Mahindra Fusion Fest – the revolutionary festival of art, fashion and music that has inspired many – is returning in 2026.
Mahindra made the announcement today at the Festival of Motoring, where Nomuzi Mabena (Moozlie) took to the stage to share the news in front of VIP guests and media attending the opening day.
Moozlie featured in the 2025 Fusion Fest, and she has since partnered with Mahindra as ambassador of the company’s many cultural projects. The inaugural Fusion Fest 2025 saw Mahindra elevate the profile of several young and upcoming artists, including singers, fashion designers and sculptors. These young, talented artists were on stage next to iconic stars such as Cassper Nyovest, K.O.; Matthew Mole, Mi Casa, Kamo Mphela and Aymos.
For the 2026 iteration of the Mahindra Fusion Fest, Mahindra has set the date as 7 March. Earlier this year, Mahindra hosted over 7 000 fans for the first Mahindra Fusion Fest as they rocked the stands to many hours of music and art by some of South Africa’s best-known artists.
“The Mahindra Fusion Fest was conceptualised to celebrate South Africa’s youthful energy where its many different peoples and cultures have created a unique, and dare we say unmatched, creative scene.
“The Fusion Fest was also a gift from us to our more than 100 000 owners who have journeyed with us over the past two decades. We entered our third decade in South Africa with Fusion Fest to celebrate the youthful, dynamic rainbow nation and will continue to do the same in 2026 too. Fusion Fest 2026 will be bigger, and we should also have built up roadshows in Durban and Cape Town,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
To include more of its fan base, Mahindra will take to the road later this year to host smaller Fusion Fest events in Durban and Cape Town. These events will not only bring the vibe of the main show to these important cities but will also act as a talent search for smaller musicians and artists who will be showcased on the main stage in March next year.
Mahindra’s fresh line-up of SUVs and Pik Up bakkies also featured strongly at the 2025 Fusion Fest and they will do so again in 2026.
This year, the Mahindra XUV 3XO was the main star of the event, and it arrived on the stage decked out in a unique design by the fashion guru Thula Sindi. The XUV 3XO Thula Sindi Edition was on show at the Festival of Motoring, where it was available for order through the national network of close to 100 dealers.
“Since our show in February, Mahindra has set a new growth trajectory. It ended its financial year as the fastest growing brand in the country, and it has kept that pace since. It is also a firm part of the Top 10 best-selling vehicle brands in the country.
“We see our growth as confirmation that South Africa has truly made the Mahindra brand part of its landscape, and we look forward to growing further, with Mzansi as our home outside India,” says Rajesh.
With the announcement now live and the date set, the planning for the 2026 Fusion Fest begins in earnest.
Mahindra will soon announce the first artists to be signed to the 2026 Fusion Fest, as well as the details of its many competitions, including for fans to win and for young artists to join the Fusion Fest.
To follow the excitement, follow the hashtags #MahindraFusionFest and #MahindraSA on your favourite channels.
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National debt: South Africa’s debt to GDP ratio is 48%. Compared to the USA (100%), Japan (200%), and the UK (90%) South Africa does not do too badly in this department. The World Bank recommends a ratio of 60%. With reasonable debt levels the likelihood that the government is able to repay its debt is high and that its fiscal policy is sustainable. This is conducive for starting a business in South Africa, knowing that the government will still be able to continue spending and thus stimulate the economy.