Music Festivals in Africa

Gnaoua and World Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Essaouira, Morocco. It showcases Gnawa music and culture through collaborations between Gnawa master musicians and artists from other genres.

Jazzablanca is a major international music festival in Casablanca, Morocco, that showcases a vibrant mix of jazz, soul, pop, and contemporary world music. Launched in 2006, the event attracts a cosmopolitan audience with a diverse lineup of established global stars and emerging local talents across multiple urban stages.

L'Boulevard is an annual urban music festival that takes place in Casablanca, Morocco. It is unique because it focuses on promoting up-and-coming talents in the MENA region, offering them a platform to become professionals through its annual music competition, Tremplin.

Earthdance Cape Town is a music and dance festival that takes place annually at Kromrivier Farm in Cape Town, South Africa. The festival is unique as a global event, connecting people worldwide through music and dance with a synchronised 'Prayer for Peace'.

Earthdance Johannesburg is a psytrance music festival held at the Fun Valley Pleasure Resort, just outside Johannesburg. The festival is part of a synchronised global event for peace, where the same 'Prayer for Peace' track is played simultaneously at Earthdance events across the world.

MOGA Festival Essaouira is a boutique electronic music and culture event held in the coastal city of Essaouira, Morocco. It blends modern underground house and techno with traditional Moroccan Gnawa rhythms, offering a unique experience through music, art, and wellness programs.

Rocking the Daisies is a music and lifestyle festival that takes place annually at Cloof Wine Estate in Cape Town, South Africa. The festival is known for its commitment to environmental sustainability and diverse range of music, food, fashion and art experiences.

Bloom Festival is a music and arts festival held in Magaliesburg, South Africa. It combines music with mindfulness, wellness activities and conscious living in a natural setting.

Felabration is an annual music festival held at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Nigeria. The festival commemorates Fela Kuti's contribution to music, political activism, and social change through musical performances and various activities.

Cultivora Festival 2026 is a music festival that occurs in Marrakech, Morocco. It distinguishes itself by offering an experience that feels simultaneously trendsetting and uniquely Moroccan.

Meidum Festival is an electronic music, arts, and nature festival that takes place at the Pat Busch Mountain Reserve in Robertson, South Africa. It is known for its combination of electronic music with architecture set in a unique natural landscape.

Beyond the Mountain Festival is a music and arts festival that takes place in Swellendam, South Africa. It is known for its focus on psytrance and techno music, immersive stage designs, and art installations, aiming to create a connection between people and nature.

Beneath the Baobabs is a music and arts festival that takes place in Kilifi, Kenya. The festival is known for its focus on environmental sustainability, East African music, and its unique venue among baobab trees.

Sexy Groovy Love: New Year's Day 2027 is a music festival that takes place at Grand Africa Café & Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. This open-air event provides a unique oceanside experience with electronic artists providing music from afternoon into the evening.

DAYONE: New Years Day 2027 is an electronic music festival that takes place at Cabo Beach Club in Cape Town, South Africa on New Year's Day. The festival combines progressive elegance with the natural beauty of Cape Town's coastline, creating an electric atmosphere.

Wolfkop Weekender is an intimate music festival held in Citrusdal, South Africa, near the Olifants River valley. It combines a camping getaway with a music festival, offering river swimming, wellness sessions and a focus on community in a natural setting.

Kunye Jozy X is a music festival that takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa. It unites artists and fans in a celebration of South African house music and culture.

Tankwa Drome is a music and lifestyle festival located in the Tankwa Karoo at Place of Dreams. The festival is a celebration of Afrikaans artists and music, offering a unique open-air experience in a mountain gorge with natural stone features.

Sexy Groovy Love: Halloween is a Halloween-themed electronic music festival taking place at Cabo Beach Club in Cape Town. The event offers a unique Halloween party experience through immersive décor and a blend of sound, style, and strangeness.

Sexy Groovy Love: New Year's Eve 2026 is a music festival held at Lichtenstein Castle in Hout Bay, South Africa. It transforms the historic venue into an immersive experience where music and celebration combine.

Bazique Festival is a collaborative three-day boutique event near Cape Town that features a diverse lineup of electronic music, large-scale art installations, and whimsical performance art. Set in a scenic lakeside wilderness, the festival creates an immersive, community-driven playground for creative expression and dance music enthusiasts.

Bundu Karoo is a music festival held at The Place of Dreams in the Karoo, near Cape Town, South Africa. Designed as a minimalist, nature-driven event, it encourages reconnection with oneself and the natural world through music, movement and community.

Now Now Festival is a live music event held at Marks Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. The festival aims to evoke the sounds, style and spirit of classic hits.

POD Easter 2026 is a family music and wellness festival that occurs at Place of Dreams near Cape Town, located in the Tankwa Karoo. Its uniqueness stems from the fusion of music, psychedelic theatre, yoga, and outdoor pursuits within a desert setting, providing both adventure and relaxation for attendees of all ages.

AfrikaBurn is a regional Burning Man event held annually in the Tankwa Karoo of South Africa, centered on art, community, and radical self-expression. Participants create a temporary city featuring large-scale installations and performances governed by a decommodified gifting economy.

Purified Johannesburg is a melodic house music festival that takes place at James & Ethel Gray Park in Johannesburg. The daytime event is known for its immersive soundscapes, nature-inspired atmosphere, and high-end production.

Anjunadeep Open Air Johannesburg is a house music festival that takes place at The River Cabin in Johannesburg. It is known for bringing a deep and melodic house sound to South Africa, uniting local and international fans in a celebration of progressive electronic music and outdoor culture.

Corona Sunsets Festival Cape Town is an electronic music festival that takes place at The Glen Country Club in Clifton. The festival blends music with nature and art installations, promoting connection with the surroundings through creative expression, food, and interactive experiences.

HABITAT: Whisper in the Woods 2026 is an outdoor electronic music festival that takes place in a forest near Cape Town, South Africa. It offers attendees a chance to reconnect with nature through camping, yoga, and immersive music experiences.

Kunye Cape Town is an electronic music event that takes place at venues such as The Grand Africa Café & Beach in Cape Town. It celebrates South African music and culture, showcasing the country's musical heritage and promoting African producers.

Purified Cape Town is an electronic music festival held on CABO Beach in Cape Town. The festival delivers a curated melodic and deep house experience with immersive soundscapes and world-class production.

Ultra South Africa is the continent's largest electronic music festival, featuring world-renowned DJs and high-energy performances across Cape Town and Johannesburg. As part of the global Ultra brand, it delivers an immersive experience with cutting-edge stage production and a diverse lineup of electronic dance music.

Up The Creek is one of South Africa's longest-running outdoor music festivals, held annually on the banks of the Breede River near Swellendam. It is famous for its unique floating stage where festival-goers enjoy live rock and indie performances while drifting on colorful inflatables and lilos.

Anjunadeep Open Air Cape Town is a house music festival at The Ostrich in Cape Town. It is unique for showcasing a "Deep Set" by Above & Beyond and blending international and local talent in deep, emotive music within a natural outdoor setting.

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It is recognised as Africa's grandest gathering, showcasing a diverse mix of international and local jazz artists and jazz-inspired music.

Organik Love Project 2026 is an outdoor electronic music gathering held in Western Cape. The festival marks a milestone, honouring two decades of Organik's impact on the South African psytrance scene.

Splashy Fen is South Africa's longest-running annual music festival, held on a farm near Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal. Established in 1990, it creates a community atmosphere uniting music, nature, and people in the Drakensberg mountains.

Sandbox Festival is a premier electronic music event held annually in El Gouna, Egypt, featuring a curated lineup of local and international DJs along the Red Sea coast. This immersive beachside gathering integrates music, art, and wellness activities to create a unique community atmosphere dedicated to self-expression.

Yalla Valhalla is a music festival in Cape Town, South Africa, at venues such as the Castle of Good Hope and Lichtenstein Castle. The festival is notable for its immersive environment created through music, visuals, décor, and a focus on community.

Kunye Kenya is a music festival held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi that celebrates Afro-house and electronic music. Founded by Shimza, the event aims to promote South African musical heritage and unite local and international talent.

Fractal Festival is a camping music and arts festival held in Usakos, Namibia. The festival merges ancient earth energy with electronic music, offering immersive experiences in an ancient landscape.

Mainland BlockParty is a music festival series that originates in Lagos, Nigeria. It is distinctive due to its celebration of youth culture and promotion of cross-cultural connections across African cities through Afrobeats, hip hop, and pop music.

The Experience Lagos is a free, all-night gospel music concert held annually at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos Island, Nigeria. It is known as one of Africa's largest musical events, bringing together local and international gospel artists and drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees.

Livespot X Festival is a music festival that takes place annually in Lagos, Nigeria. It distinguishes itself through high-production live performances by both international and local artists, often incorporating diverse cultural programming such as panels, markets, and masterclasses.

Flytime Fest is an annual multi-day music festival held in Lagos, Nigeria. It is notable for showcasing a mix of prominent Nigerian and international artists across genres and for connecting African music with global audiences.

EniObanke Music Festival (EMUfest) is a multi-city festival held annually in Nigeria. It is known for providing a platform for emerging talent and celebrating established names while promoting African cultural identity.

Lagos International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz music and culture event in Lagos, Nigeria. It is notable for celebrating local musicians and aiming to make Lagos a top jazz tourism spot.

NATIVELAND is an annual music festival in Lagos, Nigeria, that showcases West African culture. The festival, organised by The Native, distinguishes itself by incorporating art, food, style, sports and education alongside music.

Our Homecoming is an annual festival in Lagos, Nigeria, that showcases music, fashion, art and sport. It is unique for fostering cultural exchange by connecting African creatives with the diaspora and international talents.

River Jam Music Festival occurs in Gauteng, South Africa, at the Emerald Resort & Casino in Vanderbijlpark. This festival transforms the banks of the Vaal River into a centre of sound and celebration, providing a blend of high-energy entertainment and leisure.

Rumours by the Lake is an electronic music festival with camping held at the Elgin Grabouw Country Club in Cape Town. It offers daytime swimming in the lake and features international and local house and techno acts.

Liquicity Cape Town is a drum & bass music festival held at The Ostrich Farm in Cape Town, South Africa. It is known for combining drum & bass with a summer holiday atmosphere, offering soulful beats in an open-air setting.

Beats in the Bush is a music festival held at Bayala Safari Lodge in the Munyawana Game Reserve, near Durban, South Africa. It combines a boutique electronic music festival with a Big 5 safari, including game drives and wildlife viewing.

Pandora Nexus 2026 is an outdoor electronic music festival that takes place at Stanford Hills Wine Estate near Cape Town, South Africa. The festival aims to be a meeting point where music, art, spirituality and technology intersect, offering an immersive experience with workshops, talks and ceremonial spaces.