True Jazz. True Karoo. True Purpose.
Prince Albert, Western Cape – 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 as The Voice, whose music has long been the soundtrack of South Africa’s freedom, resilience, and humanity.
Paul Hanmer, whose classic album Trains 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 Sikhakhane and 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 of healing, 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.
#TrueJazzTrueKaroo #JourneytoJazz2026 #J2J #J2J2026 #PrinceAlbert #PACT #JazzWithPurpose #YouthLed #JazzRetreat
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About Journey to Jazz
A Model for Cultural and Social Development – Journey to Jazz is more than a 3-day music festival in Prince Albert. It is the public face of a far deeper mission. Backed by the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), it’s a platform where culture drives social change, equipping young people with life-changing skills, networks and opportunity. The festival is a blueprint for nation-building through the arts – transformation in action. With iconic artists, intimate venues, and deeply rooted community energy – this is jazz as you’ve never experienced it. www.journeytojazz.co.za
About the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT)
PACT is a dynamic non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering sustainable social change and community development in Prince Albert and surrounding areas. Committed to empowerment through education, skills development, and economic inclusion, PACT collaborates with local and international partners to drive impactful initiatives that uplift disadvantaged communities. From early childhood development and youth mentorship to arts, culture, and entrepreneurship programmes, PACT creates opportunities that inspire hope and transformation.
Some of these projects include The Showroom Theatre that stages regular productions; ONS Botanicals and ONS Table (at Langhuis), as well as Journey to Jazz and a host of other projects and programmes.
To learn more about PACT and how you can support its initiatives, visit www.pactrust.co.za
Artist Short Biographies:
Known as “The Voice of South Africa,” Vusi Mahlasela is a poet, activist and musical icon whose songs have chronicled the nation’s journey from struggle to freedom. Performing since his youth in the Mamelodi Township, his music – rich with themes of hope, humanity and resilience – has reached global audiences alongside legends like Dave Matthews, Sting, and Paul Simon. With nine acclaimed albums, a Lifetime Achievement SAMA, and national honours including the Order of Ikhamanga, Vusi remains a symbol of healing and unity through song.
Cape Town vocalist and pianist Amy Campbell represents the polished sophistication of the modern Cape jazz sound. A classically trained musician with international experience – from Stockholm to Sydney – Amy’s artistry spans performance, theatre, and education. Winner of SA’s Got Talent (with AnecNote), and a familiar face on local stages, she brings effortless elegance and emotional clarity to every song. At J2J, she embodies the artistry and warmth that define True Jazz, True Karoo with a performance that interleaves classic jazz standards with her distinctive modern yet rooted interpretation.
Paul Hanmer, one of South Africa’s most respected composers and pianists, celebrates the 30th anniversary of his landmark album Trains to Taung with this special Journey to Jazz performance. His lyrical style bridges jazz, classical, and South African township idioms, shaped through decades of collaborations with icons like McCoy Mrubata, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela. Hanmer’s influence on contemporary pianism and his commitment to South African musical identity make his “homecoming” to the Karoo a highlight of J2J 2026.
A two-time Metro FM Award winner and senior lecturer at UCT’s College of Music, Nomfundo Xaluva brings intellectual elegance and emotional depth to every performance. With three acclaimed albums – including her latest, Ndilapha – she bridges the worlds of artistry and academia, exploring the intersections of jazz, identity, and empowerment. Her work as a composer, scholar, and performer continues to redefine the voice of South African jazz on the global stage.
Hailing from KwaNongoma – “the place of the mother of songs” – saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane and vocalist Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini bring their collaborative project KwaNongoma to the Karoo. Drawing from their albums Ingoma Busuku and iLadi, the duo explores themes of belonging, spirituality, and collective memory through the sonic language of ingoma (song). Their music – rooted in Ubuntu and improvised freedom -connects ancestral rhythm with modern jazz expression.
A powerful vocalist, composer, and uMakhweyana bow player, Zawadi Yamungu channels the ancestral sounds of Princess Magogo and Busi Mhlongo into a vibrant modern fusion. Her performances are rich in spiritual resonance, blending indigenous rhythm and contemporary textures to evoke healing, heritage, and resilience. Zawadi’s artistry is both preservation and innovation – an offering that reconnects audiences to the wisdom and warmth of Africa’s musical soul.
Pianist, composer, and educator Yonela Mnana, is one of South Africa’s most visionary jazz voices. His work merges intellect, spirituality, and deep musicality, spanning collaborations with Herbie Tsoaeli, Sisonke Xonti, and Mandla Mlangeni. At J2J 2026, Mnana presents Echoes of Marabi – a revival of 1920s township swing – joined by his protégées, The Soultee Sisters, a harmony trio inspired by Miriam Makeba’s Skylarks, Mahotella Queens and the Dark City Sisters. Together, they honour South Africa’s rich vocal heritage while looking forward with a celebration of sisterhood in sound.