit with it for a second. And then you do both.
Five women are trapped in the grounds of a Jewish temple – which is forbidden to them – on the night of Jesus’ arrest. When political power, faith, love, and survival collide, the women face a potentially deadly choice: government law outside or religious law inside.
From powerful reflections on memory and resistance to cross-continental conversations and newly opened shows, Nairobi’s art scene continues to unfold in layered, thoughtful ways this week. Across the city, galleries and collectives are hosting exhibitions that interrogate history, identity, and displacement—offering everything from large-scale printmaking to intimate retrospectives and group showcases. Whether you’re stepping into a quiet gallery space or tuning into a wider dialogue, there’s plenty to see, feel, and think about.
East African Travelling Theatre (EATT) presents A Matatu Named Desire, an East Africa-rooted adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ classic play A Streetcar Named Desire.
Set in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, The Crucible plunges audiences into the chaos of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, where whispers of witchcraft spiral into a wave of accusations that threatens to tear an entire community apart.
Abdul Rop’s solo show at The African Arts Trust opened on Thursday. The exhibition encompasses a powerful series of works around British colonialism in Kenya and the resistance by the Nandi people, around the turn of the 20th century.
Why Halle Berry Is Still the Only Black Woman to Win the Best Actress Oscar
The Hypochondriac (Mgonjwa Mwitu) is a modern interpretation of Moliere’s classic comedy play, widely considered a masterpiece of farce. Relocating the satire into a context that feels uncomfortably close to home, this adaptation leans into the absurdity of medical misinformation, performative wellness and opportunistic “experts” with delicious precision.
This intimate day retreat, nestled in the rolling hills of Tigoni is designed to help you pause, recalibrate and realign – blending transformational coaching, Nutritious Movement, and indulgent spa therapy in a setting that invites you to fully exhale.
Get ready to say thank you for the music – because the beloved ABBA musical is returning to the Nairobi stage in a joyful new production by the Kenya Amateur Dramatics Society (KADS) directed by Jeni Stow.
Adam Chienjo has been honoured with the World Impact Award, a special recognition given to individuals whose work has significantly elevated Kenyan theatre on the global stage.
At the residence of the Embassy of Peru in Kenya in Nairobi, visitors are able to step into the lush cultural landscape of Peru through a striking photographic exhibition titled Shipibo-Konibo: Portraits of My Blood.
Supporting artists during difficult times should not be viewed as charity, but rather as a responsibility within a functioning cultural ecosystem. If institutions truly value the artists who contribute to their visibility and programming, then moments like this are when that commitment should be most visible.
Move Like Nature Intended: Nairobi’s Growing Love Affair with Animal Movement, Calisthenics & Core Work
A charming new children’s book is stepping off the page and onto the stage this weekend as Ila’s Adventures, written and illustrated by Keya Punja, launches alongside a special choreographed performance for young audiences by the Origins Dance Company.
Few artists describe their work as healing, but for Nairobi-born singer-songwriter Mo, music has always been exactly that. Her sound blends soulful vocals, rich melodies and rhythmic grooves with lyrics designed to soothe, uplift and connect.
By the time you meet Alice Tenjiwe Kabwe in Kilifi, it is clear that movement is not simply something she teaches — it is something she inhabits. With 20 years of practice and a lifetime shaped by rhythm, relocation, and reclamation, Alice’s work sits at the intersection of dance, fitness, healing and homecoming.
We meet Shrena Malde in Mombasa, where the ocean air feels almost symbolic of the work she has dedicated the last two decades to — clearing, balancing and restoring energy. A practising Pranic Healer for 20 years, Shrena speaks about healing not as mystery, but as method. Not as miracle, but as life force in motion.
We meet Preety between online sessions, her energy calm and composed, the kind of glow that comes less from products and more from practice. Based in Nairobi and working with clients globally through virtual sessions, Preety has carved out a niche in natural facial toning and holistic beauty through Face Yoga.
In Conversation With Ornella Hutchison, also known as Ornella Selflove <3 Yogi. Healer. Mindset and Embodiment Coach. Sound Healer. Founder of Om&Beyond Retreats.
The 5th annual Kenya Theatre Awards were about to begin. Kenya’s most anticipated evening for stagecraft was about to unfurl itself in a ceremony celebrating the best of stagecraft in Nairobi.
Today in iN’s “Meet the Teachers” series around the Kilifi Wellness Festival, we meet Melina Moors, a yoga teacher and holistic wellness practitioner.
In our second installment of “Meet the Teacher”, around the Kilifi Wellness Festival, we introduce you to holistic practitioner Paula Arranz Canales,
In this third installment of “Meet the Teachers” of the Kilifi Wellness Festival, iN caught up with yoga teacher Alice Faulkner at Arcadia Bush Camp near Kilifi, where she is currently volunteering.
As the rains roll iN and Nairobi turns a little sodden, the city’s art scene is anything but grey. A gallery is perfect for ducking out of the drizzle (or downpour!) and diving into something inspiring. Check out what’s happening iN Nairobi this month, the events, the openings and the ongoing exhibitions.
Badlands Ndio Mtaa is a visceral solo multimedia performance that follows a boy’s transformation into manhood in Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s most perilous informal settlements.
The Goethe-Institut and Docubox have formalized their long-standing film screening series collaboration that showcases African documentaries with the name “Kamera Kwanza”
From 25-26 February 2026 Africa Media Festival returns for its fourth edition as a gathering for journalists, editors, storytellers, creators and media builders from across the continent and the diaspora.
On Sunday, March 1, Nairobi’s family events calendar gets a cultural upgrade.
Pungulu Party – Forest Edition returns to the Parade Ring at Ngong Racecourse, transforming the space into a vibrant playground of music, storytelling, animation and nature-inspired creativity.
Kilele Summit is East Africa’s first and only summit for music, tech and culture.
In Tidal Waters, Afro-Colombian writer and cultural activist Velia Vidal offers a deeply introspective and lyrical debut that reads like a love letter to self, to home, and to the Pacific coast of Colombia.
Macondo Book Society & Literature Live! invite Kenyan and Indian poets to apply for a cross‑cultural nature poetry retreat in Turkana
Ramadan in Nairobi is a special time. It is a month of reflection, community, and of course, unforgettable iftar experiences. Here are iNNAIROBI’s top picks for the best iftar spots in the city. We’ve got you sorted if you’re craving Syrian, Indian, Yemeni, Lebanese, Swahili or a grand buffet experience.
ROOTED is a cross-cultural collaboration between Palestinian visual storyteller and embroidery artist Rasha Al Jundi and Zimbabwean-born/UK-raised beadwork artist Michelle Ndebele of [ VØI ]. The collection weaves together two intricate artforms and cultural expressions: Tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) and East and Southern African loom-woven beadwork. Both of these traditional crafts were passed down to Rasha and
The Ultimate Kilifi Guide: Where to Eat, Sleep & Play During Kilifi Wellness Festival 2026
Each March, Kenya’s coast slows down, softens, and opens itself up to deeper connection as the Kilifi Wellness Festival returns. Taking place from 5–8 March 2026, the festival transforms Bofa Beach and Kilifi Creek into a four-day sanctuary of yoga, meditation, movement, healing, art, and community.
Dance Centre Kenya (DCK) proudly opens 2026 with a full-length production of the classical masterpiece Sleeping Beauty as it’s premiere production in its second decade of ballet-making in East Africa.
Three couples share one apartment as rent deadlines close in, secrets unravel, and love is tested by money, honesty, and survival.
The full schedule for Kilifi Wellness Festival is now ready! Check it out here.
This weekend, immerse yourself in a compelling new theatre production that confronts the intersections of race, love, and forgiveness. Lady in Red is a journey through the ruins of a once-fierce love that dared to defy the world, now standing at the brink of collapse.
EVENTS & OPENINGS Ukumbusho | Peteros Ndunde | Nairobi National Museum, Creativity Gallery | Opening Reception with Artist in Conversation Saturday 14 February | 2 – 4pm | Exhibition runs 11 – 28 February In this exhibition titled Ukumbusho, Peteros Ndunde examines the physical and metaphysical dimensions of human existence through the lens of
Manzili Mara is an exclusive-use, intimate, and luxurious private safari home perched on the Siria Escarpment, offering a spectacular eagle’s view across the plains below. Manzili Mara serves as a refined, private base from which to explore one of Africa’s most celebrated wilderness areas.
The five-bedroom home includes two expansive luxury suites and three smaller en-suite bedrooms. Inside, you’ll find cozy lounge areas with fireplaces, treetop terraces, an indoor dining room, and forest-shaded decks perfect for long, lazy lunches. This is a home designed for immersive wilderness experiences.
Salty’s Kitesurf Village on Bofa Beach, Kilifi, is the home of the Kilifi Wellness Festival, blending kitesurfing, wellness, culture and community.
Kilifi Wellness Festival 2026 is from Mach 05-08.
Kilifi Wellness Festival is firmly established as one of the most anticipated gatherings on Kenya’s wellness calendar. Rooted in joy, creativity, and deep human connection, the festival returns in 2026 from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th March, inviting participants to reset, recharge, and reconnect on the Kenyan coast.
Cultural Tapestries at Nairobi National Museum brings together diverse artistic voices to reflect on culture as something layered, negotiated and continually in motion.
The Nairobi Art World is coming alive again. New shows, fresh voices, and studios buzzing—our monthly art guide is your map.
This February 7th, Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital is creating space for exactly these conversations through the Ramadhan Wellness Connect, a community-focused wellness event designed to support people as they prepare for the month ahead.
Small Worlds, by Caleb Azumah Nelson, iN Nairobi’s Books iN Review. Reviewed by Mûthoni Mûirûrî, Founder and owner, Soma Nami Bookshop
Welcome to the New Year in the art world. Galleries are beginning to open and new shows are being installed. Scroll through for the latest art events, openings and exhibitions iN Nairobi.
At its simplest, tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards used for self-reflection, guidance and deeper understanding. It isn’t fortune-telling. It’s a mirror. A way of exploring what you already know, but haven’t yet articulated… Try Tarot in Nairobi
The Little Theatre Club (LTC), Mombasa, is an institution that has been woven into Kenya’s cultural fabric since the mid-20th century. A hub of cultural activity in Mombasa, the theatre now faces a very real threat: closure and repurposing into a TVET vocational training centre by Kenya Railways – unless urgent intervention arrives.
Directed by Nyasha Kadandara, Matabeleland is a quiet, devastating documentary about inheritance. Not land or money, but grief, unfinished business, and the invisible debts passed from one generation to the next.
A (non-exhaustive) round up of the best NEW restaurants that opened in 2025 in Nairobi.
A new and ambitious exhibition opened at the Nairobi National Museum on 20 December. The exhibition aims to present a survey of the history of Kenyan art, simultaneously addressing the issue of the lack of a stand alone National Art Gallery in Kenya.
If you’re looking for a New Year’s festival in Kenya that goes beyond parties and resolutions, Afri-love Fest 2025 offers something deeper. Taking place from 31 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 at Muzi x Kesho in Voi, this two-day cultural gathering blends music, wellness, creativity, ritual, and community in one immersive experience
iN had the rare opportunity to sit down with none other than Muthoni Drummer Queen, MDQ herself. A musician, cultural architect, and the main festival organiser behind Blankets & Wine, Muthoni has played a defining role in shaping how Nairobi gathers around music, culture, and community.
A State of Passion – iN REVIEW. After 43 horrific days working round the clock under constant bombardment in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals, British-Palestinian reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, emerged to find himself as a face of Palestinian resistance.
A Boubou Party Comes to Nairobi: Le Djembé Pops Up at SESAME, Kileleshwa
Have you dropped into the Christmas Spirit yet? So much going on iN Nairobi to get you into the mood…
Elevate Minds Festival returns with a bold new theme, “Climate of the Mind,” a full-day experience exploring how our shifting environment shapes our inner world, and how art, movement and community can help us navigate it.
So much happening this week we’ve had to update again!
IT’S BACK!! By popular demand, Voulez Vous, the genre bending Burlesque-esque show is back for a last hurrah!
Friday 5th Dec, WineBox
SOS ART Kenya is an open call exhibition, running across multiple venues in Kibera, with House Of Friends (HOF) Gallery Kibera as its anchor.
Nairobi, it’s glowing.
Your iN Nairobi Christmas Guide is here—concerts, markets, lights, theatre, parties, and all the festive magic filling the city this season.
The art season is stacked. From the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season Finale to the city’s steady run of gallery openings, Nairobi is closing the year with colour, conversations, and a calendar packed to the brim. Dive into the end-of-year art guide and mark your must-sees.
The British Council’s UK/Kenya Season is drawing to its finale this month and over the next few weeks they will present a raft of events for creators and public alike.
Step into the Pantomime Magic! ✨🎭
This Christmas, the Braeburn Players invite you to an evening of laughter and music, with Beauty and the Beast — a family pantomime where fairytales come to life!
Dance Centre Kenya is set to dazzle again in 2025 with their 10th Anniversary Edition of “The Nutcracker” at Kenya National Theatre
How one mother’s faith, courage, and love for her son sparked a movement for autism inclusion across Africa.
Jpurney with Nari. Across nine gatherings, held monthly in intimate in-person circles, and focused on different sound healing modalities, participants are guided to unravel what no longer serves, rediscover who they truly are, and reignite their power to create the life they desire.
As ever, plenty going on iN Nairobi’s art scene this month… scroll to catch up!
At Reconnect, Rest & Rewild each day is structured to blend intention and spontaneity with mornings of practice, afternoons to rest or explore, and evenings of soulful gathering under the stars.