By Judith Matanire
The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) has postponed its highly anticipated return, saying more time is needed to ensure the festival meets the standards of excellence audiences have come to expect after years away from the cultural calendar.
In a statement issued on Thursday, HIFA organisers announced that the festival programme initially scheduled for August 2026 would no longer go ahead as planned, describing the decision as a difficult but necessary one.
The organisers said reviving a festival with HIFA’s legacy, scale and ambition required extensive planning, and preparations had shown that additional time was needed to deliver an event worthy of its reputation.
“Giving ourselves more time is the most responsible way to ensure that HIFA returns with the artistic excellence, organisational care and sense of occasion that our audiences expect and deserve,” the statement read.
The announcement comes after months of excitement following confirmation that the country’s flagship arts festival would return after an extended absence. Organisers said they had been overwhelmed by messages of support, photographs, memories and words of encouragement from artists, audiences and supporters both in Zimbabwe and abroad.
They described the response as a reminder of the special place HIFA continues to hold in the lives of many people, noting that the festival has become more than an event since its launch nearly three decades ago.
“For almost three decades, HIFA has belonged not only to those who created it, but to everyone who has performed, volunteered, partnered with, supported or simply found joy in it,” the organisers said.
Despite postponing the August programme, HIFA said work on the festival’s revival remains ongoing. Organisers said efforts are focused on strengthening partnerships, refining ideas and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for the festival.
They also thanked supporters for their continued patience and confidence, saying the encouragement received had reinforced the importance of bringing HIFA back in a way that preserves its quality and integrity.
No new dates for the festival have been announced, but organisers said they would provide further updates in the coming months and looked forward to welcoming audiences back “when the time is right.”
