The Journey to Jazz Festival (J2J) returns for its fourth staging from 30 April – 3 May 2026, and with its first artist announcement, it reaffirms why this remarkable Karoo festival has become one of South Africa’s most meaningful music experiences – where world-class jazz meets purpose, people, and place.
The first artists announced include some of the country’s most revered and innovative musicians:
- Vusi Mahlasela, the well-decorated icon affectionately known asThe Voice, whose music has long been the soundtrack of South Africa’s freedom, resilience, and humanity.
- Paul Hanmer, whose classic albumTrains to Taung – newly remastered to mark its 30th anniversary – finds its homecoming in Prince Albert, bringing his lyrical piano mastery back to the stage where storytelling and melody intertwine.
- Nomfundo Xaluva, the scholar, educator, and vocal powerhouse whose performances blend intellect, intimacy, and the sonic richness of the South African songbook.
- Linda Sikhakhaneand Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini, both from Kwa-Nongoma – “the place of the mother of songs” – representing a new generation of composers and improvisers carrying forward the region’s musical legacy through deep-rooted authenticity and spiritual jazz.
- Zawadi Yamungu, whose music draws from the ancestral traditions of Princess Magogo and Busi Mhlongo, fusing indigenous rhythm with modern soul to create soundscapes ofhealing, heritage, and resilience.
- Yonela Mnana, the piano virtuoso producer and teacher teams up with winds man Benedikt Reising to present Echoes of Marabi, a project that encourages one to relisten (or rehear) the 1920s township jazz stye with fresh emotional texture and harmonic sophistication. His vocal ensemble The Soultee Sisters – inspired by the vocal ensemble traditions such as Miriam Makeba’s Skylarks, Mahotella Queens and the Dark City Sisters – joins him is a nostalgic yet forward looking celebration of sisterhood in sound.
- Amy Campbell, representing the sophisticated piano and vocal elegance of the Cape jazz scene, bringing her distinctly modern yet rooted interpretation of melody and phrasing interwoven with classic jazz sounds.
Together, these artists are architects of sound and story – and in Prince Albert, they will amplify the spirit of unity that defines the Karoo.
But Journey to Jazz (J2J) has always been more than a festival. Rooted in the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), every note played and every ticket sold directly fuels youth training, upskilling, and opportunity creation for the young people of Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka, and neighbouring towns. The festival’s heartbeat is youth-driven, with local students trained in event management, hospitality, and production – learning by doing as they help stage a world-class event.
“Journey to Jazz is a cause that sings,” says Brenda Sisane, the festival’s Creative Director. “Here, jazz becomes a bridge between generations, between privilege and possibility. It is music that heals, unites, and reminds us that transformation is a rhythm we all share.”
Journey to Jazz also offers something rare – authentic connection. It’s a festival that takes audiences beyond stages and marquees into the heartbeat of the Karoo: its landscapes, its people, and its stories of resilience.
“It’s a charming festival that I’m happy to return to year after year – for the warmth of the welcome and the generosity of its audiences,” says Kyle Shepherd, J2J’s Artistic Director. “In Prince Albert, time stands still. As an artist, I find my calm centre here – a space where music, community, and meaning meet in the most human way.”
Each year’s curation transforms Prince Albert into a tapestry of sound and story. Performances unfold across unique venues – from the historic NG Kerk and art galleries to a prehistoric quarry and a restored Art Deco showroom – with 2026 introducing a new Noordeinde Stage, expanding the festival’s immersive village feel.
The meet and greet programme, an integral part of the festival, along with masterclasses and creative activations, offer audiences and immersive experience in local culture and the true Karoo’s signature hospitality.
While tickets go on sale in November, festivalgoers are encouraged to book accommodation early, as this much-loved festival fills the town to capacity each year. This first announcement is only a taste of what’s to come, with additional artists and special collaborations still to be revealed.
Because Journey to Jazz isn’t simply about music – it’s about meaning, connection, and renewal. It’s about a town that dares to dream and a rhythm that unites us all.