A press conference with Rayhaan Survé (chairman of the Survé Family Office), Georgia Jones (festival director) and Carolyn Savage (festival director)
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The anticipation is palpable as the 2026 Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) gears up for a spectacular two-day event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 27 and 28.
With an expected attendance of around 20,000 music enthusiasts, festival chair Rayhaan Survé had described this year's line-up as one of the most diverse yet, featuring a constellation of both international and local acts such as the UK's Jacob Collier and jazz fusion group Yellowjackets.
Other acts include Amapiano pioneers Scorpion Kings, and local legends Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and Nduduzo Makhathini. To see the full list of performers, click here.
Though national sports, arts and culture minister Gayton Mckenzie withdrew funding for large festivals, Survé and directors Georgia Jones and Carolyn Savage managed to keep the festival on track by securing sponsorships from partners such as Access Bank and Heineken.
The Survé family’s philanthropic arm also contributed to support the event.
The CTIJF began in 2000 and was formerly associated with the North Sea Jazz Festival. Over the years, it has grown into one of Africa’s largest music events, featuring international and SA artists across multiple stages.
Speaking at a press conference about the festival on Thursday, the trio said the sponsorships and support would allow more than 3,000 employees to put food on the table.
“This festival is more than just about the music, as it is also about creating livelihoods,” Survé said.
"Over all these years, we have created more than 32,000 jobs."
He said the jobs covered all aspects of the festival, from planning and production to security.
The inclusion of acts from across Africa, such as Mali’s Fatoumata Diawara, showed the festival’s pan-African focus.
According to Jones, this mix made the festival appeal to both long-time jazz fans and younger audiences discovering the genre for the first time.
"We have people coming from the Atlantic Seaboard, people coming from the city centre and even people coming from the locations," she said.
"And that, for us, is one of the most powerful things.
"It shows the real Cape Town, the real South Africa, and we celebrate it in a positive way, without focusing on divisions."
Survé agreed.
He said: “We’re not just a South African festival; we’re an African festival."
Jones explained that in today’s digital world, a viral video could make someone famous overnight.
She said that was why the festival carefully curated its line-up to ensure performers could give attendees real value.
“Being popular on streaming platforms does not guarantee someone can perform well live,” Jones said.
“It took us hours and hours to go through all the options and pick artists who can deliver on stage. We want people to get the full experience and enjoy every performance."
Jones added that the festival was designed to be accessible to everyone.
“This festival belongs to the people," she said.
"Given the stereotype that it’s only for elitists who are into jazz, we want to make jazz friendly and open for anyone to come and enjoy it."
Savage said a strict security net would be in place around the venue.
“It’s about creating a space where everyone feels safe to enjoy the music,” she said, adding that rules including a no re-entry policy are designed to protect both attendees and staff.
"We have three security companies on board and we will use the 'no-pass-out' policy; if you exit there is no re-entering the venue to mitigate additional risk," she said.
"The organising team has enjoyed fruitful engagement with the SA Police Service. We also have plenty of ushers to assist as well."
Survé also said they were mulling over expanding the festival beyond South Africa's borders.
More information about the festival is available at www.capetownjazzfest.com.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.