Wildscreen Festival Returns to Kenya for 2026 African Edition

 

Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026

We’re thrilled to announce that Wildscreen Festival is heading back to Nairobi, Kenya, for our fourth African edition, taking place 11 – 12 June 2026.

The Wildstar Foundation is joining us as our Headline Sponsor, cementing their mission to nurture and amplify diverse voices in natural history storytelling around the world.

A full-circle moment for our community

Returning to Nairobi feels special. It was here, in 2023, that we launched the very first Wildscreen Festival African edition. Since then, the event has grown into one of the continent’s most influential gatherings for the wildlife film and television industry.

Across the last three years – from Kenya to Tanzania and Botswana – we’ve seen incredible momentum. The festivals have sparked new collaborations, commissions, careers and creative partnerships, all contributing to a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable wildlife storytelling industry.

In 2026, we’re bringing the community back together in the city where it all began.

Introducing our 2026 Chair: Faith Musembi

We’re also delighted to announce that award-winning Producer and Director Faith Musembi will serve as Chair of the 2026 Festival.

Faith is one of the most exciting voices in global natural history filmmaking today. Her work includes:

• QUEENS (National Geographic / Disney+), winner of Best Series at Wildscreen Panda Awards 2024
• CHASING THE RAINS (Love Nature, Sky Nature, Arte)
• The upcoming landmark BBC Studios Natural History Unit series LION for National Geographic

Reflecting on the festival’s return to Kenya, Faith shared:

“Seeds planted at that first Festival in Kenya in 2023 have since grown into jobs, commissions and meaningful industry collaborations and partnerships. It feels like a full-circle moment for our community, while also driving us to keep investing in and developing our own talent and creative economy within the wildlife genre.”

 

Building the future of wildlife storytelling

The two-day festival will bring together 200+ delegates from across Africa and the global industry, including filmmakers, production companies, broadcasters, streamers and conservationists from more than 12 countries.

The programme will feature talks, panels, premieres and networking events, curated with the support of our Festival Advisory Board – a group of leaders from the international wildlife film and TV industry, African filmmakers and conservation organisations.

Together, we’re focused on platforming African stories, creativity and talent, while creating opportunities for collaboration, co-production and career development across borders.

Powered by partnership

We’re hugely grateful to Wildstar Foundation for coming on board as Headline Sponsor and helping make this edition possible.

As our CEO Lucie Muir explains:

“Faith is not only an immensely talented filmmaker, but she continues to break ground within the wildlife storytelling genre globally – both with the stories she tells and the storytellers she nurtures. She’s a true visionary who opens doors, widens them and keeps them open for underrepresented and authentic voices to tell and own their own stories. We’re honoured to have her as Chair and so thankful to Wildstar Foundation and all our partners and community for standing alongside us as we work to build a stronger natural history industry.”

We’re also grateful for the continued support of University of the West of England and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, who are joining us as festival sponsors.

Join us in Nairobi

Previous African editions of the festival have sold out, and we expect 2026 to be no different.

Whether you’re an emerging filmmaker, an established producer, or part of the global natural history industry, Wildscreen Festival Kenya is open to all who want to shape the future of wildlife storytelling.

To find out more head over to our Wildscreen Festival Kenya webpage. Early Bird tickets are now on sale – grab yours here