For one weekend in October, Thornpark Polo Grounds will become one of Harare’s main meeting points as the Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 takes over the capital’s culture and lifestyle scene.
Running from 2 to 4 October, the festival has assembled a wide-ranging lineup that brings together some of Zimbabwe’s most established artists, new voices and performers from across the region.
Some of the acts taking to the stage include Jah Prayzah, Jnr Spragga, Tamy Moyo, Mr JazziQ, Caairo, Mokoomba and Njelic.
This year’s theme, “The Music • The People • The City,” suggests an event interested in more than the business of putting musicians on a stage.
There will, of course, be plenty of music. But the organisers are also placing greater emphasis on food, hospitality, lifestyle, business and the social experience of spending three days at one of Harare’s biggest annual gatherings.
Rather than treating the venue simply as somewhere to watch performances, organisers are aiming for Thornpark to function as a temporary social and cultural city of its own.
For festival director Walter Wanyanya, that evolution is particularly important as Jacaranda approaches its ninth year.
“When you have been building something for nine years, you start understanding that you are no longer just putting on an event; you are building an institution,” said Wanyanya in an exclusive interview with 263Culture.
In a Zimbabwean entertainment landscape where festivals can appear suddenly and disappear almost as quickly, Jacaranda’s return year after year is something worth applauding.
Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 lineup
The lineup spans several generations and styles, from amapiano and dancehall to gospel, contemporary Zimbabwean music, and live band performances.
The temptation with a festival of this size is to measure its success by the names on the poster.
Wanyanya takes a different view.
“We have always believed that Jacaranda should give people discovery as well as familiarity.”
The organisers look not only at an artist’s popularity but also at their live show reputation, their generation, their musical identity and what they can contribute to the festival as a whole.
A festival can book a collection of popular artists and still feel like a series of unrelated concerts. Jacaranda is trying to create something more cohesive.
“A festival is bigger than its lineup.
“Artists will change every year, but the Jacaranda experience and the trust people have in the festival must remain.”
The longer-term goal is for people to buy a Jacaranda ticket because they trust the festival itself, even before they know who is performing.
That is a harder thing to build than a successful concert.
Friday 2 October lineup
- Andile Brown
- Tamy Moyo
- Jah Prayzah
- The Travellers Band
- DJ Youngvibes
- BRZE
Saturday 3 October lineup
- Sylent Nqo
- Feli Nandi
- Njelic
- Mr Jazziq
- Calequi Y Las Panteras and Nasibo
- Jnr Spragga and Spirit Chronicles
- Taku Made The Beat
- DJ Tatz Bless
- Mwendamberi
- Maluka
- Msiz’Kay
- Kotwane Hikwa
Sunday 4 October lineup
- Zee Nxumalo
- Caairo
- Fusion 5 Mangwiro
- Nizhe Desoul
- Minister Michael Mahendere
- DJ Young Vibes
- Thando Lewandowski
- MJ The DJ
- Enhle
- Just Leo
- Mandie Mae
- Mokoomba
Nine years of Jacaranda Music Festival
The Jacaranda Music Festival‘s growth has been less about one dramatic transformation than a gradual process of learning.
Wanyanya identifies consistency as the foundation.
The festival has spent almost a decade developing relationships with artists, audiences, suppliers, commercial partners and people working across Zimbabwe’s creative industries.
It has also changed considerably since its first edition.
“We’ve allowed the festival to evolve.”
That may be one of the reasons Jacaranda has managed to remain relevant while the wider events industry continues to change.
The ambition now is not simply to host a large festival in October, but to make October itself feel like Jacaranda season in Harare.
“For me, success isn’t necessarily being called the biggest festival.
“What matters is becoming a fixture on the calendar.”
That distinction matters.
A big concert can sell thousands of tickets. A cultural institution becomes something audiences expect to return to every year.
Jacaranda Business Hub brings commerce into the festival
Perhaps the most interesting development at Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 is the introduction of the Jacaranda Business Hub.
The initiative is designed to move commercial participation beyond the traditional sponsorship model.
Usually, a business partners with a festival, puts its branding around the site, activates its sponsorship and measures the visibility it receives.
The Business Hub offers another possibility.
Companies can use the festival to showcase their products, launch new offerings, meet customers, entertain clients, reward employees and network with other businesses.
“We’re essentially bringing commerce into the cultural ecosystem,” Wanyanya said.
The timing is also deliberate. October is Customer Appreciation Month, and the organisers are encouraging companies to look at the festival as a relationship-building opportunity.
Companies can use the festival to reward customers and staff, host clients or create hospitality spaces rather than treating their involvement simply as brand exposure.
There is an obvious logic to the idea.
When thousands of people gather in one place for a weekend, the resulting crowd is not simply an audience. It is also a community of potential customers, business partners and professional contacts.
For Jacaranda, the Business Hub represents another stage in the festival’s evolution.
Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 ticket prices
Tickets for the festival are being sold in phases, with prices increasing closer to the event.
The Phase 1 early-bird sale, running until 7 September 2026, offers:
- General Access: US$25
- VIP: US$50
Phase 2, from 8 to 30 September, will cost:
- General Access: US$30
- VIP: US$55
From 1 October, the daily ticket prices will rise to:
- General Access: US$40 per day
- VIP: US$60 per day
A weekend pass is available for US$60, subject to availability.
For anyone intending to attend all three days, the weekend pass is the more straightforward option, particularly while availability remains.
Where to buy Jacaranda Music Festival tickets
Tickets can be purchased at:
- Liquor Supplies Avondale
- Liquor Supplies Highland Park
- Liquor Supplies Green Fields
- Liquor Supplies Borrowdale
- Liquor Supplies Bradfield, Bulawayo
- Gadget Garage Avondale
Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 FAQs
When is Jacaranda Music Festival 2026?
Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 will take place from 2 to 4 October 2026 at Thornpark Polo Club in Harare.
Where is Jacaranda Music Festival 2026 being held?
The festival will be held at Thornpark Polo Grounds, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Who is performing at Jacaranda Music Festival 2026?
The lineup includes Jah Prayzah, Tamy Moyo, Feli Nandi, Njelic, Mr JazziQ, Junior Spragga, Zee Nxumalo, Minister Michael Mahendere, Mokoomba and many other Zimbabwean and regional performers.
How much are Jacaranda Music Festival tickets?
Early-bird General Access tickets start at US$25, while VIP tickets start at US$50. A weekend pass is available for US$60, subject to availability.
Where can I buy Jacaranda Music Festival tickets?
Physical tickets are available at Liquor Supplies branches in Avondale, Highland Park, Green Fields, Borrowdale and Bradfield in Bulawayo, as well as Gadget Garage Avondale.
What is the Jacaranda Business Hub?
The Jacaranda Business Hub is a new platform allowing companies to showcase products, engage customers, host clients, reward staff and network during the festival, extending business participation beyond traditional sponsorship.
