Africa Oyé 2026 full programme at Sefton Park

The 2026 Africa Oyé comes to Sefton Park next weekend with two full days of music from some of the most exciting figures on the international stage.

The annual festival - the UK's largest celebration of African music and culture - takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21.

This year’s event is ticket only, with organisers say rising costs mean it has been increasingly difficult to keep running the annual event for free.

Headlining the 2026 festival are Grammy-nominated Malian Afrofuturist singer Fatoumata Diawara, a frequent collaborator of Damon Albarn and his Africa Express projects, and trailblazing Nigerian Afrobeats star Patoranking, who has spent more than a decade shaping the genre’s global identity, with hits like My Woman, My Everything and Babylon.

The main stage line up over the two days also includes British-born reggae icon Janet Kay; Ghorwane (Mozambique), who are celebrating 40 years of magical and original music since their formation in the 1980s; DR Congo eco-punks Fulu Miziki; Nana Benz Du Togo - an electrifying five-piece whose voodoo rhythms are fused with electro-soul, built for the dancefloor; Trinidad’s Kobo Town; the Awale Jant Band (Senegal/France); Afrofuturist-electro pioneer Kizaba (DR Congo); King Ayisoba (Ghana) and award-winning singer-songwriter and rapper Oumy (Senegal).

Meanwhile between the live music two of the UK's biggest names in African and Caribbean music - BBC1 Xtra heavyweights DJ Edu and Seani B - will also appear.

Above: Senegal's Oumy is appearing at the 2026 festival. Top: Africa Oyé in Sefton Park. Photo by Mark McNulty.

In addition, the vibrant and eclectic Oyé Village will host more than 90 stalls selling the best in food, drink, arts and crafts and fashion from Africa and beyond.

It will also feature the returning Oyé Active Zone and the Freetown (Saturday) and Trenchtown (Sunday) DJ stages.

And there will be a new Oyé Family Zone with an enhanced programme for families.

The zone will host the Movema Dance Tent and new Kukina Creative Tent featuring relaxing and inspiring African Diaspora inspired activities, including storytelling, singing, drumming, arts, crafts, dance and holistic practices. They will be complemented with family friendly performances, creative activities, and educational and environmental workshops.

On Sunday, June 21 of the festival, expect huge beats from the Afro-Brazilian mega-bloco Katumba as they collaborate with Dancing Queens to parade around the festival site, creating a rhythmic explosion as Caribbean carnival meets Brazilian carnival.

Above: Trinidad's Kobo Town will perform on the main stage.

More returning favourites include the LFC Foundation with sporting activities for all, and a chance to take action on plastics - with Plastic Tactics’ workshops running across the weekend.  

The festival began in 1992 as a series of gigs in Liverpool city centre put together by Africa Oyé's founder, Kenny Murray. Over the last 34 years it has been held at venues including Birkenhead Park, Princes Park, and Concert Square, moving to its current home in Sefton Park in 2002.

Previous headliners have included some of the biggest names in global music with Julian Marley, Oumou Sangaré, Akala, Fuse ODG, Tinariwen, Max Romeo, Baaba Maal, Horace Andy and many more all gracing the Oyé stage.

Day tickets for the 2026 festival are £19 and a weekend ticket is £37. There are also concessions for NHS/students, and savings for groups of four or more, while under 12s go free.

Africa Oyé takes place at Sefton Park on June 20-21, 2026. More details and tickets HERE