FESPAM, the Pan-African Music Festival, is Brazzaville's great musical gathering in the Republic of the Congo. It takes place every two years in July, with concerts, a symposium and an exhibition of traditional instruments from across the continent. The 12th edition ran from July 19 to 26, 2025, and the 13th is announced for 2027: FESPAM returns to Brazzaville in 2027, on dates still to be published.
Origins and meaning of FESPAM
According to Afrik.com, the festival was first held in 1996. It is organized in the Congo with the African Union, in partnership with the International Centre for Bantu Civilizations (Ciciba), the International Music Council and UNESCO. The idea is simple: for one week, Brazzaville becomes the capital of African music, from the oldest traditions to the newest sounds.
The festival has been through hard times. In July 2011, the 8th edition was called off after a deadly crush at the Félix-Éboué stadium.
Watch out
According to Afrik.com, the 2011 crush killed 7 people and injured about thirty as a group came on stage. At big concerts, arrive early, locate the exits and do not stay pressed against the barriers.
After the 2015 edition, FESPAM went on a long break, caused by the economic crisis and then Covid, according to Africanews. It returned in 2023, with an 11th edition devoted to Congolese rumba.
Each edition has a theme. In 2023, it was devoted to Congolese rumba. In 2025, the theme was “Music and economic stakes in Africa in the digital age.” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay linked it to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity, according to Alwihda Info.
What you will see at the festival
FESPAM is more than a string of concerts. The 2025 program, described by Alwihda Info, included:
- An international symposium, with researchers and music professionals.
- An exhibition of traditional instruments, one of the festival's most original moments.
- An African music market, for industry professionals.
- Concerts at several venues in the city and on its outskirts.
The 2025 opening ceremony featured a parade by the armed forces, a national brass band and a choreographed show by more than 200 African artists, in the presence of President Denis Sassou N'Guesso. The organizers received 1,800 artist applications, 1,300 of them from the Congo.
In 2023, the exhibition showed the royal drums of Ghana, the traditional violin of Togo and the musical bow of Angola, according to Africanews. On stage were Ferré Gola from DR Congo, Brazzaville rumba star Roga-Roga and Malian musician Sidiki Diabaté.
Our advice
Do not stick to the big stages. The instrument exhibition and the neighborhood concerts show a side of the festival you will not find anywhere else. Keep one evening for a neighborhood venue such as Mayanga.
Dates and venues
FESPAM is held in July in odd-numbered years. The 13th edition was announced at the 2025 closing ceremony, on July 26, at the Palais des Congrès, according to Fraternité Matin. As of mid-October 2026, its dates had not yet been published.
I declare the 12th Pan-African Music Festival closed.
| Edition | Dates | Theme or key fact |
|---|---|---|
| 8th (2011) | July 2011 | called off after the Félix-Éboué stadium crush |
| 11th (2023) | July 15 to 22 | Congolese rumba |
| 12th (2025) | July 19 to 26 | music and the economy in the digital age |
| 13th (2027) | announced, dates not published | to be confirmed |
Venues change from one edition to the next. In 2025, events were spread between the Palais des Congrès, Kintélé, north of Brazzaville, and Mayanga, to the south. In 2023, the main stage was at the Alphonse-Massamba-Débat stadium, while the symposium and the exhibition were held at the Palais du Parlement.
Attending FESPAM in Brazzaville
Entry requirements. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality: check your case on our Republic of the Congo entry requirements page. No visas are issued on arrival. For travelers applying through the Congolese embassy in Paris, the application is made online, with 7 days of processing under the standard procedure. A paid hotel booking or a certificate of accommodation is required. Apply at least two weeks before you leave.
Health. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, and your certificate may be checked on arrival. Malaria is present all year: ask your doctor about preventive treatment.
Weather. July falls in the middle of the long dry season, which runs from June to September. It is a good time to get around.
Money. The currency is the Central African CFA franc. Change your euros at an exchange office, the only place where it is allowed.
Safety and photography
Crowds. The big concerts draw large crowds. Keep your valuables out of sight.
Watch out
Brazzaville is under heightened vigilance according to France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice). It advises against travel, unless essential, to a 30 km strip along the border with the Central African Republic and a 10 km strip along the southern border with DR Congo and Cabinda. In the capital, stay careful at night and in outlying neighborhoods: thefts and assaults are common.
Photographing bridges, government buildings and checkpoints is prohibited. Ask musicians for permission before photographing them away from the stage. Check your own government's travel advice as well.
To plan the rest of your stay, read our Republic of the Congo guide and discover the other festivals in the Republic of the Congo, including Independence Day on August 15.
Frequently asked questions
Does FESPAM take place every year?
No. The festival is held every two years, in July of odd-numbered years. After 2025, the next edition is announced for 2027.
Do you have to pay for the concerts?
The organizers had not published prices for 2027 as of mid-October 2026. Ask locally or contact the festival's general commission before you travel.
Can you attend FESPAM from Kinshasa?
River shuttles link Kinshasa and Brazzaville every day except Sunday. You will still need a visa for the Republic of the Congo if your nationality requires one, and France Diplomatie advises against tourist travel to DR Congo.
