Your guide to the 2026 Africa Music Series
Explore Africa’s top music and lifestyle festivals in 2026, supported by Standard Bank Group across the continent.
Music and culture shape how Africa connects, creates and celebrates. As a group, we support a growing calendar of music and cultural festivals across the continent, platforms that bring together artists, audiences and industries. As part of the Africa Music Series, this guide highlights what to expect from key festivals taking place across the continent in 2026.
Follow the series for quarterly updates as more events are announced.
Festival line-up
Botswana Music N Lifestyle
Location: Gaborone, Botswana
Date: April 2026
Following a strong debut, the Stanbic Music ‘n’ Lifestyle Festival returns with an expanded programme focused on music, fashion and urban culture. Hosted at Royal Aria, the festival is designed as a multi-space experience, bringing together an energetic main stage, a lifestyle village, an innovation lounge and a corporate networking space.
This year’s line-up includes Mas Musiq, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and Oskido, alongside a broader mix of established and emerging artists. The Lifestyle Village grows to include over 25 vendors, offering food, fashion and local design.
Tickets are available via Webtickets, with 20% discounts for Stanbic Bank cardholders.
Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival,
Location: Eswatini
Dates: August 2026
Set at House on Fire, the Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival is a two-day celebration of food, music, fashion and design. The programme brings together culinary showcases, a curated music line-up and fashion inspired by the theme "A Return to the African Future".
The festival blends contemporary African creativity with heritage, offering a family-friendly environment that includes premium wine and whisky experiences, as well as curated entertainment.
Standard Bank hosts a dedicated experience space on the festival lawns, including access-controlled areas for cardholders, interactive activations, and hospitality elements such as seating, charging stations and photo moments.
Visit www.lujufestival.com for more information.
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Dates: 25–26 September 2026
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is one of Africa’s premier jazz festivals, bringing together leading South African artists and international jazz talent. Now in its 27th edition, the festival celebrates the depth and evolution of jazz through live performances across four stages.
Taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre, the line-up includes Angélique Kidjo, Kamasi Washington, Thandiswa Mazwai, Judith Sephuma, Manana, McCoy Mrubata, Khaya Mahlangu and many more.
Standard Bank cardholders qualify for up to 15% off tickets, limited to two tickets per person and subject to availability and terms and conditions.
For tickets and more information, visit Standard Bank Joy of Jazz.
Stanbic Music Festival
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Date: 3 October 2026
Returning after a pause in 2025, the Stanbic Music Festival re-enters the calendar as a platform for live music, food, art and fashion.
The festival creates a space for audiences to experience music and culture while connecting with the creativity shaping Zambia’s contemporary entertainment landscape.
For the latest updates, follow Stanbic Music Festival on Facebook.
Stanbic Acácia Jazz Festival
Location: Maputo, Mozambique
Date: November 2026 [TBC]
The Standard Bank Acacia Jazz is a celebration of jazz and Mozambican musical culture. Known for pairing upcoming talent with established international musicians, the festival creates a platform for collaboration and exposure.
Beyond music, the programme includes poetry and visual art, positioning the event as a multidisciplinary cultural experience.
Further details, including confirmed dates and line-up, will be announced soon.
Stanbic IBTC FUZE Festival
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Date: November 2026, date TBC
FUZE Festival brings together music, dance, fashion and technology, with a strong focus on youth culture. The event builds toward a large-scale finale, featuring live performances.
The festival also includes a talent development component, with participants progressing through stages before performing at the final event.
Hosted at Tafawa Balewa Square, FUZE positions itself as a high-energy cultural gathering that blends entertainment with opportunity.
For the latest updates on the festival, follow Stanbic IBTC on Instagram and Facebook.
Standard Lesotho LETOFE Lifestyle Festival
Location: Maseru, Lesotho
Date: 19 December 2026
Held at Thaba-Bosiu Cultural Village, LETOFE is an annual celebration of Lesotho’s culture, music and tourism. The programme includes a main jazz event, as well as poetry, comedy and additional live performances.
Set against the landscape of the Mountain Kingdom, the festival creates a space for traditional and contemporary cultural expression.
For more information visit the Lesotho Tourism Festival page on Facebook.
Where the rhythm continues
Across regions and genres, these festivals reflect the range and momentum of Africa’s music and cultural landscape. We house all our music sponsorship initiatives and events under one platform. This approach serves to build equity across all music pillars and let consumers know the true scale of our contribution to growing music on this continent we call home.
At Standard Bank, we are committed to growing the music scene across the continent. Through our events, festivals and projects, we bring you the latest rich, diverse music experiences we call the Standard Bank Africa Music Series.
More about how we are a Champion of the Arts.