Afrika Tage (Africa Days) celebrates the spirit of that great continent in an 18-day 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 information with an African theme
- Concerts in the evening with international performers
- Held on the Danube Island on the Danube river
- Top event for kids, too
- 2022 dates: TBA (was Jul 16 – Aug 2 in 2021)
- See also: The Weltmuseum | Events in Vienna
Afrika Tage in Vienna
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 problems). See the official aftermovie from 2019 at the bottom of the page for a flavour of the event.
A visit is a treat for all the senses.
You have the forms and colours, especially in the clothing, arts and crafts at the African bazaar that dominates the festival site.
Then the sounds, whether from a drum or dance workshop or one of the evening concerts.
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 challenges.
For me, the highlight is always browsing the bazaar for African crafts, but parents tend to value the kids activities, such as a Nigerian drum session or a ride on a camel.
In the evenings, most visitors turn up for the food, drink and, particularly, music. From about 6pm, the Afrika Tage turns into a music festival, with concerts by African or Africa-inspired performers each evening.
Top names often appear for the concerts. For example, Milow and Marla Glen dropped by in 2021. Check the official website for full details of the next event (when available).
2022 dates and tickets
The last Afrika Tage only just ended so I don’t have confirmed dates for 2022 yet. Typical dates are mid-July to early August with typical opening hours:
- 2pm to midnight (weekdays)
- 11am to midnight (weekends)
The festival always has various ticket options. See the website for details. A day ticket cost €9 in 2021 if you entered before 5pm. Go in later and you paid more normal festival concert prices.
Entry is free on Mondays. Or “free”, as the tacit agreement is that you make a donation to charity once inside.
How to get to the Africa festival
The festival takes place on the Donauinsel. The island’s a popular recreational area and event location (see, for example, the huge open-air Donauinselfest music event).
Getting there is probably best via the railway and subway stations at either end of the Nordbahnbrücke, 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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