Zimbabwe’s mining city of Kadoma is preparing to welcome thousands of music lovers when the Kadoma Music Festival 2026 kicks off on 10 October with one of the strongest line-ups assembled for any local music event this year.
Headlined by Jamaican dancehall superstar Beenie Man and Congolese music icon Awilo Longomba, the festival brings together international performers with some of Zimbabwe’s biggest musical names in what has become one of the country’s fastest-growing live entertainment brands.
The event, hosted at The Odyssey Kadoma, will feature Alick Macheso, Winky D, Feli Nandi, Selmor Mtukudzi, Jnr Spragga, Sulumani Chimbetu and Chillmaster, promising an epic night of live performances across multiple genres.
As Zimbabwe continues to strengthen its calendar of regional fetes, Kadoma Music Festival has evolved beyond being simply another concert.
It has become a major cultural gathering that showcases Kadoma as a destination capable of hosting events that attract visitors from across Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
A festival helping put Kadoma on Zimbabwe’s entertainment map
Known primarily for its rich gold deposits and long mining history, Kadoma has traditionally been recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s most important industrial centres.
The city sits strategically between Harare and Bulawayo, making it easily accessible to visitors travelling from across the country.
For many years, however, large-scale entertainment events were concentrated in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Kadoma Music Festival has helped change that narrative.
Over the past five years, the festival has steadily built a reputation for attracting major artists while creating a platform that celebrates Zimbabwean music alongside international talent.
Each edition has expanded in scale, drawing increasingly larger crowds and generating business for hotels, restaurants, transport operators and informal traders throughout the city.
Beyond the performances themselves, the festival has become an important economic driver, bringing visitors who spend money across Kadoma during the event weekend.
For local businesses, it represents one of the busiest periods on the city’s entertainment calendar.
The Odyssey has become a premier entertainment destination
Central to the festival’s success is The Odyssey Kadoma, which has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading live entertainment venues outside the capital.
The venue has established itself as the heartbeat of Kadoma’s nightlife and events industry, regularly hosting high-profile concerts, comedy shows and lifestyle events that attract audiences from Mashonaland West, Midlands and beyond.
Its growing reputation has made it an increasingly attractive destination for international performers and Zimbabwe’s biggest artists alike.
The Kadoma Music Festival has become The Odyssey’s flagship annual event, reinforcing the venue’s position as one of the country’s premier regional entertainment centres.
Kadoma Music Festival 2026 lineup: International headliners to local legends
This year’s programme blends global stars with Zimbabwe’s most celebrated performers, offering something for fans of dancehall, sungura, Afro-pop, urban grooves and contemporary Zimbabwean music.
Global Icons: Beenie Man and Awilo Longomba
The international appeal of Beenie Man alone is likely to draw fans from across Southern Africa.
Widely regarded as one of dancehall’s greatest performers, the Jamaican star has spent decades producing global hits including “Who Am I (Sim Simma)”, “King of the Dancehall”, “Girls Dem Sugar” and “Dude”.
His energetic stage performances have earned him a reputation as one of the genre’s finest live entertainers.
His appearance in Kadoma represents another significant international booking for Zimbabwe’s concert industry.
Sharing top billing is Congolese legend Awilo Longomba, whose infectious soukous rhythms have made him one of Africa’s most recognisable performers.
With timeless songs such as “Coupe Bibamba”, “Karolina” and “Cache Cache”, Awilo continues to command audiences across the continent.
His music bridges generations, making him one of the festival’s biggest attractions.
Together, the two international stars bring decades of musical influence and promise performances capable of drawing audiences from beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
Zimbabwe’s Heavyweights
While the international stars will command attention, Zimbabwe’s own music royalty ensures the festival retains a distinctly local identity.
Alick Macheso remains one of the country’s most influential musicians, with his Orchestra Mberikwazvo continuing to attract devoted audiences after more than two decades at the top of the sungura genre. His marathon performances and unmatched bass guitar artistry have become hallmarks of Zimbabwean live music.
Winky D, often described as the country’s dancehall king, continues to dominate Zimbabwe’s urban music landscape through socially conscious lyrics and electrifying performances. Every major festival appearance by the award-winning artist becomes one of the event’s defining moments.
Award-winning vocalist Feli Nandi has established herself among Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary female performers, while Selmor Mtukudzi continues to honour the musical legacy of her late father Oliver Mtukudzi through performances that combine heritage with her own artistic identity.
Sulumani Chimbetu, carrying forward another legendary musical dynasty, remains one of Zimbabwe’s most consistent live performers, blending dendera rhythms with contemporary influences.
Completing the impressive local lineup is Chillmaster, whose rise within Zimbabwe’s urban music scene has earned him a loyal following among younger audiences.
Spotlight on Jnr Spragga
Few artists arrive at Kadoma Music Festival with as much momentum as Jnr Spragga.
The dancehall star is currently enjoying an extraordinary run that has effectively placed Zimbabwe’s local music industry in a chokehold.
His latest releases continue to dominate streaming platforms, while his chart-topping hit “Daka” has strengthened his position as one of the country’s hottest artists.
With multiple songs simultaneously occupying the Apple Music Zimbabwe charts, Jnr Spragga has become one of the most searched-for and talked-about musicians in the country.
His combination of catchy hooks, dancehall energy and consistent hit-making has transformed him into one of Zimbabwe’s biggest commercial success stories of 2026.
That remarkable form makes his Kadoma performance one of the most highly anticipated sets of the entire festival, with many fans expected to travel specifically to witness the artist behind Zimbabwe’s current wave of chart dominance.
More than music
Events such as the Kadoma Music Festival also play an increasingly important role in domestic tourism.
Visitors travelling from Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Bulawayo and other cities often extend their stay, supporting accommodation providers, restaurants and retailers while exploring the surrounding region.
For younger audiences especially, music festivals have become lifestyle experiences where live performances, food, fashion and social media culture intersect.
Kadoma’s central location makes it well placed to benefit from this growing trend, positioning itself as an emerging entertainment destination rather than solely a mining city.
Ticket prices and purchasing outlets
Organisers have announced three ticket categories:
- Ordinary: US$20
- VIP: US$50
- VVIP: US$200
Tickets are available from several outlets across Zimbabwe, including:
- Booties — Montagu and Eastgate (Harare)
- Booties — Kwekwe and Gweru
- Booties — Ascot (Bulawayo)
- Odyssey Mattresses — Newlands, Westgate and Kadoma
- Chegutu Pharmacy — Chegutu
The broad network of outlets reflects the festival’s regional appeal and is expected to make ticket access easier for fans travelling from different parts of the country.
A defining event for Kadoma
As Zimbabwe’s festival calendar continues to expand, Kadoma Music Festival has established itself as one of the country’s most significant annual music gatherings outside Harare.
The combination of international stars, legendary Zimbabwean performers and emerging talent gives the 2026 edition broad appeal across generations and musical tastes.
For Kadoma, the event is about more than entertainment. It is a showcase of the city’s growing confidence as a destination capable of hosting world-class events while generating tourism, supporting local businesses and strengthening its cultural identity.
With Beenie Man, Awilo Longomba, Alick Macheso, Winky D and the country’s current breakout sensation Jnr Spragga all sharing the same stage, the 2026 edition promises to be one of the biggest nights in the festival’s five-year history—and another milestone in Kadoma’s transformation into one of Zimbabwe’s leading regional entertainment hubs.
