One Night Only, the premium live music experience that sold out its 2025 debut in Nairobi, has confirmed its lineup for the 2026 edition – and it is the most ambitious yet.
The event is billed as 1 Queen. 3 Kings. A Festival of AfroPop, Soul and Jazz, takes place on Sunday, 31 May 2026, at Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi. It falls on the Madaraka long weekend, positioning it as the standout cultural event on a weekend that Nairobi's professionals traditionally reserve for plans worth making.
Four headline acts have been confirmed: Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum, American R&B and soul legend Karyn White, Kenya's foremost solo male artist Bien, and Tanzania's most celebrated recording artist Ali Kiba. It is the first time all four have performed together in concert.
A Proven Track Record
The 2026 edition builds on the success of a debut that exceeded expectations. The 2025 edition, headlined by jazz icon Kenny G at KICC Nairobi, sold out completely and drew over 2,000 high-net-worth attendees. Post-event surveys recorded a 93.75% satisfaction rating, with attendees rating the experience as excellent or good. Eight in ten indicated they intended to return for the next edition.
Those numbers established One Night Only as something distinct in Nairobi's entertainment landscape — a luxury live music event with the production quality and curatorial ambition to match its premium positioning.
The Lineup
Kirk
WhalumKirk Whalum is one of the most accomplished saxophonists in contemporary music. A Grammy Award winner with twelve nominations — including three in consecutive years – he spent seven years on tour with Whitney Houston and played the saxophone solo on I Will Always Love You, widely regarded as the greatest-selling single by a female artist in music history. His collaborators include Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, Barbra Streisand, and Al Jarreau. He holds a further connection to Kenya, having mentored young musicians through the Ghetto Classics programme in Nairobi.
Karyn WhiteKaryn White was one of the defining voices of late 1980s and early 1990s R&B. Her catalogue includes four Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles, among them Superwoman — a song that has remained culturally resonant well beyond its era. She received multiple Grammy nominations for Best R&B Vocal Performance and collaborated with Babyface and Gerald Levert, two of the most influential figures in American soul music.
BienBien-Aimé Alusa, known professionally as Bien, rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Sauti Sol, the Kenyan Afropop group that became one of Africa's most internationally recognised acts. As a solo artist, he has continued to define the direction of East African contemporary music and was named the best male East African artist — a recognition that reflects both critical standing and commercial reach across the region.
Ali Kiba — full name Ally Saleh Kiba — is Tanzania's most commercially successful recording artist. In 2011, independent research by Synovate named him the most popular artist across Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. He has been honoured by the Tanzanian government for his contribution to the country's arts and culture, a distinction held by very few artists on the continent. His Kenyan following is substantial, making his appearance at a Nairobi event a significant cross-border cultural moment.
Organisers have indicated that the evening may include a collaborative performance between Bien and Ali Kiba – two artists whose fan bases have long coexisted across the region. If confirmed, it would be a moment unique to this edition.
Practical Information
The event is at Sarit Expo Centre, Westlands, Nairobi. Gates open at 3:00 PM. The main show runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Dress code is Black Tie — elegant, grown-up, and sophisticated.
Tickets are available exclusively in advance at www.ticketyetu.com. There are no gate tickets. Four tiers are on offer:
- Early Bird: KES 5,000
- Gallery: KES 7,500
- Middle: KES 9,500
- Front Row: KES 12,500
The event is strictly for persons aged 18 and above. Based on the 2025 experience, tickets are expected to move quickly. Each tier closes when sold — there is no gate option once they do.
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