International Arts Festival of Benin (FInAB) : Cotonou celebrates
From February 20 to March 1, 2026, Cotonou is alive with the rhythm of the fourth edition of the International Arts Festival of Benin (FInAB). This major celebration of arts and creativity, now a key event for artistic expression enthusiasts across Africa, confirms its role as a cultural catalyst and a platform to showcase the talent and dynamism of Benin’s young artists.
The FInAB 2026 officially opened on February 20 at the Family Beach site in Cotonou, bringing together artists, professionals, local audiences, and international visitors around a rich multidisciplinary program. For more than a week, the economic capital of Benin becomes the center of a broad artistic movement, combining music, dance, visual arts, fashion, cinema, theater, literature, and live performances.
According to its promoter, Ulrich Adjovi, the festival pursues a clear ambition: “FInAB was born from a simple observation… Benin needed to have one of its own, with pride, coherence, and ambition”, emphasizing the desire to firmly anchor the event in the global cultural landscape and to provide a platform for both local and African creativity.
A Previous Edition Backed by Strong Numbers
The previous edition in 2025 already showcased the scale of the project: an estimated 200,000 attendees, 426 stands, 251 participating artists, and a rapidly growing digital audience, reflecting the festival’s increasing appeal.
This year again, the festival highlights fashion and music, featuring a major FinAB Fashion Week runway show and daily concerts. More than thirty artists are expected to perform, including notable names such as Anna Teko, J‑Martins, Santrinos, Sethlo, T‑Gang, Fo Logozo, and the Nigerian duo Bracket, underlining FInAB’s openness to a diverse range of artistic expressions.
Cultural Impact Beyond Performances
FInAB goes beyond performances: it seeks to create synergies between creators, professionals, and audiences, encourage networking, and offer spaces for training, professional exchanges, and collaboration. Two distinct stages — one for major performances and one for emerging acts — are designed to showcase both established talents and new generations of artists.
The event is also praised by local authorities: Cotonou’s Mayor, Luc Gnacadja, emphasized that “an arts festival is never just an event, it is a signal… Culture is not peripheral, it is central”, highlighting the role of culture in social and economic development.
A Momentum That Spreads Across Africa
This edition of FInAB is part of a broader initiative to promote cultural and creative industries as drivers of cultural diversity, cooperation, and peace, according to the organizers. The festival attracts participants from across the region and beyond: for the 2026 edition, thousands of international visitors are expected, marking its rise as a platform for international artistic exchange.
FInAB thus consolidates its status as a must-attend cultural event in Francophone Africa, helping reposition Cotonou on the global arts stage while highlighting Benin’s and Africa’s vibrant artistic scene.
