Festivals in South Africa 2026
36 festivals waiting for you
Curated by Sarah Pagel · Last verified 2 April 2026
South Africa offers a festival landscape defined by its dramatic natural beauty and a fiercely independent creative spirit. The scene spans from the arid, dust-filled plains of Tankwa Town to the lush banks of the Kam'Bati River Resort, providing backdrops that are as integral to the experience as the music itself. Local culture emphasizes a communal connection to the land, where major gatherings blend large-scale art installations with diverse sonic palettes. Whether it is the rhythmic pulse of psytrance in the wilderness or the melodic strains of folk and rock by the water, the country’s events prioritize genuine connection and artistic expression.
The musical diversity across the provinces reflects a sophisticated audience that values both international production and home-grown talent. Renowned gatherings such as AfrikaBurn and Bazique push the boundaries of traditional performance, while events like Up The Creek offer a relaxed atmosphere centered around the river. Electronic and pop sounds dominate the urban fringes, yet the heart of the scene often lies in remote locations like Ruigterflei Farm. Here, attendees find a fusion of electronic innovation and organic instrumentation, creating a distinct identity that establishes the nation as a premier destination for those seeking a singular cultural experience.
Anjunadeep Open Air Cape Town 2026
Apr 4, 2026 - Apr 4, 2026
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.
Organik Love Project 2026
Apr 11, 2026 - Apr 12, 2026
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.
River Jam Music Festival 2026
Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 12, 2026
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.
Ultra South Africa 2026
Apr 25, 2026 - Apr 26, 2026
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.
AfrikaBurn 2026
Apr 27, 2026 - May 3, 2026
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.
Now Now Festival 2026
May 9, 2026 - May 9, 2026
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.
Beats in the Bush 2026
May 15, 2026 - May 17, 2026
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.
Earthdance Johannesburg 2026
Sep 19, 2026 - Sep 19, 2026
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.
Bloom Festival Johannesburg 2026
Oct 2, 2026 - Oct 4, 2026
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.
Meidum Festival 2026
Nov 27, 2026 - Nov 29, 2026
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 2026
Dec 30, 2026 - Jan 1, 2027
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.
Sexy Groovy Love: New Year's Day 2027
Dec 31, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026
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
Jan 1, 2027 - Jan 1, 2027
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.
Sexy Groovy Love: New Year's Eve 2026
Jan 1, 2026 - Jan 1, 2026
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.
Wolfkop Weekender 2027
Jan 15, 2026 - Jan 19, 2026
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.
Yalla Valhalla 2026
Jan 24, 2026 - Jan 24, 2026
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.
Up The Creek 2026
Feb 5, 2026 - Feb 8, 2026
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.
Rumours by the Lake 2026
Feb 6, 2026 - Feb 6, 2026
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.
Bundu Karoo 2027
Feb 6, 2026 - Feb 8, 2026
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.
Kunye Cape Town 2026
Feb 7, 2026 - Feb 7, 2026
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.
Liquicity Cape Town 2026
Feb 7, 2026 - Feb 7, 2026
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.
Pandora Nexus 2026
Feb 13, 2026 - Feb 16, 2026
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.
Tankwa Drome 2026
Mar 5, 2026 - Mar 8, 2026
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.
Bazique Festival 2026
Mar 6, 2026 - Mar 8, 2026
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.
Kunye Jozy X 2026
Mar 7, 2026 - Mar 7, 2026
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.
Purified Cape Town 2026
Mar 13, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026
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.
Purified Johannesburg 2026
Mar 14, 2026 - Mar 14, 2026
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.
Corona Sunsets Festival Cape Town 2026
Mar 21, 2026 - Mar 21, 2026
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.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2026
Mar 27, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026
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.
HABITAT: Whisper in the Woods 2026
Mar 28, 2026 - Mar 28, 2026
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.
POD Easter 2026
Apr 2, 2026 - Apr 6, 2026
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.
Splashy Fen 2026
Apr 2, 2026 - Apr 6, 2026
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.
Anjunadeep Open Air Johannesburg 2026
Apr 3, 2026 - Apr 3, 2026
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.
Earthdance Cape Town 2026
TBA
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'.
Sexy Groovy Love: Halloween 2026
TBA
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.
Rocking the Daisies 2026
TBA
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.
An independent electronic music & festival researcher with 10+ years in the global dance scene.
Last verified 2 April 2026