DzFest, the Algerian Festival for Arts and Culture in the UK, will return for its fourth edition from 23 September to 10 October 2026, bringing a multidisciplinary programme of exhibitions, film screenings, music, discussions and workshops to London, Manchester and Cardiff.
Produced by Culturama, this year’s festival explores the theme Heritage & Decolonisation, examining how Algerian history and culture are preserved, transmitted and reimagined across generations and within the diaspora.
Rather than presenting heritage as something fixed or folkloric, DzFest 2026 approaches Algerian culture as a living and evolving practice shaped by memory, resistance, creativity and exchange.
The programme includes conversations about the cultural significance of the Blousa, as Algeria seeks UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition, alongside discussions of Oucham, the indigenous facial tattoo tradition. Other highlights include a conference exploring the legacy of Al-Andalus in Algerian musical heritage, screenings of contemporary Algerian cinema, a Bendir masterclass and a closing concert celebrating Algerian Andalusian music.
The festival will take place across a range of cultural and academic venues, including The Africa Centre, P21 Gallery, Ciné Lumière, the University of East London, the University of Manchester, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Palestine House, Marchmont Centre and St James’s Piccadilly.
Rachida Lamri, Founder and Creative Director of DzFest, said the festival aims to bring Algerian culture into Britain’s public cultural space while challenging stereotypes and creating opportunities for artists, researchers, musicians and communities to tell their own stories.
The festival’s growing profile was recently acknowledged by His Majesty’s Ambassador to Algeria, James Downer, who said during an interview on Algerian state television that cultural engagement between Britain and Algeria was already happening organically, noting that “Algerian culture is showcased every year through DzFest.”
Supported by Arts Council England and the British Council, DzFest 2026 will bring together artists, academics and communities to explore how heritage shapes identity and how cultural exchange can create dialogue between Algeria, Britain and the wider diaspora.
Find the full DzFest 2026 programme, including dates, venues and events, at DzFest.
