Already happened
Events that have been and gone. Kept on record so you can check what a listing was, and confirm something really did take place.
The Exstasy — R&B and XO Night at The Velvet Rooftop
Ended ·Sun, Aug 30 · 7:00 PM · The Velvet Rooftop
Metro Events' final party of the year: a rooftop night of smooth R&B and XO-era sounds with skyline views over Addis.
850 ETB (third wave), VIP 1,999 ETB
Addis Open Air Cinema
Ended ·Sun, Aug 30 · 6:00 PM · Marriott Executive Apartments, Addis Ababa
A movie night under the stars in the garden of the Marriott Executive Apartments, run by Chimp Event Promotion and powered by St. George Beer — big screen, popcorn, snack box and a sociable young-professional crowd. Beyond the film there are art corners and a small marketplace of local entrepreneurs. Sunday 6:00 PM to about 11:00 PM; tickets online (pazimo.com) or at the gate.
999 birr incl. screening + snack box (original post said 900 — see note)
Saq Jam Comedy — 4th Anniversary Show
Ended ·Sun, Aug 30 · 6:00 PM · Addis International Convention Center (CMC)
Fourth-anniversary edition of Saq Jam, the show from Saq Central that grew from Addis's largest underground stand-up comedy night into a full evening of Amharic stand-up, live jazz, games and an expo-style market. Expect a large local crowd at the CMC convention center; sets are overwhelmingly in Amharic, so it suits visitors curious about Ethiopia's booming comedy scene more than punchline-by-punchline comprehension. Sunday from 6:00 PM.
Early bird 700 / regular 1,000 / VVIP 2,500 birr
NEXUS AFTERHOURS Vol. 2 at The Wave Club & Lounge
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 8:00 PM · The Wave Club & Lounge
An after-dark-to-sunrise club night, volume two of the Nexus Afterhours series at The Wave Club & Lounge.
400 ETB regular; 1,950 ETB group of 5
Static — Afrohouse Night at Anki Liquor
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 7:00 PM · Anki Liquor, in front of Dembel City Center, Bole
Third edition of the Static afrohouse party series, taking over Anki Liquor opposite Dembel City Center on Bole Road. Expect DJ-driven afrohouse and amapiano-leaning sets from 7 PM until late — one of the easier ways for visitors to sample Addis's fast-growing electronic scene in a central, walkable location.
700 birr (tickets via Afromile)
Cinema Reframed Through Conversation — Club 5 to 7 x The Table
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 5:00 PM · Sifra Alternative Space
An early-evening film screening and guided discussion at an alternative art space near Arat Kilo, hosted by the Club 5 to 7 cinema collective with The Table.
Free
Musical Karaoke — Sing Broadway Hits at Zemen Cinema
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 4:00 PM · Zemen Cinema (Adwa/Zemen Cinema), Flamingo
An afternoon of sing-along songs from musicals — Hamilton, The Greatest Showman, Epic: The Musical and more — presented by Harmony Hub at Zemen Cinema.
200 ETB (3 USD)
Afropia Dance Battle
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 3:00 PM · Children & Youth Theater, near Flamingo
An all-styles street-dance competition from the Afropia Dance Fest crew, pitting Addis's best crews and solo freestylers against each other live on stage. Previous editions (documented on Afropia's TikTok) drew top-16 knockout brackets mixing afro, hip-hop and Ethiopian traditional moves. Saturday from 3:00 PM at the Children & Youth Theater near Flamingo.
300 birr (tickets via Afromile)
Jam Nation Africa
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 3:00 PM · The Venue Warehouse
A day-to-night music and culture festival celebrating African talent, creativity and the future of the continent's music scene, held at the city's main warehouse venue.
1,499 ETB (second phase), VIP 15,999 ETB
After Party Vol. 3 at South Rift Valley Bar
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 12:00 PM · South Rift Valley Bar
Project X ET and After Party ET's late-night DJ party pitched as the after-party for the 29 August festival weekend.
400 ETB single; 1,900 ETB group of 5; 3,600 ETB group of 10
ETFC 002: Adwa Fight Night — Boxing, MMA & Muay Thai
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 12:00 PM · Adwa Victory Memorial Museum
Eleven fights mixing boxing, MMA and Muay Thai, headlined by an MMA bout between Sedo and Johnny Jujitsu, staged at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum.
Tickets via M-PESA; ringside reported sold out
What Should Remain? — A Collective Walk Through Merkato
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 12:00 PM · Merkato (meeting point shared on registration)
Creatives and the curious walk Merkato in pairs to document the market's changes amid redevelopment, followed by a shared meal and group discussion.
Free (RSVP required)
Addis Bamboo Bazaar
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 10:00 AM · Dok Restaurant, Cameroon St next to Bole Medhane Alem Church
A weekend craft market at Dok, the rooftop Italian restaurant next to Bole Medhane Alem Church, gathering local makers selling bamboo and handmade goods, original artworks and unique products. Side activities include a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, live music, canvas drawing and children's activities. Runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug 29-30, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
Tora Bazaar — Weekend Market
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 9:00 AM · Tora Main Station, Ayat Adebabay, Abuye Church Road
Weekend bazaar featuring fashion, accessories, handmade pieces, and local creativity. A community-focused market supporting local artisans.
Free
Lake & Wildlife Escape: Camping trip to Langano & Abijatta-Shalla
Ended ·Sat, Aug 29 · 6:00 AM · Departs Bole (behind Skylight Hotel, Kategna Restaurant)
Akash Travel's 2-day, 1-night bus trip: lakeside tent camping at Langano, a guided visit to Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park and a campfire evening — transport, tent, park fees, meals and water included.
12,000 ETB all-inclusive
Ashenda, Shadey & Solel Celebration with Ethiocolor
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 9:00 PM · Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, Meskel Square
A hotel celebration of Ashenda, Shadey and Solel — the late-August festivals from Tigray, Amhara and northern Ethiopia in which girls and young women in braided hair and grass-skirt regalia fill the streets with song and drum-driven dance. The night is headlined by Ethiocolor, Melaku Belay's acclaimed traditional music-and-dance ensemble. Friday night from 9:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency on Meskel Square.
Afro Rhythm — Pan-African Music Night at Berlin Addis
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 8:00 PM · Berlin Bar & Restaurant, Bole Atlas (near Atlas Traffic Light)
A free night of Pan-African music and culture at Berlin Bar & Restaurant in Bole Atlas. Reservations by phone (+251 909 311 111).
Free
Bellow Friday at ToroGrill
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 7:00 PM · Toro Grill and Lounge
An evening of food, music and games — board games, chess, darts, beer pong and cards — with live sets by Robi, Must Be Jani, Me-Lio and Upon at Toro Grill and Lounge.
Free
Karaoke Friday at Lemon Bar (Golden Tulip Hotel)
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 6:00 PM · Lemon Bar, Golden Tulip Hotel
KickOff Addis hosts a free karaoke night with host Kozet and DJ Freak: sing-alongs, dancing, networking and prize giveaways at the Golden Tulip's Lemon Bar. Reservations via 0979 427 722.
Free (21+)
ADB All Style Championship feat. Atse Krump
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 6:00 PM · Children & Youth Theater (Flamingo)
A street-dance battle across styles with krump crew Atse Krump headlining — the night before the Afropia Dance Battle at the same theater.
Critical Mass Addis Ababa — Community Bike Ride
Ended ·Fri, Aug 28 · 5:00 PM · La Patisserie, Meskel Square
Monthly community cycling event covering ~15km through Addis. Open to all cyclists — bring your bike, front and rear lights, and rain jacket.
Free
ETFC 002: Adwa Fight Night (MMA, boxing & Muay Thai)
Ended ·Thu, Aug 27 · 7:00 PM · Adwa Victory Memorial Museum (Adwa 00 Museum)
Ethiopia's fight-night promotion returns with eleven bouts mixing MMA, boxing and Muay Thai, headlined by a middleweight MMA fight between Sedo and Jhonny, staged at the Adwa memorial museum.
Deep Listening: Tamikrest – Assikel (album session & Q&A)
Ended ·Thu, Aug 27 · 7:00 PM · Social Addis Rooftop
A phone-free listening session of Assikel, the new album by Malian-Algerian Tuareg desert-rock band Tamikrest, played in full on the Social Addis rooftop and followed by a video Q&A with the band.
100 ETB
Midweek: Thursday House Fever at The Venue Warehouse
Ended ·Thu, Aug 27 · 6:00 PM · The Venue Warehouse
Free weekly Thursday house/techno night run by The Venue Warehouse with collective YABB — a rotating lineup of local DJs from 6 PM to midnight. This week's edition is a techno special.
Free
Fendika Azmari Night
Ended ·Wed, Aug 26 · 9:00 PM · Fendika @ Hyatt Regency, Meskel Square
Nightly azmari sessions at Fendika, the famed Kazanchis azmari bet saved from demolition by dancer Melaku Belay and now Addis's best-known cultural venue. Azmaris are Ethiopia's traditional wandering minstrels — expect improvised, often playfully insulting sung commentary over masinko fiddle, plus eskista shoulder dancing you may be pulled into; tipping the performers is part of the tradition. On Fridays the house bands Ethiocolor or Negarit take the stage from around 8 PM.
Japan & Jazz: Chonmage Japan with Yedesta Jazz Band
Ended ·Wed, Aug 26 · 7:00 PM · Fendika @ Hyatt Regency, near Meskel Square (NOT the Kazanchis Fendika Cultural Center)
A one-night cultural exchange hosted by Fendika in partnership with the Embassy of Japan and Hyatt Regency, pairing visiting Japanese group Chonmage Japan with the local Yedesta Jazz Band, plus demonstrations of Japanese culture. Doors open 7:00 PM, DJ set 8:00 PM, live performance from 9:00 PM. Yedesta holds a weekly Wednesday jazz residency at Fendika's stage at the Hyatt Regency, so expect a polished ethio-jazz backdrop to the Japanese guest set.
400 birr
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