The Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) has postponed its planned August 2026 programme, citing the need for more time to ensure the festival returns with the quality and scale expected by its audiences.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Hifa said the decision followed careful consideration as preparations for its long-awaited return progressed.
The festival, which has been absent from Zimbabwe's cultural calendar for several years, had generated considerable excitement following the announcement of its return, with artists, audiences and supporters expressing enthusiasm about its revival.
“After careful consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the Hifa programme that had been planned for August 2026,” the organisers said.
Hifa said reviving a festival of its history, ambition and scale was a significant undertaking and that preparations had demonstrated the need for additional time.
“As preparations have progressed, it has become clear that giving ourselves more time is the most responsible way to ensure that Hifa returns with the artistic excellence, organisational care and sense of occasion that our audiences expect and deserve,” the statement said.
The organisers acknowledged that the postponement would disappoint many people who had been looking forward to the festival's return, but maintained that taking more time was preferable to compromising the standards associated with Hifa.
“While this news will disappoint many people, we believe it is far better to take the necessary time now than to compromise the quality and integrity that have always defined Hifa,” they said.
Despite the postponement, Hifa said preparations for its next chapter were continuing, with work focused on strengthening partnerships, developing programming ideas and establishing the foundations for a sustainable festival.
The festival also thanked its supporters for their continued encouragement following the announcement of its return.
“Your belief in Hifa reminds us that this Festival belongs to a remarkable community of people who continue to care deeply about its future,” the organisers said.
Hifa has been one of Zimbabwe's most prominent cultural events, bringing together local and international artists across music, theatre, dance, visual arts and other creative disciplines.
The organisers did not announce a new date for the festival, saying they would share more information in the coming months.
They said they looked forward to welcoming audiences back when the time was right.