The annual free music festival Fête de la Musique, organised by French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and launched in South Africa in 2010, is always one of the most popular live music events of the Joburg winter and a platform for emerging artists. Hosted under the slogan 'Free Music For All', it offers something for everyone with jazz, pop, classical, rock, soul, indie, and funk all on the programme.
The festival embraces an array of musical genres and staying true to the original French concept, Fête de la Musique is
first and foremost a festival for amateur musicians, with the addition of slam poetry, which not only enriches the diversity on display but also highlights the impressive growth of South Africa's slam poetry scene. This powerful form of self-expression has become a dynamic force that captivates audiences with its unique blend of spoken word, emotion, and social commentary.
Headlining this year's festival are self proclaimed 'music chameleon' Zoë Modiga, performance art ensemble and experimental music collective The Brother Moves On and award-winning musician lordkez.
The 2026 edition of Fête de la Musique features acts carefully selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants by a respected panel of both international and local judges. The full lineup includes: Renaissance, [kimetsu.], Zykes Madiga, Thoknique, Namakau Star, Tessi Nandi, Thula Khumalo, Measuretutti Vocal Ensemble, Little Music School in the Valley, Lesedi Ntsane, and Khulu.
Keeping it clean
This year, Fête de la Musique teams up with the Keep it CKlean (KiCK) initiative to promote sustainability throughout the event. Since 2022, KiCK has worked with communities in Joburg East to combat littering and illegal dumping. At the festival, they’ll manage food waste from vendors, support site clean-up at Victoria Yards, and provide waste separation bins to encourage responsible recycling of glass, plastic, and paper.Event details: Fête de la Musique
Date: Sat, Jun 20, 2026Time: 13:00 – 19:00
Address: Victoria yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville
Price: Free
