2026 Preview & Full Lineup

Journey to Jazz 2026: A Taste of What’s to Come

This past weekend in Prince Albert reminded us – quite powerfully – why Journey to Jazz exists.

As we prepare for our fourth edition (30 April – 3 May 2026), we gathered with a small group of invited guests for an intimate preview. What unfolded was a weekend of music, mentorship, community and magic – offering a tantalising glimpse of what awaits when the festival returns in full.

Friday Night: Small Room, Big Sound

The weekend opened at The Showroom Theatre with a beautifully scaled but deeply resonant set led by Kyle Shepherd, joined on stage by Paul Hanmer, Zawadi Yamungu, Shane Cooper and Jono Sweetman.

It was one of those nights where the music fills the room without ever overpowering it – close, generous, and shared. A reminder that some of the most powerful jazz moments happen not on the biggest stages, but in spaces built for listening.

Saturday: The Heart of the Work

Saturday morning brought us to the PACT Centre in Noordeinde, under a blazing Karoo sun and cloudless blue skies. Here, the focus shifted to the future: a musical showcase by the Karoo Jazz Project, whose evolving sound is very much in good hands.

Under the mentorship of Paul Hanmer, the young musicians presented three of their own compositions – re-imagined with jazz sensibility, confidence and growing individuality. These are accomplished young players, already conversing fluently in the language of jazz, and audiences can look forward to hearing their work during the festival itself.

Lunch at ONS: Skills in Action

From there, we moved to ONS for lunch – and another milestone moment. Guided by Chef Shane, the meal was prepared by the first seven recruits of the newly launched Prince Albert Hospitality Academy, a partnership between PACT and the Franschhoek Hospitality Academy.

This was training in action: young people learning skills, gaining confidence, and serving delectable food with pride. A tangible example of how Journey to Jazz feeds directly into opportunity and economic participation.

Sundowners in the Pass: Music Meets the Elements

As the afternoon cooled, invited guests made their way up the Swartberg Pass for sundowners and a very special unplugged performance by Zawadi Yamungu. Her lyrical voice worked effortlessly with the wind, the vastness, and the slow rhythm of the mountains – drawing everyone present into a shared sense of time, nature and stillness.

As night fell, the stars emerged and the mountain became a canvas for light. It was one of those moments that stays with you – and left no doubt that, as a venue, the Swartberg Pass will be incredibly hard to beat. Even the elements felt less like obstacles, and more like co-performers.

The Full Line-Up Is Now Revealed

With the preview behind us, we’re thrilled to confirm that the Journey to Jazz 2026 line-up is now complete, featuring:

Vusi Mahlasela • Kyle Shepherd (with William Kentridge films) • Paul Hanmer Nomfundo Xaluva • Linda Sikhakhane & Paras Dlamini Yonela Mnana & The Soultee Sisters • Zawadi Yamungu Jonathan Rubain • Donvino Prins ¡Gracia! (Italy) • Ntone Edjabe • DJ Bob’s Jazz Club Amy Campbell • Karoo Jazz Project

Alongside performances across churches, community spaces, Noordeinde and the Swartberg Pass, the festival will once again be anchored by its much-loved Greet & Meet programme, with full details to be announced later in February. Book Now

Journey to Jazz remains first and foremost a music festival – and the more successful it is, the more it can give back through youth training, skills development and opportunity creation in Prince Albert.

Tickets are on sale now via Quicket Prices range from free to R250 per performance.

If this past weekend was anything to go by, seats will fill quickly.

We can’t wait to welcome you back to Prince Albert – to listen, to slow down, and to be part of something that truly matters.

With gratitude and excitement, The Journey to Jazz & PACT Team

True Jazz. True Karoo. True Purpose.