Blankets & Wine Turns 17, Vows to ‘Build Better’ Ahead of Anticipated December Festival
NAIROBI, KENYA – November 17, 2025 – Blankets & Wine, one of East Africa’s premier music festivals, marked its 17th birthday this past weekend with an internal celebration, using the milestone not just for reflection, but to announce significant reforms aimed at regaining audience trust and optimizing the fan experience following challenges at its September event.
The festival,is now embarking on a major venue layout redesign for its upcoming “Kenyan Summer 2025” edition on December 21st at Laureate Gardens, Kasarani.
“We brought in an independent architectural team last week to review the venue from a user-experience perspective,” revealed Brand Manager, Michelle Njeri. “Their mandate is simple: redesign flow, ease crowd movement, and ensure the festival layout reflects the scale and ambition of Kenyan Summer 2025.”
A Commitment to Accountability and Improvement
The festival’s management addressed recent public speculation and reports regarding its September edition head-on, reiterating that they have received no formal legal complaints from any authority. They emphasized that public concerns were taken seriously and have driven the current organizational shift.
“We take every concern seriously,” said Communications Manager, Diane Ywaya. “When fans raise an issue, we investigate it thoroughly, identify what went wrong, and fix it. That’s how we continue to grow with our community.”
Justine Mbugua, Head of Festivals, highlighted the deep-seated commitment: “Our 17-year history is a story of love and learning… it’s necessary to develop the live music sector and circulate the economy. Marking our birthday gives us a chance to look within and re-affirm our commitment and enthusiasm to keep getting better.”
Refunds in Progress as Trust is Rebuilt
Organizers confirmed that the refund process for drinks and duplicate mobile payments from the September event is still active. The team expressed gratitude for the public’s patience, stressing that the process involves detailed validation with finance and vendor teams to ensure all genuine complaints are addressed transparently.
“Our internal audit helped us refine not just systems, but also our relationship with audiences,” added Njeri. “We’ve listened, learned, and applied those lessons to build a better experience for everyone.”
Anticipation Builds for December Lineup
Despite past challenges, enthusiasm for the festival remains high, with social media buzzing over the impending artist announcement for the December 21st show. The festival’s founder, Muthoni Ndonga, underscored the core of the brand.
“The team’s enduring commitment has been the magic of making it to 17,” said Ndonga. “No two editions of the festival are the same, and without the passion and care the team puts in, there really would be no Blankets & Wine.”
As it enters its 17th year, Blankets & Wine has made its priority clear: to continue innovating, rebuilding trust, and curating safe, joyful, and culturally rich experiences for audiences across Africa, kicking off with the highly anticipated December edition.
