Cidade da Praia will host the 15th edition of the Kriol Jazz Festival from 9 to 11 April 2026, marking a landmark moment for one of Cabo Verde’s most established cultural exports. Held annually on Santiago Island, the three-day event continues to position the archipelago as a meeting point for artists, industry players and audiences across Africa, the Americas and Europe.
Launched in 2009, the festival emerged from a vision led by producer Djô da Silva to create a platform that expresses Creole identity through jazz while foregrounding African sonorities. Since its inception, it has evolved into an internationally recognized event, now firmly integrated into the global music festival circuit and widely regarded among leading festivals worldwide.
The 2026 edition features nine artists from eight countries, reflecting its continued commitment to cross-cultural programming. The line-up includes Alfredo Rodriguez from Cuba, MargarethMenezes from Brazil, Saad Tiouly from Morocco, Les 4 Etoiles du Zaire from Congo, FattúDjakité representing Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde, Brooklyn Funk Essentials from the United States, Ismaël Lô from Senegal, Ceuzany from Cabo Verde, and Entre-Ilhas from the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde. This programming aligns with the festival’s core concept, bringing together Creole and diaspora sounds within a shared performance space that encourages both musical and human exchange.
Organised by Harmonia Lda in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries, the festival operates within a structured institutional framework that combines production expertise with national cultural policy. Its objective remains consistent, to promote Creole-inspired music from across island cultures in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Cabo Verde, Europe and Africa, strengthening Cabo Verde’s role as a cultural bridge.
The 2026 programme maintains its established format, opening with a free-access night dedicated to emerging talent, followed by two ticketed evenings where Cabo Verdean artists introduce international acts. Jam sessions, which have become a defining feature of the festival, return as part of the official programme, supporting collaboration beyond scheduled performances.
A key highlight of this edition is the tribute to Zeca di Nha Reinalda, continuing a tradition of honouring influential figures in Cabo Verdean music. Previous editions have recognised names including Horace Silver, Cesaria Evora, Code di Dona, Bulimundo and Os Tubarões, among others, reinforcing the festival’s role in cultural preservation alongside international engagement.
The festival’s growth trajectory reflects a steady expansion from regional relevance to global recognition. Over the years, it has hosted a wide range of internationally acclaimed artists such as Salif Keita, Esperanza Spalding, Seu Jorge, Richard Bona, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Manu Dibango, Stanley Clarke and Orchestra Baobab, contributing to its reputation as a platform for high-level artistic exchange.
Kriol Jazz Festival also operates within a broader ecosystem anchored by the Atlantic Music Expo, held from 6 to 9 April 2026 in Praia. The alignment of both events creates a combined industry and performance platform, where professional networking, market access and live showcases converge, strengthening the city’s position as a temporary hub for transatlantic cultural exchange.
The choice of April is strategic, coinciding with a period of increased tourist arrivals, allowing the festival to attract both domestic and international audiences. Hosted primarily in the Plateau area of Praia, the event contributes to the city’s cultural economy while strengthening Cabo Verde’s destination branding through music tourism.
From its origins in 2008 conceptual planning to its current standing, the festival has maintained a consistent focus on Creolity as a unifying theme. Praia, located approximately 500 kilometres off the coast of Senegal and serving as the capital of Cabo Verde, provides both the geographic and historical context for this positioning, with Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nearby, recognised as a cradle of early Creole culture.
As it enters its 15th edition, the Kriol Jazz Festival continues to consolidate its role as a structured cultural product, combining heritage recognition, international programming and industry integration within a single platform that reflects Cabo Verde’s evolving place in global cultural and tourism networks.
