# Nairobi's International Theatre Festival Opens 4 November

> Nairobi's 11th International Theatre Festival launches November 4 with 54 performances across 4 venues.
- Title: Nairobi's International Theatre Festival Opens 4 November
- Summary: Nairobi's 11th International Theatre Festival launches November 4 with 54 performances across 4 venues. Kenya's International Theatre Festival opens November…
- Keywords: kenya, nairobi, international theatre festival, kitfest, theatre, kenya national theatre, nairobi national theatre, kenya cultural centre, reimagining theatre, sungu dudi, terano, us production
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/kenya-international-theatre-festival-nairobi-2026
- Author: Samuel Ncube
- Published: 2026-10-15T13:44:33+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: kenya, nairobi, international theatre festival, kitfest, theatre, kenya national theatre, nairobi national theatre, kenya cultural centre, reimagining theatre, sungu dudi, terano, us production
## Festival Opens
The Kenya International Theatre Festival opens its 11th edition in Nairobi on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
## 12-Day Run
Ticketed shows run from Wednesday, 4 November, to Sunday, 15 November 2026 at the Kenya National Theatre.
## 4 Venues
Shows use four spaces: the Main Auditorium, Ukumbi Mdogo, Cheche and an outdoor stage.
## International Lineup
The programme lists 54 performances of 41 productions from Kenya and 16 other countries.
## US Production
The only US production is Changing the World One Poem at a Time playing Friday, 13 November at 7:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. US Eastern).
## Sungu Dudi Tribute
The 2026 edition is dedicated to the late Sungu Dudi, known as Terano, named as its official festival face.
## Theatre Market
The KITFest African Theatre Market runs from Friday, 6 November, to Sunday, 8 November for festival directors scouting touring work.
## Ticket Prices
Single shows cost KES 500 to KES 1,800 (about US$4 to US$14). Passes run KES 2,000 to KES 13,000 (about US$15 to US$100).
## US Visitor Tips
US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before departure.
## Travel Advice
Kenya keeps East Africa Time all year, three hours ahead of GMT. Once US clocks fall back on Sunday, 1 November, Nairobi is eight hours ahead of New York.
## Rainy Season
Early November usually falls in Nairobi's short rainy season, so pack a light rain jacket for the outdoor stage.
## What's Not Confirmed
Whether any public event takes place on Tuesday, 3 November, is not confirmed. The Night Experience line-up has not been published.
## First Show
The first ticketed show, The Masks from South Africa, starts at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 November.
## Last Show
The festival closes on Sunday, 15 November, with No Laughing Matter at 7:00 p.m.
## Key takeaway

Kenya's International Theatre Festival opens November 4 with 54 performances from 41 productions across 16 countries.