African Festival of the Arts Returns to Washington Park for Labor Day Weekend (Chicago, IL) – Chicago’s African Festival of the Arts will return to Washington Park over Labor Day weekend, bringing three days of music, art, food and cultural programming to the city’s South Side.
The 36th annual festival, presented by Africa International House USA, Inc., will take place Saturday, Sept. 5, through Monday, Sept. 7, at the Washington Park Sunken Garden. Festival gates will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the main entrance at 55th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.
This year’s theme, “Crowning the Heritage,” celebrates the artistic, cultural and spiritual traditions connecting people of African descent across the globe.
For more than three decades, the festival has brought together artists, performers, entrepreneurs, scholars and community members while showcasing African and African diasporic culture.
Internationally acclaimed sculptor Woodrow Nash will serve as the 2026 featured artist. Nash is returning to the festival for the first time since 2019, with his work reflecting African and African American experiences.
The festival marketplace will feature contemporary, traditional and folk art, along with work from emerging artists and designers representing Africa and the global African diaspora. Returning artists and exhibitors are expected to include painters Dayo Laoye and Frank Frazier, as well as fashion designers Jimi King and Dana Easter.
Music and live performances will once again take center stage at the Dee Parmer Main Stage, featuring rhythm and blues, jazz, world music, dance and spoken word.
Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village is scheduled to perform Saturday, Sept. 5. Gospel Sunday on Sept. 6 will feature legendary singer Shirley Caesar, known as the Queen of Gospel. Acclaimed R&B singer-songwriter Leela James will close the festival with a Labor Day performance on Monday, Sept. 7.
The festival will also recognize Chicago’s mayor and first lady as its 2026 AFA Grand BaBa and Grand YeYe, honoring their service and commitment to Chicago’s diverse communities.
In addition to performances and art exhibitions, visitors can enjoy cuisine representing cultures across the African world, children’s activities, wellness programming, cultural demonstrations, literary presentations, drumming and dance workshops.
“The African Festival of the Arts has always been more than a festival—it is a living expression of our shared history, creativity, and future,” said Patrick S. K. Woodtor, president and CEO of Africa International House USA, Inc. “As we gather under the banner of ‘Crowning the Heritage,’ we invite people of every generation and every background to celebrate the artistic genius and cultural legacy of Africa and its diaspora.”
Founded in Chicago in 1989, Africa International House USA is a nonprofit cultural organization focused on preserving and promoting the arts, cultures and histories of Africa and the African diaspora.
- What: 36th Annual African Festival of the Arts
- Theme: “Crowning the Heritage”
- When: Saturday, September 5 – Monday, September 7, 2026
- Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily
- Where: Washington Park Sunken Garden
- Main Entrance: 55th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago
Additional information, including festival schedules, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, is available at www.aihusa.org.
African Festival of the Arts Returns to Washington Park for Labor Day Weekend
