Gorée Island hosts SIRA from 23 October to 15 November
Published on 09/27/2026 at 16:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gorée Island (Île de Gorée) in Dakar will host SIRA, the Salon de l'Intégration Régionale et Africaine, from 23 October to 15 November 2026. The craft fair will bring exhibitors from Senegal's 14 regions and six neighbouring countries to the historic island.
SIRA opens on Gorée Island on 23 October
SIRA opens on 23 October 2026 on Gorée Island, according to the organiser Les Salons de Gorée. The organiser describes it as a regional and African craft fair held alongside the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, which run from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
The programme is scheduled to include exhibits from all 14 regions of Senegal. The participating neighbouring countries are Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania. Regional and national handicrafts will be displayed during the fair and will be available for purchase, giving the event a direct link to the island's role as a place of cultural exchange. The organiser's SIRA announcement names both the dates and the island venue.
Gorée Island's heritage frames the craft fair
The island lies off the coast of Senegal opposite Dakar. UNESCO describes its architecture through the contrast between former slave quarters and the houses of slave traders, while its history extends across Portuguese, Dutch, English and French rule.
Gorée Island covers 28 hectares and lies 3.5 km from Dakar. It was designated a historic site in 1944, placed on Senegal's national heritage list in 1975 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, as set out in the UNESCO heritage record. That setting gives SIRA a specific context: the fair's display of crafts from across West Africa will take place on an island already used for remembrance, reconciliation and contact between cultures.
Visiting Gorée Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- SIRA opens on 23 October 2026 and runs through 15 November 2026 on Gorée Island.
- The announced access change is a temporary craft fair on the island; the organiser's notice does not announce a closure of the heritage site or a change to its ordinary access.
- Gorée Island is off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. Dakar is the reference city for reaching the island.
- The island covers 28 hectares and includes historic streets, fortifications, former slave quarters and houses associated with the island's trading history.
- French is Senegal's official language and the national currency is the West African CFA franc.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Gorée Island on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Gorée Island
When does SIRA take place at Gorée Island?
SIRA opens on 23 October 2026 and runs until 15 November 2026. It is the Salon de l'Intégration Régionale et Africaine craft fair.
Where is Gorée Island and how do you get there?
Gorée Island lies off Senegal's coast opposite Dakar. Dakar is the reference city for access to the island.
What is Gorée Island?
It is a 28-hectare island and UNESCO World Heritage site off Dakar. Its historic architecture and places of memory reflect its role in the history of the Atlantic slave trade.
