Afrika Tage (Africa Days) celebrates the spirit of that great continent with a long festival in Vienna. The event entertains and enlightens as it builds bridges between cultures. Fill your senses (and your stomach).
- Music, dance, kids activities, food, shopping, and more with an African theme
- Full concerts in the evening
- Marla Glen appears in 2025, for example
- Held on a huge island on the Danube
- Great event for kids, too
- 2025 dates: Aug 8-18
- See also:
- The Weltmuseum
- Events in Vienna
- Vienna in August
Afrika Tage in Vienna
(View from the evening stage; press photo courtesy of afrika-tage.at; photo by Christina Karagiannis)
Each year, a piece of Africa puts ashore on the Danube in Vienna, setting up stall(s) on the long artificial island that splits the river as it passes through the city.
The Afrika Tage festival is much as you’d expect: a colourful and vibrant celebration of the continent’s culture with an opportunity to learn about the people and places (and the challenges). See the official aftermovie from a past event at the bottom of the page for a flavour.
A visit is a treat for all the senses.
You have the forms and colours, especially in the clothing, arts and crafts at the bazaar that dominates the festival site.
Then the sounds, perhaps from a drum or dance show and certainly at one of the evening concerts featuring national and international acts.
(The Fair und Sensibel Band at a past event; press photo courtesy of afrika-tage.at)
Various stands selling African cuisine provide the tastes and smells.
And the info booths from NGOs active in Africa should leave you touched with a better understanding of the continent’s diversity and current issues.
For me, the highlight is always browsing the bazaar, but parents tend to value the kids activities, such as a craft workshop or a ride on a camel.
Those evening concerts at the Afrika Tage add a music festival vibe and feature African or Africa-inspired performers.
Top names regularly appear. Damian “Jr Gong” Marley dropped by in 2022. Burning Spear appeared in 2023. The magnificent Marla Glen and the mighty Youssou N’Dour graced the 2024 event.
Marla Glen returns in 2025 and Jimmy Dludlu also performs this year: check the official website for full details of the event and daily programme.
2025 dates, tickets & tips
The 2025 Afrika Tage runs from August 8th to 18th. Opening hours last time out were:
- 2pm to midnight (Monday to Saturday)
- 11am to midnight (Sunday)
The festival always has various ticket options. See the website for details. A full adult day ticket costs €10 if you enter before 4pm. If you go in after 4pm, you pay €20.
Entry is free on Mondays. Or “free”, as I reckon you should really make a donation to charity once inside.
How to get to the Africa festival
The festival takes place on the Donauinsel island: a popular recreational area and event location (see, for example, the huge open-air Donauinselfest music event).
Getting there is best via the railway and subway stations at either end of the Nordbahnbrücke bridge, with pedestrian access across to the island. The two stations are:
- Handelskai: on the U6 subway line and also various city train lines (S1, S2, S3, S4, S7 and S45)
- Neue Donau: also on the U6 subway line
Address: Donauinsel (Danube Island), 1220 Vienna
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