Schools Music Festival 2026: Kenya Heads to Kibabii Nationals

Kenya's annual schools music festival circuit is in full swing, with county-level competitions funnelling thousands of talented students toward a national finale at Kibabii University in Bungoma County. The Nyeri County festival opened proceedings on June 11 at Rware High School, and the circuit builds toward an estimated 30,000 students converging on Kibabii for the national competition running from August 1 to 14.

Regional Rounds in Full Motion

The 2026 edition began at county level, with Nyeri County hosting its festival at Rware High School from June 11 to 13. The Nairobi sub-regional round followed on June 16. The Central Region festival ran from July 8 to 11 at Murang'a Teachers Training College. President William Ruto issued a directive requiring professional artists to be formally integrated as mentors during regional stages. The 2026 festival theme is sustainability.

What Comes Next

With the Central Region festival concluded on July 11, the national committee's attention turns fully to Kibabii University. Organisers are expected to publish the full national schedule and category draw in the coming weeks.