Bulawayo is banking on the 2026 Bulawayo Arts Festival (BAF) to provide a platform for emerging creatives, as the city positions itself as the country’s leading cultural hub.
Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu told Southern Eye Showbiz that arts and culture are central to urban development.
“Besides defining who we are, arts and culture also provide a source of employment and put food on the table for many people,” Ndlovu said.
The festival runs from June 2 to 6 under the theme “Building Bridges Preserving Connections.”
The programme includes a carnival, exhibitions, schools’ poetry, gospel and musical concerts, workshops, and a fashion show.
Venues include the Large and Small City Halls, community halls and youth centres.
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The popular Zambezi Express will feature, and local premiership football teams are invited to join the carnival.
Some events, including imbube and rhumba concerts, will charge entry fees to address funding gaps.
Ndlovu said council has resolved that every June, the city’s founding anniversary will be celebrated in style, showcasing new local talent.
The festival follows Bulawayo’s endorsement to host national Culture Month celebrations in May.
Emakhandeni-Luveve legislator Descent Bajila welcomed the initiative as an opportunity to celebrate “our diversity.”
“Bulawayo is rich with history and traditions that need to be showcased,” Bajila said.
“Artists and culture practitioners from Bulawayo need to be put at the forefront of this so that it doesn’t look like tokenism.”
Beyond the festival, council is integrating culture into broader goals.
The city was recently selected for an international resilience academy exploring how heritage and indigenous knowledge can strengthen climate adaptation strategies.
Organisers said the Culture Month and BAF are expected to reinforce Bulawayo’s reputation as a centre of creativity, heritage and cultural innovation.