Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek: 27-29 March 2026

The Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek (MJFSA), presented by Nedbank, has unveiled the first phase of artists for its inaugural African edition, marking a major cultural milestone as one of the world’s most revered music festivals officially makes its debut on African soil.

This opening artist announcement signals Montreux’s long-standing commitment to artistic excellence, cross-cultural exchange and African creativity.

The programme brings together legendary figures, forward-thinking contemporary voices and once-off collaborations, setting the tone for a festival driven by depth, intention and meaningful musical dialogue rather than sheer scale.

Mark Goedvolk, founder of Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek, says the announcement captures the essence of the festival’s vision: “This first phase reflects Montreux at its best – where more than 60 years of legacy meets Africa’s artistic flair on the continent for the first time, and where African voices take their rightful place at the centre of the global music conversation.”

The Arches | Main Stage

Leading the first phase on The Arches, the festival’s main outdoor stage, is Salif Keita. Widely celebrated as the Golden Voice of Africa, Keita is one of the most influential figures in African music history, with a career spanning over five decades.

His appearance at MJFSA is both rare and deeply symbolic, embodying the festival’s belief in musical legacy, cultural truth and artistic courage.

Also confirmed for The Arches is Mandisi Dyantyis, one of South Africa’s most compelling contemporary composers and bandleaders.

Renowned for his expressive trumpet style and genre-fluid compositions, Dyantyis represents the evolving language of African jazz – bold, emotionally rich and unafraid to draw from classical, folk and modern traditions. His inclusion underscores Montreux’s focus on artists actively shaping the future of global music from the African continent.

Adding a unique collaborative dimension is Billy Monama’s Guitar Convergence, featuring Moss Mogale and Vusi Mahlasela. Created specifically for the festival, this rare meeting of guitar voices promises an intimate yet powerful exchange rooted in African storytelling, shared virtuosity and social memory—true to Montreux’s tradition of unrepeatable musical moments.

Setting the Tone: The Kesivan amaBig Band Experience

Another standout highlight is the Kesivan amaBig Band Experience, led by acclaimed South African drummer and composer Kesivan Naidoo, who is based between Switzerland and South Africa. This ambitious project brings together a 26-piece ensemble of South African and European musicians, with strong Swiss representation.

The collaboration reflects the deep musical relationship between South Africa and Switzerland, a connection central to the Montreux legacy. By reimagining Amapiano—traditionally electronic and groove-driven—through the lens of a large acoustic jazz ensemble, the performance establishes a rhythmic and conceptual foundation for the festival.

Featuring lead vocalists Boohle, Stogie T and BONJ, the project is anchored by Boohle’s unmistakable voice, one of the most emotionally resonant in contemporary Amapiano. Her presence bridges the genre’s electronic roots with its orchestral reinterpretation, grounding the collaboration in authenticity and emotional depth.

The Jazz Village | NG Church Complex

The Jazz Village offers an intimate counterpoint to the grandeur of The Arches, creating a space for deep listening, close connection and exploration across jazz’s many evolving forms. Designed for audiences who value nuance and discovery, the programme foregrounds musicianship, lineage and experimentation.

Among the first confirmed collaborations is a rare meeting between Madala Kunene and Sibusile Xaba. This intergenerational dialogue blends Kunene’s masterful maskandi guitar tradition with Xaba’s exploratory, genre-defying approach, bridging heritage and innovation.

Also featured is Kwanti Leeh!, an ensemble comprising Herbie Tsoaeli, Andile Yenana, Ayanda Sikade and Sisonke Xonti. Together, they represent a powerful cross-section of South Africa’s contemporary jazz excellence, celebrated for their sensitivity, depth and collective improvisational strength.

Lindsay Rhoda, Artistic Curator: Music & Programming for MJFSA, describes Jazz Village as a vital part of the festival experience: “Jazz Village is where the music is allowed to breathe. It’s a space for lineage, collaboration and experimentation – where artists can take risks and audiences can truly listen. That conversation across generations and genres is at the heart of Montreux.”

Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek: A Landmark African Edition

The organizers have unveiled a major new wave of artist announcements, confirming a genre-spanning programme.

The festival continues to position itself as a boutique, hospitality-led experience focused on deep listening, cultural exchange and world-class artistry rather than mass spectacle.

The Arches Main Stage blends global icons with pioneering African voices. Friday features The Kesivan amaBig Band Experience, alongside Brother Kujenga, Wet Wet Wet and Róisín Murphy. Saturday expands the scope with The Ploemies and Friends, plus standout names including Thandiswa Mazwai, Ezra Collective and a landmark collaboration between Robert Glasper and Bilal, closing the night in style.

At the Jazz Village, the programming leans into intimacy and musical depth. Friday includes Madala Kunene & Sibusisle Xaba, Kesivan & The Lights, Stacey Kent and the Ramon Alexander Trio featuring Buddy Wells. Saturday continues with tributes and boundary-pushing collaborations, including “A Kind of Blue,” a centenary celebration of Miles Davis, alongside Msaki’s ENTROPY project and The Kyle Shepherd Trio.

The three-day event concludes on 29 March with a Sunday Slowdown along the Montreux Mile on Huguenot Street – an un-ticketed town-wide celebration of music, food and wine that keeps the festival spirit alive beyond the main stages.

As the first African edition of the legendary Swiss brand, Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek is designed as an intimate, premium experience with limited capacity, reinforcing its vision of placing African artistry at the centre of a global cultural conversation.

Taking place from 27 to 29 March 2026, Montreux Jazz Festival Franschhoek presented by Nedbank introduces the globally renowned festival to Africa not as a replica of its Swiss counterpart, but as a thoughtfully curated experience shaped by context, collaboration and place.

Designed as an intimate, hospitality-led event, the festival invites audiences to engage deeply with music, artists and environment.

Performances will take place on The Arches from lunchtime to midnight, and at Jazz Village from 3pm to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will feature a relaxed “Sunday Slowdown”, with multiple music offerings throughout the Montreux Mile. Further details will be announced in due course.

Tickets for The Arches are now on sale via Ticketmaster.

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