For over 16 years, Blankets & Wine has been a fixture on East Africa’s cultural calendar — a lifestyle festival where music, art, food, and fashion collide in an easygoing picnic-style atmosphere.
Now, the Nairobi-born experience is making its international debut in the United Kingdom, marking a bold new chapter in its evolution.
Founded in 2008 by singer and entrepreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen, Blankets & Wine has grown from a modest Sunday gathering into one of Africa’s most recognizable boutique festivals.
It has hosted both emerging talents and continental heavyweights, from Sauti Sol to Sho Madjozi, and expanded across borders into Uganda and Rwanda.
The UK debut takes this formula further, offering a taste of African cultural vibrancy to new audiences while giving the East African diaspora in Britain a slice of home.
Scheduled for September 6 2025, the festival will be staged in Bradford — the city named UK City of Culture 2025.
The festival’s UK stop is also part of the UK/Kenya Season 2025, a collaborative program spearheaded by the British Council to deepen cultural exchange between the two nations.
For Blankets & Wine, it’s an opportunity to cement its reputation as a truly global African lifestyle brand.
At its core, Blankets & Wine festival merges live performances with food stalls, art exhibitions, and fashion showcases. Guests traditionally bring blankets, picnic baskets, and an openness to discover new sounds.
For the UK edition, organizers promise the same laid-back, immersive vibe, while tailoring the experience for a European audience. Expect a mix of African headliners and UK-based talent, underscoring the festival’s emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue.
One of the festival’s biggest draws in the UK will be its appeal to the East African diaspora. Cities like London, Leeds, and Birmingham are home to thousands of Kenyans, Ugandans, and Tanzanians. Bradford, with its cultural diversity, provides fertile ground for such a celebration.
Blankets & Wine UK brings a powerhouse lineup to Bradford. Bensoul, Festival founder Muthoni Drummer Queen and Blinky Bill.Rising stars like Njerae, Elsy Wameyo, and Tina Ardor add a fresh wave of Afro-indie and electronic beats, while Boutross, Coster Ojwang and Euggy promise Bradford a night drenched in Nairobi’s rhythm and soul.
Another key feature of the UK edition: entry will be free. Unlike the Nairobi versions, which are ticketed, the Bradford event aims to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. This move is in line with the City of Culture program, which emphasizes community participation and open cultural exchange.
While the Bradford event is officially a one-off partnership for the 2025 season, Blankets & Wine could position itself as a recurring fixture abroad — much like Afro Nation has done for Afrobeats.
For now, though, the focus is firmly on September, where East African creativity will have its moment under UK skies.