The African Festival of Boston Returns to Boston Common
The free, all-day festival brings live music, dance, food, fashion, art, and African culture to the heart of Boston.
Details
African Festival of Boston
Boston Common
Sat, Aug-15th
FREE
Info
Boston Common is turning into a celebration of African culture this Saturday.
The 16th Annual African Festival of Boston returns on Saturday, August 15, with more than 11 hours of live performances, drumming, traditional dance, fashion, food, art, and vendors. This year’s theme is Together We Rise.
The festival runs from 9 AM to 8:30 PM at Boston Common and is free to attend.
A full day of music, dance, food and culture
The African Festival of Boston brings together artists, performers, food vendors, artisans, small businesses, and members of Boston’s African and diaspora communities for a full day downtown.
Expect live music, traditional drumming and dance, fashion shows, African cuisine, art, beadwork, and a marketplace of vendors and small businesses.
The festival is also designed as a platform for both emerging and established artists to share their work with a large Boston audience.
The festival is celebrating its 16th year
The African Festival of Boston has been bringing African arts and culture to Boston since 2010.
For its 16th year, the festival returns to one of the biggest public gathering spaces in the city with a program built around culture, community, and the African diaspora.
The 2026 lineup includes live performers and DJs, with music and cultural programming running throughout the day.
What to know before you go
The African Festival of Boston 2026 takes place Saturday, August 15 from 9 AM to 8:30 PM at Boston Common, 139 Tremont Street.
Admission is free.
Come hungry. Between the performances, dancing, fashion, vendors, and food, there’s enough happening to make this an all-day stop rather than a quick walk through the Common.
