Skip to main content

Culture and food · Festivals

Festivals of Ghana, month by month

Durbars of chiefs, processions of the asafo companies, the sea opened for fishing, a hunt for a live antelope: Ghana's traditional festivals by month and region, and how to attend one with respect.

What a Ghanaian festival really is

Ghana's festivals are not shows put on for tourists. They are religious, political and social events: a people remembering a migration, a victory or a famine, purifying the community, honouring the ancestors and renewing the bond between chief and people. Most build up over several days, with private rites that outsiders do not see, and end in a public durbar where chiefs sit in state under great umbrellas, carried in palanquins, with drums, dancing and the asafo warrior companies.

Dates are set by traditional councils, often following local calendars, the harvest or the moon. Many fall on a fixed weekday of a given month; some move from year to year; a few are only finalised weeks ahead. Treat every date below as a guide, and confirm locally before you travel for a festival.

The calendar, month by month

January

  • Edina Bronya · Elmina, Central Region · early January. Elmina's own "Christmas", rooted in the town's long Dutch connection.

March

  • Independence Day · nationwide · 6 March. Parades and celebrations; in 2027 Ghana marks seventy years.
  • Gologo · Tongo and the Talensi area, Upper East · around March to April, before the planting season.

April

  • Ghana Paragliding Festival · Kwahu, Eastern Region · Easter weekend. Kwahu's Easter is one of the biggest parties in the country.
  • Dipo · Krobo, Eastern Region · around April to May. The puberty rite of Krobo girls; a sacred event, with strict rules on photography.

May

  • Aboakyer · Winneba, Central Region · usually the first weekend of May. Two asafo companies race to catch a live antelope with their bare hands.

July

  • Bakatue · Elmina, Central Region · usually the first Tuesday of July. The lagoon is opened for the fishing season, with a regatta of canoes.

August

  • Homowo · the Ga towns of Accra · around August to September. "Hooting at hunger": the Ga remembering a famine, with kpokpoi, sprinkled through the streets.
  • Asafotufiam · Ada, Greater Accra · usually the first weekend of August. The warrior festival of the Ada.
  • Kundum · Nzema and Ahanta towns, Western Region · spread across August to November, town by town.
  • Akwambo · Fante and Effutu towns, Central Region · around August to September. The path-clearing festival.

September

  • Fetu Afahye · Cape Coast, Central Region · first Saturday of September is the grand durbar. One of the most colourful festivals on the coast; Cape Coast fills up, so book rooms early. See also oguaa.capecoastcastle.com.
  • Odwira · Akropong and Akuapem, Eastern Region · around September to October. The purification festival.
  • Kobine · Lawra, Upper West · around September to October, after the harvest.

October

  • Ngmayem · Krobo, Odumase, Eastern Region · around October. The millet harvest festival.

November

  • Hogbetsotso · Anloga, Volta Region · usually the first Saturday of November. The Anlo Ewe remember their escape from the walled city of Notsie by walking backwards to hide their tracks.

December

  • Fiok · Sandema, Builsa area, Upper East · December. Remembers resistance against the slave raiders.
  • Farmers' Day · nationwide · first Friday in December.

Festivals with moving dates

  • Akwasidae · Kumasi and Asante towns · every six weeks, on a Sunday, following the Akan calendar. The Asantehene sits in state at Manhyia Palace: the most accessible way to see a great Asante durbar.
  • Damba · Dagbon and the north, around Tamale and Yendi · set by the Islamic calendar, so it moves earlier each year.
  • PANAFEST · Cape Coast and Elmina · not held every year. The Pan-African festival of return, closely tied to Emancipation Day.

More festivals: dates set locally each year

These festivals are celebrated at different times from town to town, or their dates are announced by the traditional council each year. Follow the links for the background, and confirm the date locally.

AwubiaHonouring the ancestors. OhumThe festival of ancestral blessings. KloyosikplemThe festival of ancestral strength. DodoleglimeThe festival of escape. MmoaninkoThe festival of bravery. FaoThe festival of ritual renewal. ApooThe festival of cleansing. FofieThe sacred harvest of yams. AdekyemThe festival of gratitude. Gbawe Alokoto Street Art FestivalAccra's modern street art festival.

Attending a festival: how to do it right

  • Confirm the date locally before booking travel: a phone call to a hotel or guide in the town is worth more than any website.
  • Book rooms early. Festival towns fill with returning sons and daughters.
  • Ask before photographing, especially chiefs, priests, shrines and sacred rites. Some rites are closed to outsiders and to cameras altogether. Dipo in particular demands real restraint.
  • Dress respectfully. Many festivals have colours of mourning or celebration; ask, and avoid wearing red or black by accident at the wrong moment.
  • Greet the chief if you are invited to the durbar grounds; a small gift of drink money is customary.
  • Mind the crowds: keep valuables close and agree a meeting point with your group.
  • Go with a local guide if you can: you will understand what you are watching, and doors will open.
Respect before the camera. A festival is somebody's sacred tradition before it is your photograph.

Monthly listings on ghana-net.com

For the full and updated listings, month by month:

Festivals of GhanaThe full festival portal, on ghana-net.com. Ghana festivals 2026 into 2027Dates, traditions and what to expect, on ghana-net.com. Climate and best time to visitWeather around the festival months. Where to stayBook early for festival towns.
Updated and fact-checked: 1 October 2026 · Festival dates are set by traditional councils; confirm locally before travel · GhanaNet.co.uk, Peter Terrace, Swansea, SA1 6FJ · travel@ghananet.co.uk

Greater Accra Region

Five forts, Independence Square, Makola and the palace you cannot visit.

Explore Accra

Central Region

Cape Coast Castle, Elmina, Kakum canopy walk and Assin Manso.

Explore Cape Coast

Western Region

The twin cities, Nzulezo stilt village, forts and Ankasa rainforest.

Explore Sekondi & Takoradi

Western North Region

Cocoa country, Bia National Park and the Sefwi hills.

Explore Sefwi Wiawso

Volta Region

Wli Falls, Mount Afadja, Amedzofe and Lake Volta.

Explore Ho

Oti Region

Kyabobo National Park, the Oti river and Ghana’s newest region.

Explore Dambai

Eastern Region

Akosombo Dam, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Boti Falls and Umbrella Rock.

Explore Koforidua

Ashanti Region

Manhyia Palace, Lake Bosomtwe and the heart of the Asante Kingdom.

Explore Kumasi

Bono Region

Bui National Park and the cleanest city in Ghana.

Explore Sunyani

Bono East Region

Kintampo Waterfalls, Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary and Techiman market.

Explore Techiman

Ahafo Region

Cocoa plantations, forest reserves and Ghana’s quietest region.

Explore Goaso

Northern Region

Tamale, Yendi and the gateway to the north.

Explore Tamale

Savannah Region

Mole National Park, Larabanga Mosque and Salaga slave market.

Explore Damongo

North East Region

The Nalerigu Defence Wall, NaYiri Palace and Gambaga Escarpment.

Explore Nalerigu

Upper East Region

Paga Crocodile Pond, Pikworo Slave Camp and Bolga crafts.

Explore Bolgatanga

Upper West Region

Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, Gwollu Defence Wall and Nakore Mosque.

Explore Wa
Top Guided Coastal Ghana Tours Provided by Viator