The three-day festival brought Afrobeats, amapiano, hip-hop, and dancehall to Maryland over Labor Day weekend.

Landover, Maryland (Running Africa) — Afro Plus Fest 2026 transformed Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, into a three-day celebration of African, Caribbean, and Black diasporic music and culture from September 4 to 6.

The festival returned significantly larger than its 2025 debut, expanding from a one-day event that attracted about 20,000 people into a three-day experience expected to draw as many as 120,000 attendees.

Davido, Wizkid, and Alkaline Headline Afro Plus Fest 2026

Nigerian Afrobeats heavyweights Davido and Wizkid, alongside Jamaican dancehall star Alkaline, headlined the festival’s three nights.

The African lineup also featured some of the continent’s biggest names, including Tems, Ayra Starr, Olamide, Adekunle Gold, Tiwa Savage, Sarkodie, Bien, Ruger, and Victony.

Together, the lineup highlighted the growing international reach of Afrobeats and other African sounds in the United States.

Amapiano Takes Over the Piano District

South Africa’s influential amapiano sound had its own spotlight through the festival’s Piano District.

The lineup included DBN Gogo, TXC, Kelvin Momo, Tyler ICU, and Musa Keys, bringing a major South African musical presence to the Maryland festival.

Afro Plus Fest also expanded beyond African music with American hip-hop and Caribbean dancehall performers, including Lil Baby, Latto, Chief Keef, Sexyy Red, and Spice.

Food, Fashion, and African Culture Take Center Stage

Music was only part of the Afro Plus Fest experience.

The festival incorporated African and diasporic food, fashion, businesses, art, and community experiences, reflecting its broader “Africa, plus more” concept.

The approach positioned the event as both a music festival and a cultural gathering, connecting African, Caribbean, and Black communities in the United States.

Festival Growth Comes With Challenges

The expanded event was not without difficulties. Visa issues prevented two scheduled artists from appearing, while Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie later publicly criticized aspects of the festival’s organization.

Despite those challenges, Afro Plus Fest’s growth from an estimated 20,000 attendees at its 2025 debut to a three-day festival targeting up to 120,000 people underscores the rising demand for African music and culture in the U.S.

With Afrobeats and amapiano continuing to build global audiences, Afro Plus Fest is emerging as another major platform connecting Africa’s music industry with the diaspora.