Two days of sacred processions, concerts and encounters in the heart of Porto-Novo.
The festival has begun. Join us in Porto-Novo, July 25–26.
See today's programThe 2026 edition has ended. The date of the next edition will be announced very soon.
Get notified about the next editionThe Mask Festival celebrates the cultural, artistic and popular heritage of the sacred and secular masks of Benin and beyond — a true encounter between peoples, knowledge and imaginations.
The Mask Festival celebrates the cultural, artistic and popular heritage of the sacred and secular masks of Benin and beyond — a true encounter between peoples, knowledge and imaginations.
Far more than a celebration: majestic processions of masks, concerts, a festival village, immersive tourist experiences and an international scientific symposium. A free event open to all.
The festival honors the great families of Beninese masks and their guests. Each one embodies a part of the visible and the invisible.
International scientific symposium on the theme “Masks, Vodun: heritage and modernity”, at the École du Patrimoine Africain (EPA), Porto-Novo.
Sacred mask outings and performances across five emblematic squares of Porto-Novo. A charismatic guide and a stage manager on each square — an educational, immersive and spectacular experience.
A secular mask show every hour, keeping the village alive all day. All day long: children’s mask workshops (colouring, face painting, mask making), wood-carving demonstrations, bead jewellery making and an introduction to traditional rhythms.
A high-energy urban night with the young Beninese afro and hip-hop scene, backed by a DJ in semi-playback. From 20:00 to 01:00, followed by a DJ set. Expected artists:
Alongside the festive celebration, the International Symposium of the Mask Festival stands out as a space for intellectual reflection and intercultural dialogue. Every year it brings together researchers, anthropologists, historians, artists, cultural leaders and enthusiasts from Benin, Africa and beyond, to examine the mask at the crossroads of the sacred, the aesthetic, the social and the political.
Lectures, thematic panels, research presentations, documentary screenings and open discussions punctuate these scientific days. The symposium is also intended as a place of transmission for young researchers and students, through participatory workshops and intergenerational exchanges.