ActionAid, Partners to Spotlight Women’s Empowerment at 2026 National Cultural Festival

MONROVIA, Liberia – ActionAid Liberia, in collaboration with several civil society organizations and with support from the Embassy of Sweden, is set to host the 2026 National Cultural Festival on Saturday, August 1, at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex Gymnasium in Paynesville, with organizers promising a vibrant celebration of Liberia's cultural heritage while championing the rights and empowerment of women and girls.

The festival, which is free and open to the public, is being organized under the theme "Our Culture, Our Pride: Empowering Women and Girls." It will bring together traditional leaders, cultural practitioners, government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, youth groups, women, artisans, and communities from across Liberia.

Now in its third year, the National Cultural Festival is being organized under ActionAid Liberia's Just and Equal Communities (JEC) Project, which seeks to promote positive cultural values while challenging harmful traditional practices that negatively affect women and girls.

Organizers say this year's event will showcase inspiring stories of women who have successfully transitioned to sustainable livelihoods and are now leading advocacy efforts and empowering other women within their communities.

Participants will also enjoy traditional dances, music, storytelling, spoken word performances, arts and crafts exhibitions, cultural exchange booths, gallery walks, traditional fashion displays, country cloth exhibitions, and authentic Liberian cuisine celebrating the country's rich cultural diversity.

Women from the Traditional Arts School in Gbarma, Gbarpolu County, as well as women from Kamara Town, Po River, and other project counties, will display and sell locally produced handicrafts and country cloths, creating economic opportunities while preserving Liberia's cultural identity.

Speaking ahead of the festival, ActionAid Liberia Country Director Elizabeth Gbah Johnson described the event as a platform to celebrate the positive impact of the organization's work across five project counties.

"This National Cultural Festival, with Gbarpolu being the lead host, is celebrating the main impact and transformation of ActionAid and partners' work across the five JEC-implemented counties. It is a platform for showcasing the positive values that unite our communities while demonstrating that culture can be a powerful force for advancing the rights, dignity, and economic empowerment of women and girls. We invite every Liberian to join us in celebrating the richness of our culture and the inspiring stories of transformation taking place across our communities," Johnson said.

ActionAid Liberia also announced that Gbarpolu County Superintendent Sam Zinnah will serve as the keynote speaker. Activities will begin with a caravan parade from the ELWA Junction Roundabout to the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex at 8:00 a.m., while the main festival program will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Organizers have extended an open invitation to Liberians, members of the diplomatic community, foreign visitors, families, students, and young people to attend and experience Liberia's rich cultural heritage.