Afrifest - African Festival of Arts and Culture

Afrifest — the African Festival of Arts and Culture — was a free, four-day celebration of the African diaspora on the Halifax waterfront, presented by the Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society. Held at Sackville Landing on Lower Water Street, the festival showcased the heritage, music, dance, and cuisine of people of African descent living in Nova Scotia and beyond.

The 2026 lineup featured the renowned Remesha drummers of Burundi, whose powerful royal drumming tradition has endured for over 400 years. Alongside the headline performances, visitors enjoyed a full programme of live music, Afrobeat and contemporary dance, fashion shows, visual art exhibitions, and a marketplace of African crafts, jewellery, and textiles. A diverse food court served dishes from across the African continent and the Caribbean.

Afrifest was free and open to all — no admission tickets were required. Thursday and Friday programming ran 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM, with weekend daytime hours that made it easy to drop in and soak up the atmosphere. It was one of the centrepieces of a remarkable two-week cultural corridor on the Halifax waterfront, running alongside LatinFax (Jul 15-18, FREE Latin American festival) and Halifax Pride (Jul 16-26, Atlantic Canada's largest Pride).

Make the most of your time in Halifax Metro - pair Afrifest - African Festival of Arts and Culture with our Halifax Dining Guide, Family Travel Guide, and Best Day Trips from Halifax. They're each packed with itinerary ideas, local tips, and everything you need to extend your stay.