The Kenya International Theatre Festival (KITFest) 2026 will bring 26 international theatre companies from 21 countries to Nairobi for its 11th edition, alongside more than 200 Kenyan artists presenting more than 50 productions.
The festival will run from November 3 to 15 at the Kenya National Theatre (KNT), featuring musicals, dance, puppetry, drama and comedy, as well as workshops, masterclasses and cultural exchange programmes.
The programme was announced during a partners and stakeholders breakfast hosted by the Kenya International Theatre Festival Trust on Friday at Trademark Hotel, Village Market.
The event brought together business leaders, diplomats, development partners, cultural institutions and members of the media.
Participating countries will include Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Egypt, Spain, Uganda, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
KITFest Trust founder and chairperson Kevin Kimani Kahuro said the festival would feature more than 60 performances by 184 international artists from 21 nations, alongside more than 200 Kenyan artists.
“KITFest 2026 is 13 days, more than 60 performances and 184 international artists from 21 nations sharing the KNT with more than 200 Kenyan artists. In our 11th edition, Nairobi is one of Africa’s biggest stages for theatre, and we want Kenya’s partners to own that story with us,” he said.
Kahuro said that the festival would also focus on reaching audiences with limited access to theatre.
“This year we are taking theatre to people who have never stepped into a theatre. We are inviting children from Kibera, Kawangware, Korogocho and children’s homes, and working with Kenya’s blind and deaf communities,” he said.
He added that the festival would introduce an audio installation for visually impaired audiences.
“A festival should be open to everyone, from the gate to the stage,” he said.
Kahuro said that the Trust had secured institutional, diplomatic, hospitality and community partners and was seeking additional support to expand the festival.
“Whether a partner sponsors a single workshop facilitator for KSh15,000 or takes the title, every contribution funds something visible. Our message this morning is simple: let’s build KITFest 2026 together,” he said.
An addition to this year’s programme is the African Theatre Market (ATM), a three-day marketplace running from November 6 to 8. It will bring international presenters, programmers and festival directors to Nairobi to view Kenyan and African productions, meet artists and explore opportunities to book shows for international stages and festivals.
“KITFest is more than a festival. With the African Theatre Market, we are turning it into a marketplace where Kenyan and East African productions meet international programmers and venues,” Kahuro said.
The festival will also offer 13 masterclasses to more than 500 creatives, including an introduction to Playback Theatre in Kenya.
The Trust is seeking partnerships with businesses, development organisations and cultural institutions to expand its programmes and strengthen the performing arts industry. It also aims to create employment opportunities for young creatives and connect Kenyan artists with international markets.
Its year-round programmes include the Kenya Theatre Awards, County Theatre Fiesta, Sauti za Boma, Ground Zero – Vibe of the City, the KITFest Young Performers Programme and TheatreKe, a ticketing and theatre information platform.
Benson Ngobia, Executive Director of Kenya Theatre Awards and KITFest
The County Theatre Fiesta trained 439 young creatives across 14 counties last year, with all ticket revenue returned directly to artists.
The festival will also expand its public arts programme through Ground Zero – Vibe of the City at the Kenya National Archives. The Nairobi edition attracted 1,252 audition participants, an estimated 130,000 walk-by audience and 8.9 million organic digital views.
Other activities will include 11 themed nights, daily workshops and masterclasses, a Kids Fiesta and outdoor performances across the KNT grounds. Sauti za Boma will feature an immersive listening installation showcasing stories recorded in communities across Kenya, while a gaming zone and other outdoor activities will offer additional experiences for festivalgoers.
Community outreach programmes will extend performances beyond the KNT to audiences who may not ordinarily attend theatre.
The festival activities will begin on October 31 with a charity football tournament, with proceeds supporting slum-based charities and institutions working in the arts.
The Trust said the 2025 KITFest@10 edition featured 52 productions from 18 countries, attracted more than 10,000 live audience members and generated 27.7 million media impressions.
Over the past decade, the Trust has developed platforms for theatre and the performing arts through festivals, national awards, grassroots training, digital storytelling and heritage preservation. Its programmes support artists and connect theatre practitioners with audiences and opportunities in Kenya, Africa and beyond.