Young Creatives Take Centre Stage At Schools Festival
The Let Them Trust Annual Schools Arts Festival returns for its 14th edition from July 24 to 25, 2026, bringing together hundreds of young performers from across Zimbabwe for a vibrant celebration of culture, heritage and artistic excellence at the Harare City Sports Centre.
Running daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm, this year’s festival is themed Our Roots, Our Pride, encouraging learners to embrace Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage, traditions and identity while using the arts as a platform for self-expression, confidence building and cultural preservation.
Following the successful integration of Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary and secondary schools onto one competitive platform in 2025, the 2026 edition expands opportunities for participants through seven artistic disciplines: music, dance, fashion, visual arts, theatre, poetry and public speaking.
Festival Director Chido Musasiwa-Gutu said the festival continues to grow as an important platform for nurturing the country’s future creative leaders while preserving Zimbabwe’s cultural identity.
“We are thrilled to have Ammara Brown visit us as Guest of Honor and experience the incredible talent that our schools have to offer,” said Musasiwa-Gutu.
“Ammara exemplifies what it means to be proud of our roots. Having an artist of her calibre interact with the youngsters will radically alter their perceptions of what is possible. Following the enormous success of last year’s event, which drew over 32 schools, this 14th edition provides an even larger platform for students to discover professional career paths in the creative economy while aligning with the cultural preservation goals of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).”
Multi-award-winning musician Ammara Brown will serve as the festival’s Guest of Honor on Saturday, where she is expected to inspire participants through her journey in Zimbabwe’s creative industry. Organisers have also teased a surprise Guest of Honor for Friday, whose identity will be unveiled in the coming days.
One of the major highlights of this year’s festival will be a musical tribute to the late Zimbabwean music legend Bob Nyabinde, affectionately known as “The Headmaster.” As part of the competition requirements, every participating music group will perform at least one of Nyabinde’s iconic songs during their 10-minute live performance, introducing younger audiences to one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated musical pioneers. The late musician’s son is also expected to attend the festival in honour of his father’s enduring legacy.
Building on the success of the 2025 edition, which featured outstanding performances from schools across the country, including inclusive institutions such as Vimbainashe Learning Institute and Tinokwirira Special School, organisers say this year’s festival will further strengthen collaboration among schools while promoting inclusion through the arts.
Experienced industry professionals will adjudicate the various competitions, giving participants valuable professional feedback and increased exposure to mainstream media and the wider creative sector.
The organisers have invited corporate sponsors, civic organisations, families and members of the public to support the festival and invest in Zimbabwe’s next generation of cultural ambassadors. Public admission has been set at US$1, while school registration costs US$20 to cover administration and awards. Organisers are also seeking financial and in-kind partnerships to ensure the continued growth of the festival.
Established in 2010, Let Them Trust has grown into a leading child-centred creative, educational and cultural organisation dedicated to empowering young people through artistic expression. Beyond identifying and nurturing talent, the organisation uses the arts to educate young people on critical social issues, including mental health, child protection and sexual and reproductive health rights, while safeguarding Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage for future generations.
