The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group is delighted to reaffirm its long-standing partnership with the Windhoek Karneval (WiKa) 2026, continuing a proud tradition of supporting one of Namibia’s most iconic cultural celebrations.
Now in its 72nd year, WiKa returns from 9 to 19 April 2026 under the enchanting theme Karneval im Wunderland. This year’s festivities serve as a grand invitation for Namibians to step into a magical world where heritage, imagination and the vibrant local spirit take centre stage.
Held annually, WiKa is a celebration of community and belonging, one that has grown, year on year, into a fixture on Namibia's cultural calendar. O&L's support for WiKa reflects the Group's wider commitment to the people and communities of Namibia. Authentic, Caring and Passionate, these are the reasons why O&L shows up, year after year, to back a celebration that brings this country together in joy.
Norbert Wurm, President of the WiKa Committee, captured the spirit of the occasion: "Welcome guests from near and far, how glad we are you're here at WiKa! Both young and old, both big and small, tonight you are the heart of it all. In this Namibia where cultures blend, all speak out free in jest, harm to none we send. One Namibia, One Nation, One Windhoek Karneval celebration!"
O&L Executive Chairman and WiKa patron Sven Thieme echoed that vision, reflecting on what the Wunderland theme means in the context of Namibia today: "Namibia has never been a more curious place. Our theme holds up a looking glass to this magnificent country. A true Wonderland in its natural splendour, its people, its promise and yes, its questions. It is that same belief in Namibia's potential, that same sense of wonder, that fuels what we are building together at WiKa. My dream remains alive: to grow the WiKa Karneval into the biggest, most vibrant and beloved festivals in the entire Southern Hemisphere."
The 2026 programme spans ten days and features a full schedule of events, from formal balls and street processions to youth carnivals and high-energy international performances. WiKa's two international evenings are designed with all Namibians in mind. “Whether or not German is your first language or your second or your fifth, the energy, the music and the shared celebration need no translation. Namibia is home to roughly 30 spoken languages and more than 11 major indigenous ethnic groups and WiKa's doors are open to every one of them. O&L, as a proudly multicultural company rooted in this country, sees that diversity as something worth celebrating loudly,” says Thieme.
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