Tumaini Festival will not take place in 2026 after organisers said they were unable to secure enough funding to stage the annual event at Dzaleka Refugee Camp.

Tumaini Letu, the organisation behind the festival, announced the cancellation this week, citing an increasingly difficult funding environment affecting NGOs and development organisations.

The festival, which is free to attend, relies on donations, grants and support from partners to operate.

Organisers said funding had become more limited and uncertain over the past two years, making it difficult to deliver the 2026 festival at its usual scale.

Tumaini Festival has been held at Dzaleka since 2014 and has become one of the camp’s largest cultural events, bringing together refugee and Malawian artists, businesses, service providers and visitors.

The festival features music, dance, visual arts and other cultural activities while providing artists and local businesses with opportunities to reach wider audiences.

Despite the cancellation, organisers said Tumaini Festival is expected to return in 2027 and work has already started to secure support for the next edition.

Tumaini Letu also plans to hold smaller community events in Dzaleka during October and November 2026.

The organisation has appealed to supporters, partners and people who have attended previous editions to continue supporting the festival as it works towards its return.

Tumaini Festival has held 11 editions since it was established in 2014.