Ghana to Host Inaugural African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives in December 2026

Ghana is set to host the inaugural African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC) from December 9 to 12, 2026. The announcement follows the signing of an agreement between Ghana's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, revealed the plans during the Government Accountability Series in Accra. She described AFESTACC as a platform designed to become Africa's premier showcase for culture and creativity. The festival's core objectives include celebrating African excellence and highlighting the continent's rich artistic diversity through various expressions such as music, dance, theater, film, literature, fashion, gastronomy, beauty, heritage, sports, and contemporary creative arts.

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AFESTACC is designed to become Africa’s premier platform for culture and creativity.

The festival also aims to foster continental collaboration by bringing together AU Member States, creatives, policymakers, investors, development partners, academia, the private sector, communities, and the African diaspora. This gathering is intended to promote cultural diplomacy and strengthen Pan-African identity.

Furthermore, AFESTACC seeks to position Africa's cultural and creative economy as a key driver of development. By promoting investment, tourism, entrepreneurship, innovation, skills development, industrialization, and employment, particularly for youth and women, the festival aligns with the government's broader strategy. Minister Gomashie emphasized that hosting AFESTACC is expected to provide significant opportunities for over 20,000 Ghanaians involved in the tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors, leveraging these fields for job creation, foreign exchange, and international visibility.

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Strengthening Pan-African identity, creating a lasting legacy, establish AFESTACC as a recurring AU platform that celebrates Africa’s cultural wealth while advancing Agenda 2063 through culture-led development.