Africa Oyé

Sefton Park, Liverpool; 20th and 21st June, 2026 Africa Oyé is the UK’s biggest celebration of African music and culture. Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in Liverpool's city centre, the event has gone from strength to strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand. With too many negative representations of Africa entrenched in images of war, disease, poverty, and famine, Oyé seeks to redress the balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music, and artists that make this great continent one of the most vibrant and inspiring in the world. “This isn’t just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it’s the best” – The Sunday Times The festival is a truly diverse and international event that harnesses the spirit of multiculturalism. It has played host to artists from nations right across Africa and also programs music from South America and the Caribbean with Salsa, Soca, and Reggae always a popular addition to the festivities. But Africa Oyé is about more than music. Over 90 stalls selling the best food, drink, arts and crafts, and fashion from Africa and beyond make up the vibrant and eclectic Oyé Village, alongside workshops in the Oyé Active Zone and the two DJ stages, Trenchtown and Freetown. The 2026 Festival: A New Era The next Africa Oyé festival will take place on 20th and 21st June 2026 in its Grade 1-listed, 200-acre home of Sefton Park – the largest open space in Liverpool. For over 30 years, Oyé has welcomed people from every demographic to our festival each year, to enjoy incredible live music and DJs from across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora, as well as the famed Oyé ambience. Oyé celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2022, and in 2024 enjoyed its busiest ever festival, attracting over 80,000 people. In 2026, with rising costs, changes in legislation, and the charity's ongoing desire to ensure a safe event for all, Oyé will be fenced and ticketed for the first time. Oyé will continue to provide a welcoming atmosphere as the festival begins this new chapter of an incredible journey. For more information, please visit africaoye.com.