montreaux is coming to africa

For the first time in its history, Montreux Jazz Festival is coming to South Africa, set to take place from Friday, 27th March to Sunday, 29th March, for a weekend of entertainment, exceptional food, wine, and an immersive cultural experience with Franschhoek as the stage.

From its naissance in Geneva, the Montreux Jazz Festival has travelled the world, from Tokyo to Miami, Rio to São Paulo and beyond. In 2026, the festival finds a new home in South Africa, set against the picturesque vineyards of Franschhoek. Its African debut marks a momentous cultural milestone, placing the country firmly within the global lineage of one of music’s most storied festivals, adding a significant new chapter to Jazz Month celebrations.

Each Montreux Jazz Festival is not limited to being genre-specific. Like the music itself, these festivals thrive on improvisation, diversity, and collaboration. Over the decades, it has hosted legendary performances from artists like Nina Simone and Miles Davis and has a significant archive of recordings recognised by UNESCO. Franschhoek proudly joins this prestigious list, marking a monumental moment as the festival’s first-ever African venue, celebrating the synergy and unique blend of stunning natural landscapes and warm hospitality that exists between Montreux and Franschhoek.

What makes this year’s international contingent particularly compelling is the weight of influence they carry across genres. Multi-Grammy award-winning pianist and producer Robert Glasper has spent the past two decades reshaping the modern jazz landscape, blurring the lines between jazz, hip-hop, soul, and R&B through collaborations with artists ranging from Kendrick Lamar to Erykah Badu. Meanwhile, Malian icon Salif Keita brings a different but equally profound legacy. Often referred to as the “Golden Voice of Africa,” Keita’s decades-long career helped carry West African music onto the global stage, blending traditional Mandé sounds with modern instrumentation and influencing countless artists across the continent and beyond. From the UK, Ezra Collective represents one of the most exciting movements in contemporary jazz today. Emerging from London’s meteoric jazz renaissance, the group has become known for its joyful fusion of genres, from dance to experimental jazz, bringing a new generation of listeners into the genre while maintaining deep respect for its roots. Then there is Róisín Murphy, a singular performer whose career has continuously defied easy categorisation, from her early work with Moloko to her solo catalogue, Murphy has built a reputation as one of the most inventive figures in electronic and art-pop music.

Among the local acts is Brother Kujenga, a Johannesburg collective that has become one of the most exciting forces in the country’s contemporary jazz movement. Blending spiritual jazz, soul, hip-hop and improvisation, the group channels the lineage of great South African ensembles in a contemporary way. Also on the lineup is the legendary Thandiswa Mazwai. Over the past two decades, Mazwai has become one of the country’s most influential voices, first as part of Bongo Maffin and later through a solo career that has spiritually fused Xhosa heritage, soul, and jazz textures. On stage, she brings an ancestral presence that is deeply emotive, making her an apt and exciting addition to the festival. Then there is Mandisi Dyantyis, a trumpeter, composer and bandleader whose work has helped redefine the emotional language of modern South African jazz. Drawing on church music, classical training and the traditions of Eastern Cape jazz, Dyantyis creates compositions that are sweeping, cinematic and deeply moving.

Across three days with more than 30 local and international acts, rounding out the festival’s lineup is a mix of established and emerging talent, ensuring every stage and set offers something unique, including: Billy Monama’s Guitar Convergence featuring Moss Mogale and Vusi Mahlasela, The Ploemies and Friends, DJ Kent, DJ Zinhle, Cassiem Latief and Leighton Moody, Rosey Gold, DJ Kenzhero, DJ Lelowhatsgood, Trev The Japanese, DJ Mighty, Kay Faith, Homie.Lover.Friend, and That Guy S’Bu.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.