Gorée Island hosts SIRA from 23 October to 15 November

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 regional craft fair brings together exhibitors from Senegal and six neighbouring countries on the historic island off the Senegalese coast.

SIRA opens on Gorée Island on 23 October

Salons Gorée, the cultural organisation hosting the fair, says SIRA will open on 23 October 2026. The programme is planned to run until 15 November 2026, placing the event within the period surrounding the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, which are scheduled from 31 October to 13 November 2026.

The organisers describe SIRA as a regional and African craft fair. Exhibitors will represent all 14 regions of Senegal, alongside Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Mauritania. The organisers say the participating regions and countries will present typical handicrafts from their areas.

Augustin Senghor, the mayor of Gorée, is scheduled to open the fair on 23 October 2026. The announced programme therefore connects a fixed cultural event with the island’s role as a place for contact and exchange between African regions and neighbouring states.

SIRA programme and dates are published by the hosting organisation. Its announcement names both the island venue and the 23 October opening date.

Gorée Island’s heritage frames the craft fair

UNESCO places the island opposite Dakar, off the coast of Senegal. Its World Heritage description identifies a contrast between former slave quarters and the more elaborate houses of slave traders, reflecting the successive Portuguese, Dutch, English and French periods.

The island covers 28 hectares and lies 3.5 km from Dakar. UNESCO says it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978, after being listed as a historic site in 1944 and placed on Senegal’s national heritage list in 1975.

That setting gives SIRA a specific context: craft displays from 14 Senegalese regions and six neighbouring countries will be presented on a site whose documented history already links Africa, Europe and the Atlantic world. The fair’s geographic range mirrors, on a cultural level, the island’s established function as a meeting place.

UNESCO describes the island as a place of remembrance and reconciliation, while its physical heritage includes fortifications, streets, squares and historic buildings. SIRA adds a temporary regional programme without changing the status of those protected elements.

UNESCO’s heritage description records the island’s location, size, history and World Heritage status.

Visiting Gorée Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• SIRA is scheduled for 23 October to 15 November 2026 on Gorée Island. The opening is planned for 23 October 2026.
• The cultural programme concerns the island itself and is organised by Salons Gorée, which says exhibitors will come from Senegal’s 14 regions and six neighbouring countries.
• The island lies opposite Dakar, 3.5 km off the coast, and UNESCO identifies it as a 28-hectare World Heritage site.
• Visitors will encounter an island setting of fortifications, historic streets, squares and buildings. UNESCO describes the architecture through the contrast between former slave quarters and merchants’ houses.
• The official language of Senegal is French 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.

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Frequently asked questions about Gorée Island

When does SIRA take place at Gorée Island?

The fair is scheduled from 23 October to 15 November 2026, with its opening on 23 October 2026.

What is SIRA at Gorée Island?

SIRA is a regional and African craft fair featuring exhibitors from Senegal’s 14 regions and six neighbouring countries.

Where is Gorée Island and how do you get there?

Gorée Island lies opposite Dakar, 3.5 km off the Senegalese coast. The verified programme identifies Dakar as the reference city but does not specify transport arrangements.