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Harare is set for a busy October weekend as Jacaranda Music Festival brings three days of live performances, DJs and regional sounds to Thornpark Polo Club.
The festival will run from 2 to 4 October 2026, with a programme designed to move across amapiano, dancehall, gospel, contemporary Zimbabwean music and traditional influences. The broad lineup gives audiences the chance to follow different musical styles across the weekend while celebrating Zimbabwe’s vibrant live-music scene.
Organisers say the festival is built around a balance of well-known performers and artists audiences may be discovering for the first time. Their selection process considers not only popularity, but also live performance, musical identity, generation and how each act contributes to the overall programme.
That approach is expected to give the three-day event a varied but connected feel. Rather than presenting a series of unrelated concerts, Jacaranda aims to create a complete weekend experience that can appeal to different audiences and age groups.
Friday opens the weekend
The festival begins on Friday, 2 October, with a programme featuring Andile Brown, Tamy Moyo, Jah Prayzah, The Travellers Band, DJ Youngvibes and BRZE.
Jah Prayzah’s appearance gives the opening day a major Zimbabwean draw, while Tamy Moyo and Andile Brown add contemporary energy to the bill. The Travellers Band, DJ Youngvibes and BRZE complete a programme intended to set the tone for the weekend.
Saturday brings a regional flavour
Saturday’s programme expands the festival’s musical range with performances by Sylent Nqo, Feli Nandi, Njelic, Mr Jazziq, Calequi Y Las Panteras, Nasibo, Jnr Spragga, Spirit Chronicles, Taku Made The Beat, DJ Tatz Bless, Mwendamberi, Maluka, Msiz’Kay and Kotwane Hikwa.
The day combines Zimbabwean talent with regional acts and a strong dance-oriented presence. With several performers on the bill, Saturday is likely to be the festival’s most expansive day for audiences looking to move between different sounds and styles.
Sunday closes with a diverse programme
The closing day, Sunday, 4 October, features Zee Nxumalo, Caairo, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Nizhe Desoul, Minister Michael Mahendere, DJ Young Vibes, Thando Lewandowski, MJ The DJ, Enhle, Just Leo, Mandie Mae and Mokoomba.
The Sunday lineup brings together gospel, contemporary music, DJs and established Zimbabwean performers. Mokoomba’s inclusion adds a distinctive local sound to the closing programme, while Minister Michael Mahendere offers a strong gospel presence.
More than a music weekend
Jacaranda is entering its ninth year with ambitions that extend beyond the stage. Organisers want the festival to become a regular feature of Harare’s annual cultural calendar, with October increasingly associated with the Jacaranda experience.
The festival’s growth has been gradual, supported by relationships with performers, audiences, suppliers, commercial partners and professionals across Zimbabwe’s creative industries. Its organisers say they have allowed the event to evolve rather than keeping it tied to the format of its first edition.
That evolution is also visible in the introduction of the Jacaranda Business Hub. The new initiative will allow companies to showcase products, launch offerings, engage customers, host clients, reward employees and network during the festival.
The Business Hub is being promoted in connection with October’s Customer Appreciation Month. It offers businesses an opportunity to participate in the festival as more than sponsors, using the gathering as a setting for customer engagement and relationship-building.
The initiative reflects the wider role large cultural events can play in a city. Alongside the music, festivals create spaces for businesses, creative workers, audiences and communities to meet.
Ticket prices and sales points
Tickets are being released in phases, with the price increasing as the festival approaches.
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Sales period
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General Access
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VIP
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Phase 1: Until 7 September 2026
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US$25
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US$50
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Phase 2: 8–30 September 2026
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US$30
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US$55
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From 1 October 2026
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US$40 per day
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US$60 per day
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A weekend pass costs US$60, subject to availability. The pass may offer the most convenient option for people planning to attend from Friday through Sunday.
Physical tickets are listed as available from Liquor Supplies branches in Avondale, Highland Park, Green Fields and Borrowdale in Harare, together with the Bradfield branch in Bulawayo. Gadget Garage Avondale is also listed as a sales point.
Anticipation builds in Harare
Organisers say conversations around the festival have increased since the full lineup was announced. Groups are reportedly making plans for the weekend, while businesses and partners are showing growing interest in the event.
The challenge now is to turn that anticipation into a smooth and memorable festival experience. With three days of music, a wide-ranging lineup and a new commercial platform, Jacaranda 2026 is positioned as one of Harare’s major October gatherings.
For audiences, the festival offers a full weekend of live entertainment. For organisers, it is an opportunity to prove that Jacaranda can become a dependable fixture—an event that Harare looks forward to, plans around and returns to every year.
Jacaranda Festival 2026 at a glance
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Detail
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Information
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Dates
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2–4 October 2026
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Venue
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Thornpark Polo Club, Harare
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Early-bird tickets
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General Access US$25; VIP US$50
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Weekend pass
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US$60, subject to availability
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Featured performers
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Jah Prayzah, Tamy Moyo, Feli Nandi, Njelic, Mr Jazziq, Zee Nxumalo, Minister Michael Mahendere, Mokoomba and others
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New feature
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Jacaranda Business Hub
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