Afro Nation is returning for its sixth edition with a brand new stage dedicated to Afrotronic, featuring artists like Afrokillerz, Epidemia, and Kitty Amor, among others. This year, it joins the Lit and Piano People stages to deliver a festival experience worthy of memory. The party started at 4pm on Friday, 3 July, with entry available until 9pm, the mood being set on the Lit Stage by sets from Flygerian, Denden, Bien, Darkoo, Ludmilla, and Gunna. From there, Tyla and takes the stage at 9:45pm, and Burna Boy closes the night from 11:45pm to 2am.

Meanwhile, on the Piano People stage, Trendy begins the celebration, followed by fellow resident DJs Daphfinee and Success SA. Royal Musiq plays at 7:15pm, with Nkosazana Daughter, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela, Felo Le Tee, Zee Nxumalo and Uncle Waffles carrying the torch from then forwards. At a quarter past midnight, Success SA returns for the final set of the night, keeping the party alive until 2am.

The Afrotronic Stage carries its own party at NoSoloÁgua beach club, opening with Supa D and Terminal 4 at midday. 2Shoes, Epidemia, 2WOBunnies, and Cleido uphold the dedication to electronic music for the rest of the day, with the stage closing at 8pm.

This is just the first day of 3 for Afro Nation in 2026, with Saturday and Sunday promising to ramp up the festival with sets from icons across the Afrobeats scene, such as Mariah the Scientist, Niska, R2BEES, and Olamide. Each day, from the late afternoon to the middle of the night, these artists will be performing at their best, fueling Portimão’s heartbeat as we enter the high summer with a mix of Afrobears, Amapiano, dancehall, and hip-hop.

The festival celebrates more than just music. Here, the YAM Food Court shares African and Caribbean cuisine on the beach, an opportunity to experience life as it would be in the cultural heartland of the music guests are enjoying. One of the highlight dishes is Jollof Mamma, a rice dish from West Africa served with chicken.

This isn’t the only place to eat in Afro Nation though. Abarka, who serve Senegalese cuisine, Pazza Crust, featuring Caribbean inspired patty pizzas, Raps, an African fusion wrap concept, and Rhythm & Roots, widely regarded as one of Lisbon’s greatest West African restaurants, will be on the festival grounds, offering their variety of dishes to the public.

These culinary options build Afro Nation into more than just a music festival, but as a whole experience. There are many additional opportunities available to see, such as exclusive boat and pool parties, hotel takeovers, and artist meet-and-greets. Even within the music, between the sets, the party vibes are held onto by hosts like Shopsydoo, Willz Wida Vibez, W1zzy, Teddy Goodfella, and Xavier, alongside the celebrated DJs P Montana, Spaceship Billy, OV, Flygerian, Shiiva, among many others.

The guests on the boat trip are privileged by sets from OVMBR, Detty Whine, Lit, Piano People presents Groove Station, and WAV. The hotel takeovers, for their part, present the ultimate all-round experience with luxury hospitality, exclusive meet and greets, and pool parties featuring artists like Uncle Waffles, Joshua Baraka, JAZZWRLD, Mellow and Sleazy, and Skyla Tylaa, with the experience being made possible thanks to partnerships with TRACE+ & The Kimpton, AP Oriental Beach, and Marriott Salgados.

Afro Nation this year is going to be wild. The entire event is sold out, including the VIP areas, but if you’re still interested in keeping up with it, visit www.afronation.com for additional information.