Zanzibar Seasons
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Zanzibar events 2026.

A small, high-confidence list of notable cultural, religious, and seasonal events on the Zanzibar archipelago in 2026. Organised by the four Swahili seasons.

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What are the main 2026 events in Zanzibar?

Sauti za Busara music festival in Stone Town (February), the Zanzibar International Film Festival (June), Zanzibar Revolution Day (12 January), Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (February–March 2026), and the World Travel Awards ceremony (August). Religious dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year.

Last updated: 28 April 2026

All 2026 events at a glance

EventWhenWhereType
Sauti za BusaraFeb 5 – 8 2026Stone TownKaskazi
Zanzibar GatheringFeb 2 – 9 2026Paje BeachKaskazi
World Travel AwardsAug 28 2026ZanzibarKuzi
Embe Estate tableAug 29 2026Near JozaniKuzi
Zanzibar Revolution DayJan 12 2026Island-wideKaskazi
RamadanFeb 7 – Mar 8 2026Island-wideKaskazi
Eid al-FitrMar 9 – 10 2026Island-wideMasika
Zanzibar International Film FestivalJun 24 – 28 2026Stone TownKuzi
Mwaka Kogwa FestivalJul 23 – 24 2026MakunduchiKuzi
Yoga WeekSep 14 – 20 2026ZanzibarKuzi
Embe ParfumOct 26 2026ZanzibarVuli
Artists in ResidenceNov 2 – 9 2026ZanzibarVuli

Kaskazi — December – February

  • 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.
  • 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.

Masika — March – May

  • Eid al-Fitr — Mar 9 – 10 2026, Island-wide. The end of Ramadan. Stone Town fills, family days, new clothes.

Kuzi — June – September

  • 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 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.

Vuli — October – November

  • 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.

The 2026 calendar sits inside the broader Zanzibar reference. To match an event to a season, read when to visit and weather by month; build the trip around it from the 8-day itinerary.

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Editorial note

Zanzibar Seasons curates seasonal patterns, notable gatherings, and recurring movements on the island. This is not a directory, but a filtered signal of what matters. Curated by the Zanzibar Seasons editorial desk. Compiled from local operators, event hosts, and on-island observation.

Last updated: 28 April 2026 · Times shown in East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3)