Bushfire 2026: Familiar Magic, New Memories & A Festival That Just Keeps Giving
09 June 2026
There’s something about Bushfire that gets under your skin. Once it’s in you, it stays there forever. This was my third time making the pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Eswatini for what has quietly become one of Africa’s most beloved music and arts festivals, and if anything, this year reminded me exactly why I keep coming back.
The trip almost didn’t happen the way I’d planned. What started as a group chat full of excitement and coordination — you know how those go — whittled itself down from four girls to just two. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Bushfire has a way of working out for those who are determined enough to show up. And show up we did!!
My travel companion was a Bushfire first-timer, which made the whole experience feel special in a new way. There’s nothing quite like watching someone fall in love with something you already adore. It was also our first international trip together, so the stakes were really high – friendship goals!
Getting There
We opted for a transport package and made it to Swaziland on the Thursday evening — smoother than my previous Bushfire trips, honestly. However, I’ll be transparent: I arrived without a camping ticket. A moment of both panic and prayer. I eventually found one through the reseller option on the Howler app just after crossing the border. It worked out, but I will say this with my whole chest — I am a changed woman and I will never be doing that again. Buy your tickets early, people. The universe has better things to do. Ticket logistics sorted, we hit our next wall: the queue at the ticket offices. Traffic was painfully slow, so we made the executive decision to park up and walk down to collect our wristbands on foot. Once those were on our wrists though? That familiar rush hit immediately. Getting to the campsite at Bushfire is its own little ritual — hauling your luggage to the truck that ferries it to the camping grounds is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. It’s the moment it all becomes real. We set up camp, wrestled with a tent (a reminder that being a girl is cute until you need man hands), discovered our gazebo had not survived the journey in one piece, and were graciously rescued by our neighbours who helped us get sorted. We insulated our tent, warmed up, made girl dinner, and we slept like we’d earned it. Because we had.
The Music
Friday evening eased us in beautifully. Uncle Waffles took the stage and there are simply no words. Watching her perform in her home country, with that crowd completely surrendered to her energy and her dancers — it was a full-body experience. She and her team are on another level and they are not letting up for anyone.
Shakes & Les brought the amapiano heat to the Corona stage, which this year took centre stage following the removal of the Amstel and Jaegermeister stages. Joburg’s finest represented South Africa with everything they had, and the crowd met them right where they were.
Saturday was the festival’s beating heart. Guy Buttery and Dan Patlansky at the Amphitheatre offered a refreshing, soulful contrast to the high-energy sets — the kind of performance that makes you stop, breathe, and just listen. Kokoroko, Thakzin, and Young Stunna all brought their A-game, but the moment that truly stood out was The Busi Mhlongo Tribute featuring Xolisa Dlamini and Buhlebendalo. It was spiritual. It was intentional. It was the kind of performance that makes you feel something deep in your bones, especially if you grew up with Busi Mhlongo’s music as part of your childhood. Whoever curated that set deserves their flowers. Young Stunna, who is without question one of South Africa’s greatest performers of this generation, delivered yet another unforgettable set — made even sweeter by the fact that he brought his mom to the festival. That was a moment.
Sunday, as any seasoned Bushfire attendee knows, carries a quieter, more reflective energy. We leaned into it fully. Velempini, Ndlovu Youth Choir, and the always-magnetic Msaki — this time paired with Jesse Clegg — graced the main stage. Msaki has become something of a Bushfire institution, and watching her move effortlessly between collaborators and genres is always a privilege. The main stage closed with Kabelo Mabelane, and if you’re a 90s kid, you already know. Every single song felt like a time machine — back to BOB TV, back to Channel O before it had its own channel, back to a simpler, more joyful time. He closed the show with gospel and a prayer, and honestly? It was exactly right. It felt earned. We ended the night at the Corona stage with Artwork Sounds, and for someone experiencing them live for the first time, it was an absolute treat — the perfect final chapter to three days of incredible music.
The Experience
Beyond the music, Bushfire 2026 showed real growth in its festival experience. Brand activations were more prominent this year, both on the camping side and throughout the grounds. A particular highlight? The Listerine takeover of the camp shower area — a thoughtful, genuinely useful touch that had festival-goers starting their mornings fresh, with some even walking away with goodies. Small details like that speak to a team that’s thinking about the full experience, not just the lineup.
Final Thoughts
Bushfire 2026 felt both familiar and refreshingly new — like returning to a place that knows you, but has quietly been doing the work to be better. The team behind this festival has spent years building something that is safe, memorable, and deeply rooted in African culture and music, and it shows in every detail. Next year marks 20 years of Bushfire. Twenty years. Tickets open in two weeks and I, for one, will not be waiting. I’ll be there — hopefully with the full group chat this time.
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📸: Coco Brown
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