Only Members of Hay Festival may buy tickets prior to public launch. If you are already a Member please log in. If you would like to become a Member, sign up here.
Booking for non-members opens at 1200 on Friday 6 December.
A truly beautiful, magical children’s production inspired by Ben Okri. The beautiful Star Bird loves her tiny little star chicks, and every evening when the sun sets, she flies up, up, up into the sky to light up the stars until they sing, giggle and glow. But when a greedy hunter enters her magical forest, her whole world changes forever... Powerful storytelling theatre with a dazzling fusion of music from around the world, story, dance, stunning costume and puppetry.
6–9 years with parents
A Ghanaian poet, novelist, editor, social commentator and broadcaster, Nii is an inspirational writer. Join him for this poetry workshop as he takes you through structure, metaphor and imagery to discover the similarities and differences between poetry and rap/hip hop.
14–18 years
Nairobi National Museum host this creative workshop to imagine a brand new mammal
6–9 years
Stuck in a career of convenience, Florence ‘wasted’ her prime years, but found the courage to move to work she was passionate about later in life. Learn from her experience of life choices and careers.
14–18 years
Nairobi National Museum host this creative workshop to design a cultural object.
10–13 years with parents
Don your lab coat and your safety goggles for science experiments that you can do in your own kitchen.
10–13 years
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. She lives with her whole family in a wonderful house. There is always someone to laugh and play with. She loves to splash in the sea with her cousins and have parties with her aunties. But more than anything else in the world, Anna would love to see snow. Hear all about it from the great storyteller and writer, Atinuke.
6–9 years with parents
The author of Broken Soup, The Ant Colony and Finding Violet Park which was awarded the Guardian Prize for Children’s Fiction shares insights about her work and invites your questions.
14–18 years
How have careers changes from your grandparents’ time to now? What are the jobs of the future? Which careers are going to grow, and which are going to die? Keep track of career trends with Patrick Wameyo – financial coach and motivational speaker.
14–18 years
Fidelis Kyalo of Krystal Puppeteers and the famous XYZ show.
10–13 years
The famous University of Nairobi Fab Lab comes to the festival, with their picocrickets kits, armed to make ‘almost anything’! Get your first taste of robotics here.
10–13 years
Join Muthoni Garland (Matatu from Watamu) and Clifford Oluoch (Boom Boom Bus) talk about the inspiration behind their stories, and share secrets about the writing process.
6–9 years with parents
Schools come together to rehearse the Read Aloud Guinness Book of Records World Record attempt.
All welcome
Auma discusses the role of sports as a vital vehicle to gain leadership and confidence skills that can help youth drive social change in their communities. She is CARE USA’s Sports for Social Change Initiative Technical Advisor, and sits on the board of Women Win, which promotes gender equality through sports. Her brother is President of the United States of America.
14–18 years
Learn all the hot secrets of dramatizing a book.
10–13 years
Come and Koroga with Mkorogi and poet, Michael Onsando. A fun workshop where you get to paint photos with words, and create your own Koroga. Koroga is an artform that brings together Kenyan poets and photographers to create new stories stirring together different disciplines.
10–13 years
You have the creative freedom to design the future you want and create solutions to problems you see in the country. Let the innovation begin!
14–18 years
An entertaining illustration workshop where you get to learn how to bring the characters of the popular book Matatu from Watamu to life, led by Dayan – musician, writer, illustrator and artist extraordinaire.
6–9 years with parents
Wangari Grace (The Forever Tree), Denet Odhiambo (Warthog’s New Watch), Faith Gatimi (Little Thithinda and the Wind Game) and Ian Arunga (Can You See Me?) interview each other about their ideas and inspiration behind their stories.
6–9 years with parents
Join us in the starlit courtyard to celebrate the fifth annual Storymoja Hay Festival. Featuring hot festival teasers, global stars and the Kanga Couture show. Boogie to Motown in Storymoja by June Gachui, Denise Gordon and Different Faces Band.