By the 254.ke Newsroom.
The seventh NBO Film Festival opens in Nairobi on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and runs to October 25 across four venues. Organisers have lined up 54 films, 33 features and 21 shorts, with Rwandan drama Ben’Imana as the opening film. Ticket prices had not been published in the coverage reviewed on October 13, so check the festival’s official channels before you go.
When and where is the NBO Film Festival 2026?
The festival runs from October 15 to 25, 2026, under the theme “Cinema for Us”. Screenings and events are spread over four Nairobi venues:
- Prestige Plaza (listed as Prestige Cinema in some reports)
- Unseen Cinema
- Kaloleni Social Hall
- Alliance Française Nairobi, added as a fourth venue after the first announcement
Artistic Director Mbithi Masya has said the aim is “making sure African audiences have a place in the conversation.” The festival statement adds that African cinema should be experienced by African audiences at home, and together.
What is in the 2026 line-up?
According to the line-up published on October 6 and updated on October 9, the programme includes:
| Strand | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening film | Ben’Imana (Rwanda), directed by Marie-Clementine Dusabejambo |
| Fiction feature competition | Ben’Imana, Cotton Queen, Lady, One Woman One Bra, Laundry |
| Documentary competition | Kikuyu Land, The Woman Who Poked the Leopard, My Father and Qaddafi, Notes from the Underground, Crocodile |
| Short film competition | Goat, The Big Sad Nairobi, Souls of Fouta, God Sleeps on Sundays, The Break-in |
| Special presentation | Call Me Queen, directed by Emily Atef |
| Retrospective | Five films by Senegalese director Alain Gomis |
The festival has said there will be no closing film. It also runs a five-film Lunchbox programme, plus family and shorts blocks.
What is new this year?
Three juried competitions are on the schedule: the returning Fiction Feature Film Competition, a new Short Film Fiction competition, and the first Nick Wambugu Prize for Documentary. The festival is also staging its first filmmaker retrospective, honouring Gomis, who is expected to attend audience and industry events. EUNIC, the network of European national cultural institutes, supports the retrospective.
An expanded industry programme brings the NBO Project Showcase, creative labs and professional exchanges, alongside community screenings, City Dialogues and filmmaker conversations around the city.
How much are tickets?
Neither the September announcements nor the October line-up report reviewed by 254.ke gave ticket prices, pass options or booking links. Film-goers should confirm costs and screening times with the festival directly, and with each venue for seat availability.
NBO Film Festival 2026: quick answers
Is there a closing film?
No. Organisers have confirmed the festival will not have one.
How many films are showing?
The line-up lists 54 films: 33 features and 21 shorts.
Who is Alain Gomis?
He is a Senegalese filmmaker whose work is the subject of the festival’s first retrospective. Five of his films are in the programme.
Is the festival only in Nairobi?
Yes. All four venues are in the capital.
Nairobi’s live-entertainment calendar is busy this season. See also our reports on Njugush’s sold-out Sarit Expo show and Nikita Kering’s AFRIMMA win. The festival announcement is also carried by Capital FM via allAfrica.
