Afro Nation returns to Algarve next week with Burna Boy, Wizkid and Tyla

The “world’s biggest afrobeats festival” is set to return to the Algarve next week, with thousands of fans expected in Praia da Rocha.

Running from July 3 to 5, Afro Nation Portugal will once again transform Portimão into one of Europe’s leading summer music destinations, bringing together some of the biggest names in afrobeats, amapiano, R&B, hip-hop and dancehall.

This year’s headline acts include Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, South African sensation Tyla, Wizkid, Asake, Gunna, Kehlani, Olamide, Mariah The Scientist and Brazilian singer Ludmilla, alongside dozens of other international artists performing across three stages.

Since launching in Portugal in 2019, Afro Nation has become one of the Algarve’s largest annual events, attracting visitors from around the world and providing a significant boost to the local tourism and hospitality sectors at the start of the summer season.

Alongside the music, festivalgoers can expect food stalls, fashion, dance and cultural experiences celebrating African and Afro-diasporic creativity.

Day tickets are now on sale online, costing €137 per person. Three-day passes and other special tickets can be purchased through the official event website.

Afro Nation in Portimão until 2030

Since making its debut on Praia da Rocha in 2019, Afro Nation has grown into one of the Algarve’s biggest annual events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from around the world. After a two-year break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival returned in 2022 and has continued to draw crowds of around 40,000 people each year, cementing its status as one of Europe’s leading music festivals.

Its economic impact has also made it one of the region’s most important tourism events. Hotels, restaurants, bars, car hire companies and other tourism businesses across both the western and eastern Algarve benefit from the influx of visitors, while the festival has helped establish Portimão as an international events destination at the start of the summer season.

That success has prompted organisers and Portimão Council to extend their partnership until 2030, guaranteeing that Afro Nation will remain in the city for at least another four editions after this year’s festival.

Speaking when the agreement was announced, Portimão mayor Álvaro Bila said the decision reflected the festival’s “very significant, direct and expressive economic impact on the local and regional economy” and its role in promoting both the municipality and the Algarve to a global audience.

As part of the agreement, Afro Nation organisers will also contribute around €70,000 each year towards Portimão’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.