Beyond its beaches, Zanzibar hosts some of East Africa's most distinctive cultural celebrations. From taarab music echoing through Stone Town's Old Fort to a centuries-old New Year ritual in a fishing village, these festivals offer a side of the island many tourists never see.
Here's what to know about six of Zanzibar's best-known festivals — Sauti za Busara, the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), Mwaka Kogwa, Soundscapes Zanzi, the Pamoja Festival and Pemba's bullfighting season — and how to plan a visit around them.
What is Sauti za Busara and when does it happen?
Sauti za Busara ("Sounds of Wisdom") is one of the largest music festivals in East Africa, held every February at the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe) in Stone Town, with additional performances around the old city. The programme brings together taarab, Tanzanian pop, hip-hop and other regional styles, plus a lively street parade known as Beni.
Exact dates move slightly from year to year, so check the festival's own channels closer to February for the confirmed programme.
What is the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF)?
Also known as the Festival of the Dhow Countries, ZIFF is one of the largest cultural events in East Africa, combining film screenings with music, workshops and exhibitions. Founded in 1997, it screens local and international films in Stone Town and in villages across the archipelago, and hands out awards including the Golden and Silver Dhow.
ZIFF usually runs in late June — the 2026 edition took place 24–28 June, built around the theme "AI and the Art of Storytelling", with entries from across East Africa and beyond.
What is Mwaka Kogwa and why is it unique?
Mwaka Kogwa is the traditional Shirazi New Year, centred on the village of Makunduchi in southern Zanzibar. It follows the Shirazi calendar rather than the Gregorian one, with the main celebrations usually falling around 23–24 July.
The day mixes ritual and festivity: men take part in mock combat using banana-tree sticks, a respected elder burns a ceremonial hut with predictions for the coming year read from the smoke, and the evening turns into taarab music, drumming and shared food. It's one of the few festivals on the island rooted entirely in local tradition rather than staged for visitors.
See the Mwaka Kogwa / Banana Fight Festival listing for photos, video and practical details — note that the programme there is from the previous edition and will be updated closer to the next one.
What is Soundscapes Zanzi and where is it held?
Soundscapes Zanzi is an electronic music festival on Paje Beach, with additional sets at Bwejuu, mixing house, minimal and techno DJ sets with wellness sessions and beach parties. It grew out of Soundscapes, a Bahrain-based event series running since 2013, which launched its first Zanzibar beach edition in 2022 and has typically landed around February.
It's a different crowd and sound from Sauti za Busara — more electronic dance music than taarab — so the two can make for a busy but varied February on the island.
What is the Pamoja Festival?
The Pamoja Festival is based in Jambiani on the south-east coast and bills itself as "unity in diversity," blending Tanzanian and international culture through live music, art exhibitions and workshops covering everything from wellness to cocktails. Past editions have featured traditional Gogo-tribe music from the Zawose family alongside house DJs, live bands, fire performers and dancers, running from sunset into the night.
Timing has varied between editions, so check current listings before planning a trip specifically around it.
What is Pemba's bullfighting festival?
Over on Pemba island, villages hold a very different kind of festival: bullfighting with roots in 16th–18th-century Portuguese settlers, found nowhere else in the archipelago. Formats vary by village — sometimes a challenger provokes a charging bull with a mat, sometimes bull faces bull — and the animal isn't killed; it's cared for and paraded by its owner afterwards. Women sing and clap and a traditional trumpet sounds to rile the bull up, with several bulls rotated through an afternoon.
Chwale, near Wete in the north-east, holds its bullfights in October; Kangagani, about 90 minutes from Chake Chake, holds its own in the first half of January, 4–6pm. Either way, the fights are usually followed by drumming, singing and a proper local party with local bands — often the best part of the day.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar for festivals?
If cultural events are the priority, February (Sauti za Busara and Soundscapes Zanzi) and late June to late July (ZIFF, then Mwaka Kogwa) are the two main windows to build a trip around. Pamoja's dates have varied year to year, so check ahead if it's a priority. Pemba's bullfighting season runs roughly August to February, often tied to the clove harvest, so it can overlap with a trip built around any of the others if you're island-hopping. All of these generally fall within good travel weather on the island, so festivals can be combined comfortably with beach time — see our guide for more on planning your visit.
Where do these festivals take place?
Sauti za Busara and ZIFF are centred on Stone Town, a short walk between venues. Soundscapes Zanzi is based on Paje Beach (with Bwejuu as a secondary venue), and the Pamoja Festival is held in Jambiani — both on the east coast. Mwaka Kogwa is different again — it's a village event in Makunduchi, roughly an hour's drive from Stone Town, so visitors usually arrange a day trip rather than staying in the village itself. Pemba's bullfights are a ferry ride further out again, in villages such as Chwale and Kangagani on Pemba island itself.
What should visitors know before attending?
These are genuine local and cultural events, not staged shows for tourists — especially Mwaka Kogwa and the Pemba bullfights. Modest dress is appreciated, particularly in Makunduchi and around Stone Town's Old Fort area. Book accommodation early for festival weeks, since rooms in Stone Town, Paje and Jambiani fill up quickly during festival season.
How can I combine festivals with the rest of my Zanzibar trip?
Festival dates pair naturally with everything else on the island. Spend festival evenings in Stone Town or on the east coast, then check the events calendar for what else is on, or head to the beaches for the rest of the stay. Look up where to eat for evenings between festival sessions, and see getting around for transport out to Makunduchi, Paje or Jambiani — or a ferry over to Pemba for the bullfights.
Zanzibar's festival calendar is still a well-kept secret for most visitors — plan a trip around one of these, and you'll see a side of the island the beach alone doesn't show.