Cape Town International Jazz Festival turns the page — and turns up the volume

Cape Town’s most famous musical export is reinventing itself… without losing its soul.

With three months to go before the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) returns on March 27 and 28, 2026, organisers have unveiled a bold new visual identity and a first wave of artists that signals confidence, ambition and a clear message: jazz is not standing still.

The refreshed logo and look are more than cosmetic. They mark what the festival calls a moment of renewal and a response to changing audiences, changing sounds and a changing world.

Behind the scenes, CTIJF has spent months in conversation with musicians, cultural thinkers and creatives through a series of open “Jazz Conversations”, asking difficult and exciting questions about where jazz is going, and who it must speak to next.

Now, those conversations are becoming sound.

The opening artist announcement reads like a statement of intent: global, local and unmistakably forward-looking. At the top of the bill is Jacob Collier, the seven-time Grammy Award winner whose genre-defying work has made him one of the most influential musicians of his generation.

His appearance at CTIJF promises not just a performance, but an experience with jazz as a living, evolving language.

Also returning to Cape Town are jazz fusion icons Yellowjackets, back for the first time in nearly 20 years. With a career approaching five decades, their inclusion bridges past and present, honouring jazz history while celebrating its restless drive to innovate.

Crucially, the line-up places South African voices at its centre.

Legendary musician Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse brings decades of influence and leadership to the stage, while acclaimed pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini returns with An Ongoing Rehearsal: Our-Ke(s)tra, being a spiritually rooted, deeply African exploration of jazz expression.

The next generation is equally present. Rorisang Sechele blends jazz, soul and gospel with emotional honesty; Jabulile Majola offers lyrical intimacy and nuance; and Manana represents a new, independent wave of South African R&B, grounded and globally aware.

Adding contemporary edge, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela, ranked among Spotify Africa’s Top 5 South African artists in 2025, reflect the festival’s expanding sonic palette and the growing international reach of Afro-house and hybrid African sounds.

Together, this first wave does more than announce names. It introduces a festival comfortable with its legacy, energised by dialogue and unafraid to evolve.

Tickets for CTIJF 2026 are already on sale via Ticketmaster, with single-day tickets and limited weekend passes available.

Organisers promise many more artist announcements in the weeks ahead. For now, the message is clear. A new identity. New conversations.

And the first wave of sound. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is coming, and it’s speaking with a bold new voice. Africa’s Grandest Gathering returns. 

Festivalgoers are encouraged to:

• Secure tickets early via Ticketmaster.
• Visit the newly revamped CTIJF website - www.capetownjazzfest.com  for the latest festivalnews and artist announcements*
• Follow CTIJF on social media - @capetowninternationaljazzfest - where additional artists willbe announced in the coming weeks.
• Engage with exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and festival updates across CTIJF’sofficial platforms.