Events & Festivals in Botswana

The Natural History Museum in London sends its prestigious international exhibition to Botswana, often Kasane or Maun. Award-winning wildlife photography from across the globe fills the space. African conservation stories get special focus. Photographers and conservationists find quiet inspiration here. The mood stays contemplative.

Private game reserves or farms host this culinary gathering. Traditional methods rule: potjiekos (slow-cooked stew) and braai (barbecue). Chefs and local cooks work with game meats and regional ingredients. Diners gather under the stars. Storytelling traces the history of each dish. The evening feels social and open-air.

Held in Gaborone, this is the country's foremost multi-arts festival. It has a week-long program of theatre, poetry, dance, music, and visual art exhibitions from Botswana and across Southern Africa. Events take place in various venues across the city, from the main theatre to open-air stages. It attracts families, students, and art enthusiasts, creating a lively and intellectual atmosphere in the capital.

This national festival celebrates Botswana's varied music scene, from traditional folk and kwasa kwasa to modern hip-hop and gospel. Emerging and established artists compete and perform across multiple genres. The event fosters local talent and has a platform for cultural exchange. The atmosphere is energetic and supportive, drawing music lovers of all ages.

Major gospel concerts take over large venues in Gaborone, Francistown, and other towns across Easter weekend. Top regional artists perform for multi-denominational crowds. The music carries power. Prayer and singing fill the spaces. Devoted audiences gather in respectful, uplifting atmosphere.

This major exhibition in Selebi-Phikwe shows Botswana's agricultural and commercial sectors. Farmers display prize livestock, crops, and farming technology, while companies exhibit goods and services. It includes equestrian events, cooking demonstrations, and live entertainment. The show has a family-friendly fairground atmosphere and is a significant event for the local economy and community.

A major agricultural event for northern regions, staged in Francistown. Crop farming, horticulture, new irrigation techniques, and livestock displays dominate. Business seminars and farmer networking sessions run throughout. The focus is practical and commercial. Industry players should not miss it.

Set in the way into the Okavango Delta, this festival blends visual arts, theatre, film, and music with a strong environmental theme. It features workshops, exhibitions, and performances by artists from the region, often showing conservation topics. The event attracts a mix of locals, tourists, and creatives, creating a collaborative and inspired mood under the winter skies.

A community arts festival in remote Seronga, an Okavango panhandle village. Visual arts, crafts, and music of the Bayei and Hambukushu peoples take focus. Visitors watch basket weaving, canoe carving, and traditional drumming. The event is intimate. The cultural immersion is deep.

Organized by the Kuru Cultural Trust, this event in D'kar celebrates the dances and music of the San communities and other indigenous groups from Southern Africa. Performers share traditional storytelling through movement and song. It is an intimate and respectful event focused on cultural preservation. The audience is small and engaged, offering a profound insight into ancient traditions.

Khawa village hosts this remote adventure: quad biking, sandboarding, and a marathon across Kgalagadi dunes. Cultural performances and a community fair round out the program. The challenge boosts desert tourism and supports local projects. It draws off-road enthusiasts. The test is rugged.

This demanding multi-day footrace is the Botswana edition of the famous Sahara event. Competitors run a long-distance stage race through the Makgadikgadi Pans, carrying their own supplies. It tests endurance against a stark and beautiful landscape. The event draws international ultra-runners and dedicated local athletes, supported by a small, mobile camp of organizers.

Held at the historical Matsieng archaeological site, this festival celebrates Botswana's heritage with traditional music, dance, poetry, and storytelling. Craftspeople demonstrate pottery, basket weaving, and blacksmithing. The focus is on intergenerational knowledge transfer. It suits families and anyone interested in the deep history of the region, set against the backdrop of ancient rock carvings.

The Botswana National Library Service organizes this festival promoting reading and local authorship. Book launches, readings, writing workshops, and discussions with Motswana authors and poets fill the schedule. Children's storytelling sessions draw particular attention. The atmosphere is quiet and intellectual. Students, educators, and literary fans attend.

This event in Oodi brings together weavers, sculptors, jewelers, and other artisans from across Botswana. Visitors can watch demonstrations, purchase unique handicrafts like baskets and textiles, and enjoy local food. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, centered on supporting community-based craft initiatives. It is good for finding authentic, high-quality souvenirs.

A lively street parade and community celebration in Maun featuring floats, marching bands, dance troupes, and decorated vehicles. Local businesses, schools, and organizations participate. The carnival promotes tourism and community spirit in the Okavango region. It is a fun, casual, and photogenic event that runs through the town's main streets.

The Tswapong Hills near Palapye host this celebration of local heritage. Traditional dance competitions, poetry, and storytelling develop around sacred sites and rock paintings. Culture and nature connect directly here. The setting carries spiritual weight. The views reward the trip.

Concerts and cultural performances develop across venues in the capital. International African artists share stages with top Botswana acts in jazz, Afro-pop, and soul. The week positions Gaborone as a cultural hub. The crowd is urban and professional. The mood is festive.

This festival at Domboshaba ruins honors Kalanga history and culture. Guided tours, traditional music, dance performances, and starlit storytelling fill the program. The experience is immersive and educational. It targets history enthusiasts. It reveals Botswana's ethnic variety.

A fundraising race winds through sandy tracks and community paths on the Okavango Delta's fringes. Half and full marathon distances are available. The event backs local conservation and development projects. Runners face demanding terrain. The scenery is striking. Village support is enthusiastic.

A harvest festival at the University of Botswana in Gaborone. Setswana culture shines through traditional food, music, dance, and poetry. Students and visitors join bogwera (initiation) re-enactments and morabaraba board game tournaments. The event is lively and educational. Agricultural cycles take center stage.

Tsabong hosts this community festival celebrating Kgalagadi district culture. Traditional music, dance, camel rides, and local cuisine (including game meat) feature prominently. The event honors desert community resilience. It opens a rare window into a lesser-visited Botswana region. The welcome is warm.

This festival puts craft beers, ciders, and traditional sorghum beers front and center, with gourmet food stalls alongside. Live bands keep energy high all day. The crowd skews young professional. The vibe stays relaxed and social. Taste local brewing experiments. Enjoy the afternoon outside.

A seasonal Francistown market where artisans sell handmade gifts, decorations, clothing, and holiday toys. Local choirs perform carols. Food stalls serve festive treats. The mood is cheerful and community-centered. Residents flock here for unique, locally-made gift purchases.

A large family concert in Gaborone on New Year's Eve, starring popular gospel artists from Botswana and neighboring countries. Celebration, reflection, and prayer for the coming year anchor the event. Thousands attend in peaceful, joyous spirits. A countdown and fireworks typically close the night.