Incepta Communications, acting as the event manager of the Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival on behalf of the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and its partners, wishes to inform members of the public, sponsors, stakeholders, participants, media, and the people of Botswana that the 2026 edition of the Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival, originally scheduled for 15–17 May 2026, has been postponed to 2027.
This decision was not taken lightly. It follows extensive consultations and a series of engagements with our valued partners, including the Botswana Tourism Organisation, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Sports and Arts (representing Botswana National Sport Council and National Arts Council Botswana), Tsabong Town Council, and the leadership of Khawa Village, as well as wider stakeholder input from the community.
The Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival draws its identity from the strength of all its signature elements being the horse racing, cultural night, the contemporary festival, and flagship motorsport. To proceed without some of these would have compromised the standard the supporters and the Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival brand deserves.
For the Khawa community, this matter is deeply personal. Many families in the area rely on farming and livestock for their livelihoods, and during our consultations there was understandable concern that hosting an event of this scale at this time could place added pressure on those livelihoods if the risk of transmission was not managed to the highest possible standard. In support of Government’s efforts to contain Foot and Mouth Disease, and mindful that we do not currently have the necessary funding to deliver the event at the level required to both protect its usual quality and safeguard the region, the decision was taken to postpone rather than proceed under conditions that may compromise either community welfare or the integrity of the event.
The Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival draws its identity from the strength of all its signature elements being the horse racing, cultural night, the contemporary festival, and flagship motorsport. To proceed without some of these would have compromised the standard the supporters and the Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival brand deserves. This postponement is therefore not a loss of ambition, but a deliberate commitment to quality and excellence.
We recognise the disappointment this will cause and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. We thank our partners, sponsors, stakeholders, and the people of Khawa for their thoughtful input and continued support. Planning for 2027 will begin immediately, with a focus on delivering a bigger and stronger event. While the 2026 edition will not take place, the story of the Khawa Dune Challenge & Cultural Festival is far from over. We now turn our focus to 2027 with renewed purpose and even greater ambition, and we look forward to welcoming Botswana and the world back to Khawa for a bigger and more impactful experience. We also invite more private sector sponsors and partners to come on board and be part of this exciting journey, a progressive platform that uses sport, culture, and tourism to create opportunity, uplift communities, and positively change lives.
