SolFest 2026 Runs 17 to 19 December in Nairobi

KENYA · MUSIC · FESTIVAL GUIDE

SolFest 2026 runs over three nights in Nairobi, Kenya, from Thursday 17 December to Saturday 19 December. The festival splits into a VIP Show, a new electronic night called Safari Oontz at Uhuru Gardens, and its traditional Fan Show.

Tickets for all three nights are on sale through the festival’s official store on the Kenyan platform HustleSasa, and the cheapest early waves have already sold out. Dollar figures in this guide use 128.84 shillings to the US dollar, the closing rate on Friday 16 October 2026.

What SolFest Is

SolFest was launched by Sauti Sol, the Kenyan Afro-pop band, and their label Sol Generation, and it has become one of the country’s biggest music and cultural events. The festival’s store calls it East Africa’s premier music festival and says it draws thousands of people each year.

The band released the first 2026 tickets in late December 2025, a full year ahead, saying fan demand pushed them to start early. Business Today reported in March that a second wave of Fan Show tickets followed after strong first sales.

Earlier editions focused on live bands, Afropop, hip-hop and other contemporary African sounds. The 2026 edition adds a full night for Kenyan electronic music for the first time, which KBC, the state broadcaster, reported in June.

Three Nights, Three Shows

The VIP Show opens the festival on Thursday 17 December, with a listed time of 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning. The store describes it as a follow-up to a 2025 VIP party that partners and fans praised as well organised.

Safari Oontz takes over Uhuru Gardens on Friday 18 December from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning. The store presents it as an Afro house collective of 14 DJs, two vocalists and two instrumentalists that fuses electronic sounds with indigenous rhythms and languages.

Organisers described the night as “a day dedicated to pure Kenyan oontz,” with sunset sessions running into late-night sets. KBC noted that electronic music, once a niche in Kenya, now draws large crowds in Nairobi and other cities.

The Fan Show, which Business Today calls traditionally one of the most anticipated parts of the festival, closes the run on Saturday 19 December from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning. The store lists every ticket as valid for a single show, so a Fan Show ticket does not admit its holder to the VIP Show or to Safari Oontz.

Ticket Prices in Shillings and Dollars

Fan Show tickets now sell in Early Bird Wave Three at KSh 3,526 (about US$27). Wave One at KSh 2,526 (about US$20), Wave Two at KSh 3,026 (about US$23) and a Die Hard release at KSh 2,026 (about US$16) are all sold out.

VIP Show tickets now cost KSh 25,026 (about US$194) in Wave Three. The earlier VIP waves at KSh 15,026 (about US$117) and KSh 20,206 (about US$157), and a Die Hard release at KSh 12,026 (about US$93), are gone.

Safari Oontz is in Phase Two, with a standard ticket at KSh 3,500 (about US$27) and a Superfan ticket at KSh 7,026 (about US$55). The early-bird standard ticket at KSh 1,500 (about US$12) has sold out.

Prices rise wave by wave, so buyers who wait will usually pay more. Tickets bought from strangers or forwarded as screenshots carry a real risk of failing at the gate, so the official store is the safer route.

Uhuru Gardens and Getting Around Nairobi

Uhuru Gardens is the national memorial park on Lang’ata Road in southern Nairobi, where Kenya’s flag was first raised at independence in December 1963. Its grounds also host large open-air concerts, including Fally Ipupa’s Nairobi show in September 2026.

Most US visitors arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, south-east of the city centre. Ride-hailing apps and pre-booked taxis are the practical way to reach the festival and to leave it after a show that ends at 2 a.m. or later.

Nairobi traffic can be slow, so allow extra time and agree a pick-up point in advance. Walking alone after dark between venues is not a good idea, even over short distances.

What It Means for You

US citizens need an electronic travel authorization before they fly to Kenya, issued through the government’s official eTA site. The standard fee starts at US$30 with processing of up to 72 hours, and an immediate option costs an extra US$100.

The State Department says passports must be valid for six months beyond the arrival date and carry two blank pages. It rates Kenya at Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory issued on 28 July 2026.

Kenya also runs Ebola health checks at its airports this year. Travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Uganda and other countries Kenya rates as elevated risk, such as Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania, must fill in an electronic health form before leaving the plane.

The cheapest way in is a Fan Show or Safari Oontz ticket at about US$27. A visitor who wants all three nights would pay KSh 32,052 (about US$249) at current prices, before transport and food.

What Is Not Known

SolFest has not published the artists for the VIP Show or the Fan Show, and it has not said whether Sauti Sol themselves will perform. The venue for those two nights is listed only as Nairobi, and the festival may announce it later.

Age limits, bag rules and refund terms are not shown on the store pages. Buyers should check the festival’s official channels before travelling, because details for a multi-night event can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is SolFest 2026 in Nairobi?

SolFest 2026 runs from Thursday 17 December to Saturday 19 December 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The VIP Show is on 17 December, Safari Oontz on 18 December at Uhuru Gardens and the Fan Show on 19 December.

How much are SolFest 2026 tickets?

Current prices are KSh 3,526 (about US$27) for the Fan Show, KSh 25,026 (about US$194) for the VIP Show and KSh 3,500 (about US$27) for Safari Oontz. Tickets are sold on the official SolFest store on HustleSasa.

Do US citizens need a visa to attend SolFest in Kenya?

US citizens need an electronic travel authorization rather than a visa, and it must be approved before the flight. The standard fee starts at US$30, and the passport must be valid for six months beyond arrival.

Sources: SolFest official store on HustleSasa, VIP Show, Safari Oontz and Fan Show listings, KBC, Sol Fest slots in an electronic music day in December, 3 June 2026, Mpasho, Sauti Sol announce Sol Fest 2026 tickets a year in advance, 27 December 2025, Business Today Kenya, Solfest releases second wave of Fan Show tickets, 13 March 2026, The Kenya Times, Fally Ipupa live in Nairobi 2026 at Uhuru Gardens, 26 August 2026, Kenya eTA official site, frequently asked questions, US Department of State, Kenya international travel information. All retrieved 19 October 2026.

Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error