Ipupa confirmed as headliners for the LIT Stage. The world’s biggest celebration of Afrobeats, amapiano and African music returns to Praia da Rocha in Portimão from 9th-11th June 2027.
The festival is moving to earlier dates for 2027, placing the three days on the Algarve beach at the start of the European summer. That shift follows Afro Nation Portugal 2026, which ran from 3rd-5th July.
Presale tickets go on sale at 10am BST on Tuesday 29th September, with general sale at 10am BST on Wednesday 30th September. Fans can sign up now via afronation.com.
Davido returns to Praia da Rocha as one of the defining names in modern Afrobeats, arriving off the back of his album Oriadé. The Lagos star, whose stadium hits and collaborations have helped take the sound worldwide, is back after headlining in 2023.
Rema has been on a steep rise since his headline debut at Afro Nation Portugal 2024. Calm Down remains one of the biggest African crossover hits of all time, second album HEIS earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Global Music Album, and tracks including Ozeba and Baby (Is It A Crime) have added to an already huge catalogue. He now returns as one of the most electrifying African artists of his generation, with his Afrorave show having reached some of the world’s biggest stages.
Fally Ipupa also comes back three years after his 2024 set, bringing Congolese rumba and contemporary African pop to the top of the bill. He is the first Congolese solo artist to go platinum, and this year became the first Francophone artist to headline and sell out The O2 in London. Organisers say the booking reflects the festival’s widening sound, and will mark 20 years of his career.
Also confirmed for the LIT Stage are Omah Lay, known for introspective R&B fusion cuts such as soso and HOLY GHOST, UK R&B breakthrough Odeal, Jamaican dancehall stars Shenseea and Valiant, Victony, Bamby, Miimii KDS and Rayvanny. The final night afterparty on the LIT Stage will be led by South Gidi, the live project from DJ Tunez and DJ Maphorisa that made its debut at Afro Nation this summer and draws on the EP featuring Wizkid and Mavo.
South African sounds again get their own home on the beach with the Piano People Stage, led by amapiano pioneer Kabza De Small and duo TxC, who previously featured on Piano People in 2023. Dlala Thukzin joins as special guest with gqom, while the first Piano People names also include 031Choppa, 2woBunnies, Benzo, Thatohatsi, Uncool MC, W4DE, Xduppy B2B Al Xapo, Young Stunna and Zee Nxumalo.
The Afrotronic Takeover returns in 2027, with Caiiro and Djeff leading the first names alongside Jamiie, Aniko and JNR SA. More artists are still to be announced across the weekend.
Afro Nation first arrived in Portugal in 2019 and now draws more than 40,000 people from over 180 countries to Praia da Rocha for music, dance, food, fashion and art. The 2027 edition is produced by The Malachite Group. Tickets are via afronation.com, with presale at 10am BST on Tuesday 29th September and general sale at 10am BST on Wednesday 30th September.
LIT Stage: Davido, Fally Ipupa, Rema, Omah Lay, Shenseea, Odeal, Valiant, Victony, Bamby, Miimii KDS, Rayvanny, South Gidi (DJ Maphorisa and DJ Tunez)
Piano People Stage: Kabza De Small, TxC, Dlala Thukzin (special guest), 031Choppa, 2woBunnies, Benzo, Thatohatsi, Uncool MC, W4DE, Xduppy B2B Al Xapo, Young Stunna, Zee Nxumalo
Afrotronic Takeover: Caiiro, Djeff, Aniko, Jamiie, JNR SA
Image credits: Afro Nation Portugal 2026 @afronation
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