Blankets & Wine, a GoodTimes Africa production, is gearing towards the Kenyan Summer 2025 edition taking place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani from 12 PM. Tickets are now available to purchase via Mookh.
The Kenyan Summer 2025 edition is set to deliver one of the boldest and most musically diverse lineups in Blankets history, featuring an explosive Kenyan lineup of stars including Iyanii, Matata, Okello Max, Ssaru, Bridget Blue, Elsy Wameyo and Shad Mziki, creating a powerful blend of Afro-fusion, Gengetone, soul, R&B, rap-dance and contemporary African pop.
Taking center stage are South Africa’s Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa), the duo at the forefront of the global Amapiano wave, Tanzania’s chart-topping sensation Marioo of the “Nairobi” hit fame, whose smooth, melodic anthems have defined a regional sound and UK’s Donae’o bringing London’s unmistakable dance energy to Nairobi, with his iconic hits “Party Hard” and “I’m Fly” at the Onja Onja Stage. South Africa’s Mi Casa will add their signature mix of house, jazz and soul, rounding off a continent-spanning lineup built to electrify the main stage. M
This year’s theme, “COME WE DANCE!” in partnership with the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, invites Kenyans and Africans at home and across the diaspora to immerse themselves in joy, rhythm and connection. Amid global uncertainty, the festival calls audiences to find release and celebration in the music and energy that define today’s African soundscape.
The Onja Onja Stage continues the momentum into the night, with an eclectic selection of electronic, house, Afro-house and alternative sounds from Foozak, Tina Ardor, Ms. Mika, Darkfruit, Shishi and a high-energy back-to-back finale from Aly Fresh, Mura and Big Nyagz — ensuring that every corner of the festival pulses with unstoppable rhythm.
Following Blankets & Wine’s successful and historic UK debut in Bradford earlier this year under the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, the partnership now extends its cultural exchange back to Nairobi. This continued collaboration underlines a commitment to two-way creative engagement, linking artists and audiences between the UK and Kenya. The British Funky House trailblazer Donae’o joins the festival as a co-headliner, as part of this exchange and deepening the artistic dialogue between the two creative ecosystems.
Muthoni Drummer Queen, Creative Director of Blankets & Wine says, “Our debut in Bradford, UK this year, proved that the Blankets & Wine experience travels and that African creativity resonates globally. Bringing Donae’o to Nairobi is a full-circle celebration for us, showing that the UK/Kenya Season is not a moment but a movement.” A British Council spokesperson added: “We are delighted to continue this partnership. Blankets & Wine embodies the mutual exchange and creative innovation that the UK/Kenya Season was built to champion.”
As Blankets & Wine enters its 17th year, the festival is elevating production and user experience with renewed commitment. Muthoni says, “For years, we’ve worked tirelessly to delight audiences through exceptional artistry and dependable production. Now we are sharpening our operations, sound, staging, hospitality and accessibility to deliver an experience that is world-class at every touchpoint.”
Justine Mbugua, Head of Festivals at B&W, emphasizes: “Each edition strengthens the cultural ecosystem. We are deeply focused on service excellence and creating a seamless experience from entry to exit.”
Returning this season is the Onja Onja Market, a diverse holiday marketplace showcasing Kenyan fashion, food, art, wellness and lifestyle brands. The market is curated to celebrate local creativity and commerce, for festival goers to discover and support Kenyan artisans while enjoying the full Blankets & Wine experience. With two dynamic stages, a star-studded pan-African lineup, an elevated production design and a richer cultural marketplace, the December 21 Kenyan Summer edition promises to be one of the most exciting and musically powerful Blankets & Wine festivals to date.
For seventeen years, Blankets & Wine has been a beacon of African music, culture and lifestyle—showcasing emerging and established artists from across the continent. Known for its dynamic two-stage programming, curated food, fashion and crafts market, artistic installations, branded experiences and high production standards, the festival has become a beloved quarterly Sunday ritual that fosters discovery and community. Founded in 2008, Blankets & Wine has grown into a premier outdoor international music festival dedicated to championing African talent. Now expanded into Uganda and Rwanda, it remains an authentic platform where African culture is celebrated through music, art, human connection and lifestyle. With a vision to connect exceptional African performers with audiences across the continent, the festival continues to import and export African music for African audiences, while occasionally hosting exceptional global acts—delivering world-class experiences for both artists and fans.
