Organisers of Rapperholic 26 have confirmed details of the Kumasi Rising Music, Media and Tourism Dialogue, a free public event scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2026, at the KNUST Great Hall. The session forms a key part of the build-up to Sarkodie’s flagship concert, which returns to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on October 24.
Running from 4pm to 8pm under the theme “Positioning the Creative Economy: Shaping Kumasi’s Future,” the dialogue is billed as more than a pre-concert activity. It brings together government officials, media practitioners, tourism stakeholders, industry professionals and creatives to examine how music, media and tourism can drive sustainable growth in the Ashanti Region’s creative sector.
Confirmed speakers listed on the official promotional material include Ashanti Regional Minister Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Prof. Ebenezer Kofi Howard, Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Nana Aba Anamoah, Edi Lawani, Mariam K. Agyeman-Buahin, James Gardiner, Dennis Gawuga, Emmanuel Jewel Mensah, Adusi Poku Precious, Ebenezer Donkoh (NYB) and Kobby Kyei. Sarkodie is expected to participate as a central figure in the conversation, continuing a pattern established in previous years where the rapper has used the platform to advocate for greater investment in Kumasi’s creative industries.
Admission is free, with organisers encouraging interested participants to register in advance. The event is positioned as an open forum for students, professionals, entrepreneurs and members of the public who want to engage with discussions on policy, investment opportunities and the practical steps needed to strengthen the local creative economy.
Rapperholic 26
Rapperholic 26 carries the broader slogan “More Than Music,” reflecting an expanded approach that combines the main concert with community-focused and industry-oriented activities. The full schedule includes the team’s arrival on October 19, the Kumasi Rising Dialogue on October 21, a Community Impact Initiative on October 22, and the main concert at Baba Yara Sports Stadium on October 24. Tickets for the concert are already on sale via rapperholic.com and the USSD code 714666#.
This year’s edition marks the second consecutive year that Rapperholic has been staged in Kumasi. The 2025 homecoming concert at the same stadium drew large crowds despite challenging weather and was widely regarded as a successful expansion of a brand that had long been associated with Accra’s December calendar.
By returning in 2026, Sarkodie and his team are signalling a longer-term commitment to the Ashanti capital as a major hub for the annual event.
The dialogue component builds on a similar session held in 2025, during which Sarkodie publicly called on investors to treat music as a viable and lucrative business sector comparable to traditional industries. That earlier gathering brought together regional authorities, tourism officials and media figures to explore how Kumasi could better leverage its cultural assets.
Relevance of this Year’s Theme
This year’s theme places stronger emphasis on positioning the creative economy as a strategic driver of the city’s future development.
Speakers drawn from government, media, tourism, and entertainment are expected to address practical questions around infrastructure, skills development, funding models, digital opportunities, and the role of universities such as KNUST in supporting the creative sector. The inclusion of both established industry voices and younger professionals is intended to create a multi-generational conversation.
For many observers, the decision to host the dialogue at KNUST carries symbolic weight. The university has long been a centre of intellectual and cultural activity in Kumasi and staging the event on campus is seen as a way of connecting students and emerging talent with senior figures in the industry and government.
As the October 21 date approaches, organisers are using the dialogue to broaden the narrative around Rapperholic beyond the concert itself. While the stadium show remains the centrepiece, the surrounding activities are designed to leave a longer-term imprint on discussions about creative industry development in the region.
Tickets for the main concert continue to sell, and promotional activity across radio, social media and physical outlets in Kumasi has intensified. The combination of a high-profile dialogue, community initiatives and a major stadium concert positions the 2026 edition as one of the most structured and multi-layered Rapperholic programmes to date.
The Kumasi Rising Dialogue offers a free opportunity for the public to hear directly from policymakers, media leaders, and creative professionals on how the city’s cultural strengths can be translated into economic and social progress.
With the event just over a week away, attention is turning to the substance of the conversations that will unfold at the KNUST Great Hall on October 21.
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