Festivals & events
PANAFEST and Emancipation Day: Dates and Getting There by Car
Quick answer: Emancipation Day is commemorated every year and climaxes on 1 August at Assin Manso in the Central Region. In 2026 the programme ran from 18 July to 1 August, with Reverential Night at Cape Coast Castle on 31 July. The last PANAFEST ran from 19 July to 2 August 2025. The dates of the next PANAFEST and the 2027 Emancipation Day programme hadn't been published when we checked. 1 August 2027 is a Sunday.
Emancipation Day 2026: what the programme included
The Ghana Tourism Authority's programme, reported by the Ghana News Agency, ran under the theme "Reconnecting Roots, Celebrating Freedom, Experience Ghana":
| Date (2026) | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 18 July | Fitness walks | Ayi Mensah to Peduase; Pikworo Slave Camp |
| 23 July | Tribute to Ancestors, wreath-laying | W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, George Padmore Library, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra |
| 29 July | Durbars of chiefs | Assin Praso; Pikworo Slave Camp |
| 31 July | Reverential Night (wear white) | Cape Coast Castle |
| 1 August | Emancipation Day Durbar, visit to Nonko Nsuo (Slave River) | Assin Manso School Park |
PANAFEST
PANAFEST (the Pan-African Festival of Arts and Culture) is based at Heritage House in Cape Coast. Its official FAQ gave the 2025 dates as 19–23 July in Northern Ghana and 24 July–2 August 2025 in Accra and Cape Coast. It also says transport between events is each attendee's own responsibility, which is why many visitors book a car with a driver for the whole stay.
Getting there by car
Cape Coast is west of Accra along the coast road. Our Accra to Cape Coast road trip guide covers that drive. Assin Manso is inland from Cape Coast on the road towards Kumasi.
- Book a driver for the whole stay. Events move between Accra, Cape Coast and Assin Manso over several days. See car rental with a driver.
- Night events: Reverential Night ends late. Agree in writing what time the driver will wait until.
- Book early. Hotels and cars around Cape Coast fill up for these dates.
- Local firms: compare firms in Cape Coast and the Central Region.
- Arriving by air: see Accra International Airport pickups.
Frequently asked questions
When is Emancipation Day in Ghana?
It climaxes on 1 August each year. In 2026 the durbar was at Assin Manso School Park on Saturday 1 August.
When is the next PANAFEST?
The last edition ran from 19 July to 2 August 2025. The next edition's dates weren't on the official PANAFEST website when we checked.
Is transport provided at PANAFEST?
The PANAFEST FAQ says transport between events is the attendee's own responsibility. Many visitors hire a car with a driver.
Sources
- GTA announces programme for 2026 Emancipation Day (15 Jul 2026) (Ghana News Agency)
- PANAFEST FAQs (dates of the 2025 edition) (PANAFEST)
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Fquasie, CC BY-SA 4.0
