• From Cape Town to Zanzibar and Morocco.
• Attracting thousands of people from around the world.
• Techno and house, psytrance, drum and bass, Amapiano, aarobeats and many more.

The WIRE Summer Vibes issue celebrates the very best of Music Festivals and parties this summer. Check out our very favourite events to get down, dance, relax and discover some great music.

The outdoor festival scene in South Africa is thriving, with a number of festivals held across the continent each year. The biggest festivals are usually held near Cape Town, South Africa. Some specially selected events extend to Africa. These festivals, with a diverse range of music including techno and house, psytrance, drum and bass, Amapiano, afrobeats and many more. They all come with their own identity and feature visuals and decor and a wide range of activities. The atmosphere is generally relaxed and friendly, with a great sense of community.

Alcazar Cape Town NYE 2023

Cape Town – South Africa

STARTS December 31, 2023 1:00 pm

FINISH January 1, 2024 3:00 am

Alcazar is the Cape Town New Year’s Eve celebration. An upmarket extravaganza of eclectic music, mind blowing stage architecture and flamboyant performance art, brought to you by a collaboration of the city’s top 3 purveyors of experiential events, Bazique Festival, Wolfkop Weekender and Sexy Groovy Love. Three incredible, art immersive stages will whisk you away into a kaleidoscope of good times running until 4am… right in the heart of the city of Cape Town!

Each year the three storey high mainstage structure at Alcazar is inspired by an iconic building from around the globe. This year Alcazar delves into the ancient civilisation of the Aztecs and the Mayan palace complex of Palenque, deep in the jungles of modern-day Mexico. At Alcazar, fancy dress is not essential… but they encourage you to explore the incredible artistry of the Aztecs, or the natural beauty of the Jungle and its myriad creatures.

 

Sauti za Busara 2024

Zanzibar – Tanzania

STARTS February 9 2024

FINISH February 10 2024

Known as one of the leading music festivals in East Africa, Sauti za Busara has been rocking the stages for over 20 years. The festival draws artists from all over the African Continent, including Morocco, Kenya, and Rwanda. In addition to the variety of artists, the music doesn’t fail to give the audience a taste of it all, including hip-hop, reggae, jazz, roots, soul, and acoustic sounds, to name a few.

With thousands that flock to this festival every year, it’s a unique way to experience Zanzibar and the fantastic sounds from across Africa.

 

Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2024

Cape Town – South Africa

STARTS February 23, 2024 4:00 pm

FINISH February 24, 2024 4:00 pm

The 21st staging of “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, will take place on 23 and 24 February 2024 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This iconic event will present three stages and over 21 live music performances, guaranteed to appeal to discerning loyal fans and first timers alike.

Artists still to be announced at time of writing.

 

Ultra Music Festival 2024

Cape Town and Johannesburg – South Africa

STARTS March 1, 2024 12:00 pm

FINISH March 2, 2024 11:59 pm

After years of immense success in various locations, Ultra is back in Cape Town, promising an even more exhilarating and unforgettable celebration of electronic dance music. On 1st March 2024, the iconic Kenilworth Racecourse will be transformed into a pulsating haven, bringing together music lovers from across the globe and Expo Centre, Nasrec – Johannesburg will follow on the 2nd March 2024.

 

Asa Baako

Busua Beach, Ghana

STARTS  March 6 2024

FINISH March 10 2024

The Asa Baako Festival doesn’t just bring the party with genres such as Afro house, dance hall, hip-hop, and funk, but hosts an array of activities to enjoy, such as a beach football tournament and boat trips. It’s no wonder their slogan is “Beach by Day, Jungle by Night.”

Bringing in artists and DJs from Ghana and Nigeria, as well as from distant Sweden and Germany, the line-up is bound to be lit, and if you love dancing, this is certainly not a festival to miss! So enjoy a weekend in the African bush, connect with others, celebrate life through dance, and have an unforgettable time. Note the jungle party is one night only, but the whole weekend is full of fun and things to do!

 

Mawazine Festival

Rabat, Morocco

START – to be confirmed; June 2024.

After a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the hugely popular Mawazine Summer Festival of Morocco announced it will make a welcome return in June 2024.  The six stages are spread across Morocco’s capital, Rabat and the city of Sale across the river and each stage hosts music from a different area of the globe. Millions of music lovers from across the world attended last time. Previous acts have included The Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna, so watch out for dates on this one!

 

Lake of Stars

Lake Malawi, Malawi

START to be confirmed.

The Lake of Stars Festival takes you to the beautiful Lake Malawi for three eclectic days of Afropop, electronic, RnB, and jazz. Plus, although it’s highly recognized and well-organized, the event only attracts around 4,000 attendees, making it feel more exclusive and intimate than many of these other music festivals in Africa.

It was hoped that the festival would return in 2023 though has been postponed to 2024. Watch out for announcement on dates for when the magic of Malawi’s “Lake of Stars” appears again in music, dance, culture and art.