African Music and Cultural Festival

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African Music and Cultural Festival

Over 40,000 people attend the AMCF including representatives from the three tiers of government, non-governmental organisations and wider Australian community.

Australia’s largest FREE African Music and Cultural Festival brings over 50,000 Victorians and visitors together at Fed Square every November to enjoy vibrant music, delicious food, and performances celebrating African heritage. The African Music & Cultural Festival (AMCF) is a free family-friendly event in its 8th year and involving over 35 African communities in its planning and delivery to over

40,000 attendees. It is open to all Victorians and visitors to experience vibrant music, arts and cultural performances of African heritage to promote cross-cultural awareness as well foster intercultural relationships, community contributions, mutual respect, understanding and community unity in Victoria. The objectives of the ACMF is to contribute to community cohesiveness and breakdown barriers to social and cultural understanding of the relatively new and emerging African Australian community by the wider Australian community, as well as to create opportunities for this emerging community to better connect and engage with each other and the wider community. The AMCF is presented by the African Australian Communities and Organisations in Victoria including: African Australian Communities Leadership Forum (AACLF), African Think Tank, Africa Day Australia, Africa’s Got Talent, Celebrate African Australians, Afro-Australian Student Organisation (AASO), A Look Into African Society (ALIAS) at La Trobe University, Pan African Community, Australia Africa Business Council, African Communities Foundation Australia (ACFA), Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria, Eastern and Central African Communities of Victoria, Incubate Foundation, Pan African Community, Botswana, Burundian, Cape Verde, Congolese, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopian, Gambia, Ghanaian, Liberian, Libyan, Malawi, Mauritian, Moroccan, Nigerian, Senegalese, Sierra Leonean, Somali, South Sudanese, Sudanese, Zambian and Zimbabwean communities. AMCF is possible thanks to the generous support of the following sponsors and partners:

Platinum sponsors and partners:
City of Melbourne, Victoria State Government, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Department of Education and Training (DET), North Melbourne Football Club (NMFC), The Huddle, Victoria Police, Slater and Gordon Lawyers and Fed Square. Gold sponsors and partners:
Swinburne University, WorldRemit, AMES Australia, Jesuit Social Services, Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), Cricket Australia, Australian Multicultural Foundation and Orange Monkey Media. Silver sponsors and partners:
Commonwealth Bank, Morris Cohen Glen & Co Chartered Accountants, City West Water, Youth Activating Youth (YAY) and Tasty Suya African BBQ. To find out more about AMCF please visit our website www.amcf.org.au

17/06/2026

We are proud to acknowledge VicHealth as a Major Sponsor of the inaugural Bendigo African Festival.

VicHealth’s support is helping create a free, family-friendly cultural celebration that brings people together through African music, food, fashion, storytelling and community.

As AMCF’s first regional Victorian festival, this event is about connection, participation and belonging. It is an opportunity for African-Australian communities and the wider Bendigo region to share culture, celebrate identity and experience something new together in the heart of the city.

We are grateful to VicHealth for supporting an event that reflects the power of culture in strengthening community wellbeing and inclusion.

Bendigo African Festival
📅 Saturday 1 August 2026
⏰ 10am to 8pm
📍 Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
🎟 Free Entry

Join the Facebook event and stay up to date: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CZVYgXCxP/

14/06/2026

What does Africa taste like?

At the Bendigo African Festival, you’ll have the chance to experience the rich and diverse flavours of Africa, from smoky BBQ and street food favourites to traditional dishes passed down through generations.

Food is one of the most powerful ways to connect with culture, and on Saturday 1 August, Hargreaves Mall will become a destination for African cuisine, music, fashion and community.

Bring your appetite and discover why African food is celebrated around the world.

Bendigo African Festival
📅 Saturday 1 August 2026
⏰ 10am to 8pm
📍 Hargreaves Mall
🎟 Free Entry

Join the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CZVYgXCxP/

09/06/2026

What happens when over 40 African communities come together in one place?

You get something powerful.

You get rhythm, colour, storytelling, connection and culture brought to life.

You get the African Music and Cultural Festival.

AMCF is not just an event on the calendar.

It is a platform that celebrates African identity, amplifies emerging talent, creates economic opportunities for businesses and brings people from all backgrounds together through shared cultural experience.

Every drumbeat, every performance, every meal shared and every conversation sparked helps build understanding and connection.

This is why we do what we do.

And this is why AMCF continues to grow as a recognised cultural force across Victoria and beyond.
Join us as we take the next step.

Bendigo African Festival
1 August 2026

African Music and Cultural Festival at Fed Square
20 to 22 November 2026

06/06/2026

Did you know?
The African Music and Cultural Festival is Australia’s largest celebration of African culture.

What began as a vision to create connection, belonging and cultural pride has grown into one of Victoria’s most powerful multicultural events.

Over 12 years, AMCF has grown to:
More than 52,000 attendees at our 2025 festival
Representation from over 40 African communities
Three unforgettable days at Federation Square
Thousands of moments of connection through music, food, fashion and culture
But the numbers only tell part of the story.

AMCF is where cultures connect.
Where stories are shared.
Where African excellence is celebrated on one of Australia’s biggest public stages.

And in 2026, we continue to grow.
From regional expansion in Bendigo to our flagship return to Fed Square this November, the movement continues.

20 to 22 November 2026
Fed Square, Melbourne

Be part of it.

03/06/2026

Big news 📣

For the first time in our history, the African Music and Cultural Festival is heading to regional Victoria.

On Saturday 1 August 2026, Bendigo will come alive as we bring the very first Bendigo African Festival to Hargreaves Mall.

This is a significant milestone for AMCF as we continue expanding the reach of African culture, connection and community beyond Melbourne and into regional Victoria.

In partnership with Creative City Bendigo and City of Greater Bendigo, this free family celebration will showcase African music, food, dance, fashion and storytelling right in the heart of Bendigo.

And getting there has never been easier.
With Victoria’s regional public transport fare cap, festivalgoers can travel from Melbourne to Bendigo for around half the usual train fare, making it the perfect day trip for families, friends and culture lovers.
Regional Victoria, we’re coming.

Save the date
📅 Saturday 1 August 2026
⏰ 10am to 8pm
📍 Hargreaves Mall
🎟 Free Entry

30/05/2026

One day. One city. Many nations.

The inaugural Bendigo African Festival will bring together music, food and culture from across Africa in the heart of Bendigo this August.

The free festival will feature live African drumming, traditional and contemporary dance, storytelling, stilt walkers, acrobatics, workshops, face painting and cultural performances throughout the day.

A major highlight will be performances from Sun of Africa and Foday & The Culture Keepers, alongside local Bendigo involvement led by Ras Ato and members of the local African community.

This is the beginning of something special for regional Victoria and Bendigo.

📍 Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
📅 Saturday 1 August 2026
🎟 Free community event

City of Greater Bendigo
Creative City Bendigo

28/05/2026

Bendigo is about to experience something completely new.

The Bendigo African Festival is the first regional event presented by the African Music and Cultural Festival, the team behind Australia’s largest African festival at Fed Square.

On Saturday 1 August, Hargreaves Mall will come alive with African food, music, storytelling, dance, fashion and culture in a free event for the whole community.

Visitors will be able to experience flavours from across Africa with food vendors including Tastes Of Senegal, Zuya - African BBQ, ’s Delight, Shisanyama Kings South African Cuisine and more.

This is about bringing people together, supporting local activation in Bendigo and creating a space where culture can be experienced, shared and celebrated.

📍 Hargreaves Mall
📅 Saturday 1 August 2026
⏰ 10am to 8pm
🎟 Free Entry

City of Greater Bendigo
Creative City Bendigo
Ras Ato

26/05/2026

For the first time ever, the African Music and Cultural Festival is coming to regional Victoria.

The inaugural Bendigo African Festival will transform Hargreaves Mall into a full day celebration of African food, music, dance and culture on Saturday 1 August 2026.

What makes this event special is the strong local Bendigo connection.

Bendigo-based cultural figure Ras Ato will lead the African Story Village, food demonstrations and fashion parade, helping bring together African communities and the wider Bendigo community in a shared celebration.

Expect live performances, African drumming, market stalls, family activities and amazing food from across the continent.

Free entry.
10am to 8pm.
Right in the heart of .

City of Greater Bendigo
Creative City Bendigo

24/05/2026

No tickets. No barriers. Just culture, music and community.

The African Music and Cultural Festival is a free, family-friendly event — open to everyone.

Three days of live performances, food, fashion, markets and unforgettable energy in the heart of Melbourne.

Save the dates and start planning your weekend now 📅

📅 Fri 20 – Sun 22 November 2026
📍 Fed Square, Melbourne
🎟️ Free Entry

22/05/2026

Bendigo, we’re coming to you.

AMCF is proud to launch the first-ever Bendigo African Festival on Saturday 1 August 2026 at Hargreaves Mall.

This free community celebration will bring African food, music, dance, storytelling, fashion, market stalls, workshops and family-friendly entertainment into the heart of Bendigo.

Expect live drumming, traditional and contemporary dance, mask dance performances, acrobatics, stilt walkers, African food stalls, children’s activities and a special local program featuring Bendigo’s own Ras Ato.

We thank the City of Greater Bendigo for supporting this celebration of culture, community and connection.

🗓️ Saturday 1 August 2026
🕜 10am to 8pm
📍 Hargreaves Mall, Bendigo
👉 Free entry

Bring the family. Bring your friends. Come and celebrate with us.

Creative City Bendigo
Ras Ato

Address

Corner Swanston Street & Flinders St
Melbourne, VIC
3000

Telephone

+61390163391

Website

http://www.amcf.org.au/

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