Journey to Jazz Returns to Prince Albert

There are few places where music feels as connected to landscape as it does in Prince Albert. In the quiet vastness of the Karoo, where mountains rise and silence stretches between moments, Journey to Jazz returns from 30 April to 3 May 2026 – bringing with it a programme that feels both deeply rooted and quietly revolutionary.

Now in its fourth year, the festival has evolved into something of a cult gathering of musicians. It’s a celebration of place, collaboration and cultural exchange, where jazz unfolds not only on stage, but across streets, mountain passes and community spaces. This year, the experience expands even further.

Bold New Venues and a Boundary-Pushing 2026 Line-Up

Spectacular lighting at the Prince Albert, Journey to Jazz stage in the heart of the Swartberg — Photographs courtesy of **Inga Terblanche** and **Prince Albert, Journey to Jazz**

For 2026, Journey to Jazz introduces two significant new venues that deepen its connection to Prince Albert and its surrounding landscape.

The PACT Centre in Noordeinde becomes a vibrant new hub for performances and community-led activations, bringing music into the everyday rhythm of neighbourhood life. Expect intimate shows, vinyl listening sessions and spontaneous moments where jazz spills into the streets.

In contrast, the Swartberg Mountain Pass offers something altogether different, a breathtaking, site-specific performance setting where music meets nature in its rawest form. Following a powerful preview performance earlier this year, the festival will return to the pass on Saturday, 2 May, for what promises to be one of its most unforgettable moments.

A Meeting of Sound and Image

Among the standout highlights of the 2026 programme is a special collaboration between acclaimed visual artist William Kentridge and celebrated pianist and composer Kyle Shepherd.

Audiences will experience a series of Kentridge’s short films accompanied by a live musical score, performed in real time by Shepherd. The result is an immersive dialogue between image and sound – layered, emotive and deeply resonant.

It’s a performance that speaks to the festival’s ethos: pushing creative boundaries while remaining grounded in storytelling and expression.

A Line-Up That Crosses Borders

ZAWADI — Photographs courtesy of **Inga Terblanche** and **Prince Albert, Journey to Jazz**

Journey to Jazz has always embraced collaboration, and this year’s programme continues that tradition with artists from across South Africa and beyond.

A notable addition is ¡Gracia!, a contemporary Mediterranean trio presented in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Culture. Blending folk traditions with modern jazz expression, their sound reflects the festival’s belief in the power of cultural exchange.

Returning favourites and new voices alike shape the line-up, including Jonathan Rubain, Donvino Prins, Nomfundo Xaluva, Vusi Mahlasela, and Zawadi Yamungu, whose earlier performance in the Swartberg Pass offered a glimpse into the kind of transcendent musical moments audiences can expect. The Karoo Jazz Project, under the mentorship of Paul Hanmer, continues to nurture emerging talent, collaborating with regional ensembles such as the Laingsberg Brass Band and local school groups – ensuring the festival remains rooted in community and future growth.

Vinyl Culture and the Spirit of Listening

Beyond live performances, Journey to Jazz 2026 places a renewed focus on listening culture and the legacy of jazz.

Sound stylist and cultural thinker Ntone Edjabe, founder of Chimurenga and the Pan African Space Station, will lead a series of performances and conversations exploring the evolution of jazz across the continent.

He is joined by DJ Bob, whose celebrated Jazz Club will take up residency in Noordeinde, coinciding with International Jazz Day on 30 April. Expect vinyl sessions, DJ sets, a mini record market and interactive workshops that invite audiences to engage with jazz in new and tactile ways. Throughout the festival weekend, pop-up experiences along Church Street will create moments of connection, whether through quiet reflection or spontaneous movement.

A Festival With Purpose

A glimpse of Paul Hanmer's mentorship, the 2026 Karoo Jazz Project (KJP) pic - Inga Terblanche — Photographs courtesy of **Inga Terblanche** and **Prince Albert, Journey to Jazz**

At its heart, Journey to Jazz remains a festival with purpose.

Presented by the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), every ticket sold contributes directly to youth development, skills training and community upliftment in the region.

It’s this balance, between artistic excellence and social impact, that gives the festival its unique depth.

In Prince Albert, jazz is not just performed. It is shared, shaped and lived.

Whether you come for the music, the setting or the sense of connection, Journey to Jazz offers something rare – a chance to experience sound, space and story in perfect harmony.