The Ministry of Education (MoE) has released the official 2026 National Co-Curricular Activities Calendar, unveiling a year filled with national competitions in sports, drama, music, science, engineering and regional championships.
The circular, issued by the State Department for Basic Education, provides detailed schedules for primary, junior, secondary and Special Needs Education institutions throughout the year. Regional and County Directors of Education have been instructed to ensure schools adhere strictly to the calendar and prepare accordingly.
Term One activities will open with the Schools’ National Games and Sports, which will be held in Kisumu County, Nyanza Region. Teams are expected to arrive on April 5, 2026, with the opening ceremony set for April 7, 2026, at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium.
Competitions for secondary and SNE schools will run from April 7–11, 2026, while primary and junior school events will take place from April 7–10, 2026. The term’s sporting disciplines include rugby 15s, athletics, basketball 5×5, hockey, handball, cross-country, swimming, gymnastics, kids’ athletics and a range of Special Needs Education games.
The National Drama and Film Festival will be another major attraction during Term One. The schools are scheduled to report on April 6, 2026, with the opening ceremony on April 7, 2026. Festival presentations will run from April 7–13, 2026; the gala is scheduled for April 14–15, 2026; and the state concert is on April 17, 2026.
Innovation and science excellence will be displayed at the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair, to take place in Garissa County.
Teams will arrive on March 29, 2026, with the opening ceremony on March 31, 2026, followed by action days from March 31 to April 3, 2026. The closing ceremony is set for April 4, 2026, and departure on April 5, 2026. Teacher training colleges will similarly participate in their national competitions in Homa Bay County from March 27 to April 5, 2026.
Term Two will feature the second cycle of national sports events. The Term Two Schools’ National Games and Sports will be held in Thika Municipality, Kiambu County. Teams are scheduled to arrive on July 26, 2026, with the opening ceremony on July 28, 2026, at Mpesa Academy. Competitions will run from July 28 to August 1, 2026. Students will participate in soccer, volleyball, netball, handball, basketball 3×3, rugby 7s, table tennis, badminton, chess, Scrabble, and Special Needs Education ball games.
The Kenya Music Festivals will hold at Kibabii University in Bungoma County from August 1–14, 2026.
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Arrival is scheduled for August 1, 2026; the opening ceremony on August 2, 2026; daily performances from August 2–10, 2026; gala concerts on August 11–12, 2026; and the state concert on August 13, 2026, with departure on August 14, 2026. Teacher training colleges will also hold their sports festival in Homa Bay County from May 22–30, 2026, at Homa Bay Stadium and Asumbi Teachers Training College.
Kenya will also participate in two major East African regional events.
The Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) training camp will take place in Kajiado County from August 3–11, 2026, with teams arriving on August 2, 2026, and departing on August 12, 2026.
The FEASSA Games will then be held in Tanzania from August 14–22, 2026, with teams arriving on August 12, 2026, and departing on August 23, 2026.
The East Africa Music, Dance and Drama Festival will be hosted in Soroti, Uganda, with teams arriving on August 16, 2026, performances running from August 18–23.
Then the departure is scheduled for August 24, 2026.
The Ministry concludes its circular by directing Regional Directors of Education to reproduce adequate copies of the calendar for all Basic Education institutions and to ensure that field officers and schools strictly adhere to the schedule when organising sub-county, county, and regional competitions. The document is also copied to key national stakeholders, including the Teachers Service Commission, the Council of Governors, and various school heads’ associations.
The 2026 calendar continues the Ministry’s tradition of nurturing holistic learning by combining sports, culture, creativity and scientific innovation.
With activities hosted across regions—from Kisumu to Nyeri, Garissa to Bungoma, Kajiado to Homa Bay—the year promises a vibrant and engaging co-curricular experience for learners across Kenya.
By Joseph Mambili
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