DanceAfrica 2026

DanceAfrica 2026
Uganda: Umoja/Mirembe/Obulungi (Unity/Peace/Beauty)!
Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam

This Memorial Day weekend, the nation’s largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music opens Brooklyn’s stages and streets to the rich culture and artistry of Uganda. Now in its 49th year, this year’s festival honors the East African nation’s past, celebrates its present, and rejoices in its future.

Working alongside our cultural partners—the visionary DanceAfrica Council of Elders, The Billie Holiday Theatre, the cultural custodians at Weeksville Heritage Center, and our ground-breaking friends at MoCADA—we’re bringing the community together in a weekend equally welcoming to longtime attendees and first-time visitors eager to unpack the artistic tapestry of Uganda.

Anchored by heart-pounding performances from Uganda’s Ndere Troupe, the long weekend unfolds with a mix of dance, music, film, and visual art—plus plenty of food, crafts, and fashion at the outdoor bazaar. Enjoy traditional dance and music from Uganda, view visual art, sample FilmAfrica’s cinematic offerings, participate in classes, attend late-night dance parties, and mingle with neighbors from around the block—and around the globe—in the iconic outdoor bazaar. It’s all waiting for you at Brooklyn’s most unmissable summer celebration!

Greetings from DanceAfrica Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam