Standard Bank Joy of Jazz announces 2026 line-up

Now in its 27th year, the festival will feature a mix of international and South African jazz artists across four stages, with programming shaped around tributes to influential musicians, collaborations and contemporary interpretations of jazz.

International acts on the programme include Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo and American composer and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, who is scheduled to perform at the festival for the first time.

South African performers announced for the event include Thandiswa Mazwai, Judith Sephuma, McCoy Mrubata, Khaya Mahlangu and Ndabo Zulu. The programme will also feature performances by 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners Gabi Motuba and Manana.

Festival producer Mantwa Chinoamadi said the programming for this year’s edition aimed to reflect both the history and future direction of jazz in South Africa.

“Joy of Jazz has always been about more than performance,” she said. “It’s about creating moments of connection across generations, cultures and geographies. This year, we are intentional about curating a programme that reflects where we come from, while boldly stepping into where we’re going.”

The festival said this year’s edition also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and 70 years since the 1956 Women's March, themes that influenced parts of the programme.

Among the featured performances is a tribute to late jazz musician Hugh Masekela by Thandiswa Mazwai. Another tribute performance will honour saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi, led by Khaya Mahlangu.

“Honouring Bra Hugh is deeply personal. His music shaped not just jazz, but the spirit of this country. To reinterpret his work on this stage is both an honour and a responsibility,” Mazwai said.

The Dinaledi Stage will host performances by Ibrahim Maalouf, Judith Sephuma and Ola Onabule, while the Diphala Stage will focus on vocal and instrumental performances led largely by women artists, including Nubya Garcia and Lorraine Klaasen.

A collaborative project titled “4 Bass Lines” will bring together bassists AusTebza, Rochelle Rautenbach, Chantal Willie-Petersen and Orlanda Da Conceição.

Chinoamadi described the project as a platform highlighting women instrumentalists in jazz.

“This project is a celebration of women occupying space boldly in jazz not as supporting acts, but as architects of sound and direction,” she said.

The Conga Stage will feature rhythm-focused performances from artists including Tank and the Bangas, Reza Khota, Madala Kunene and Sibusile Xaba.

Other acts on the programme include Tumi Mogorosi alongside Soweto Kinch and Neil Charles, as well as saxophonist Sydney Mavundla performing material from his album Dirge of our Fathers.

The Mbira Stage will present performances blending jazz, neo-soul and spoken word, with appearances by Floetry, Nomfusi and Anaïs Rosso. The stage will also include a tribute to late singer Busi Mhlongo performed by Buhlebendalo Mda, Zawadi YaMungu and Xolisa Dlamini.

According to organisers, the festival has expanded significantly since its early editions and now attracts more than 25 000 attendees annually. They said the event also contributes to the local economy through tourism, temporary employment and support for small businesses, including the Jazzy Joburg Market initiative for small enterprises.

Standard Bank Group head of sponsorship Bonga Sebesho said the bank’s continued involvement in the festival was linked to supporting African arts and culture.

“Each year, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz consistently presents the truest and most authentic jazz programming on the continent. As a bank we are proud to make art possible and in doing so, make jazz possible,” he said.