Welcome to Umurage International Book and Art Festival
Festival Programme
Festival Schedule
Umurage Festival Programme
Thursday, 01 October 2026
09:00
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10:30
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony
01 October 2026
Time: 09:00 - 10:30
Speaker: TBC
Venue: Norrsken House Kigali
The Opening Ceremony of Umurage 2026 will officially launch a celebration of books, creativity, innovation, and Africa’s evolving knowledge ecosystem. Bringing together government leaders, cultural institutions, authors, publishers, artists, educators, innovators, and partners from Rwanda and beyond, the ceremony will set the stage for conversations on the future of books and the creative economy.
Under the theme “The Future is Written: Books, AI, Culture and Rwanda’s Creative Economy,” the opening will highlight the importance of storytelling, intellectual property, technology, and cultural heritage in shaping Rwanda’s and Africa’s future.
The ceremony will mark the start of four days of literary exchanges, creative showcases, exhibitions, workshops, and discussions that explore how books continue to inspire learning, preserve identity, and drive innovation.
16:00
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19:02
Women book creatives roundtable
Women book creatives roundtable
01 October 2026
Time: 16:00 - 19:02
Speaker: TBC
Venue: Norrsken House Kigali
The Art in Books Lab is a hands-on creative learning experience at Umurage International Book & Art Festival 2026, designed to help young people discover how stories come to life through art, design and technology.
Over three interactive days, participants will explore illustration, book design, comics, graphic novels, visual storytelling, children's book illustration, typography, animation, digital art and AI-powered creative practice. Guided by professional artists, illustrators, designers and publishers, they will learn how words become images, how books are visually created, and how creative ideas can grow into careers.
The Lab brings together secondary school students, emerging writers, illustrators, designers, teachers and creative practitioners in a collaborative environment where creativity meets publishing. Participants will gain practical skills, develop original visual concepts and showcase their work while connecting with professionals from Rwanda's creative industries.
More than a workshop, the Art in Books Lab is a platform for nurturing the next generation of storytellers, illustrators and creative entrepreneurs, strengthening the connection between literature, education and the arts, and contributing to the growth of Rwanda's creative economy.