Zanzibar 2026 Calendar — month by month

The Zanzibar 2026 calendar follows the four Swahili seasons. Notable cultural and seasonal events across the year include:

• Sauti za Busara — Feb 5 – 8 2026, Stone Town. Four nights of East African music at the Old Fort.
• Zanzibar Gathering — Feb 2 – 9 2026, Paje Beach. Daytime beach parties, late-night club sessions, sandbank madness — a tribe of music lovers gathered in paradise.
• World Travel Awards — Aug 28 2026, Zanzibar. The industry visits the island.
• Embe Estate table — Aug 29 2026, Near Jozani. A long table at Embe Estate. By invitation.
• Zanzibar Revolution Day — Jan 12 2026, Island-wide. National holiday. Marches in Stone Town, quiet beaches.
• Ramadan — Feb 7 – Mar 8 2026, Island-wide. The fasting month. Days quiet, evenings unfold after iftar.
• Eid al-Fitr — Mar 9 – 10 2026, Island-wide. The end of Ramadan. Stone Town fills, family days, new clothes.
• Zanzibar International Film Festival — Jun 24 – 28 2026, Stone Town. Cinema on the seafront at the Old Fort.
• Mwaka Kogwa Festival — Jul 23 – 24 2026, Makunduchi. Fire, ritual, release — the island resets itself.
• Yoga Week — Sep 14 – 20 2026, Zanzibar. Slow mornings on the east coast. Practice with the wind.
• Embe Parfum — Oct 26 2026, Zanzibar. A scent released with the season's return.
• Artists in Residence — Nov 2 – 9 2026, Zanzibar. Small groups arrive. Work begins quietly across the island.

Seasons

• Kaskazi (December – February) — ​ Kaskazi is the northeast monsoon season. The calmest sea conditions usually occur during this period.
• Masika (March – May) — ​ Masika is the main rainy season. Heavy rainfall, lush landscape, slower travel period.
• Kuzi (June – September) — ​ Kuzi is the southeast monsoon. Dry, breezy, cooler temperatures — best for kitesurfing.
• Vuli (October – November) — ​ A transitional period. Brief rainfall, quieter island, glassy seas returning.