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We are inching ever closer to the start of the 2026 edition of Standard Bank Joy of Jazz!
As the excitement starts to ramp up, we're here to help you prepare for the epic event at the Sandton Convention Centre.
We know festivals like these can be daunting, as the choices across the various stages make it difficult to decide where to spend your time.
WIN: Time Out's Standard Bank Joy of Jazz ticket giveaway
Do you head straight for the main stage? Do you try to discover something new? Do you have two favourites performing at the same time on different stages?
If only there were a way to decide where you should spend most of your time...
Oh, wait. There is!
Take our personality test below to see where you should be moving those hips on Friday, 25 and Saturday, 26 September, according to the person who knows you best... You!
READ: Your comprehensive guide to Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2026
The stage for you at Joy of Jazz
Dinaledi Stage: Big Festival Moments
Come here for the international heavyweights, expansive live shows and plenty of those big festival moments here. The Dinaledi Stage is where the festival goes big, with Ibrahim Maalouf, Judith Sephuma and Khaya Mahlangu’s tribute to Kippie Moeketsi among the highlights. The stage also features Ola Onabule, drawing from his catalogue and latest album Proof of Life, before Dumza Maswana closes with the full force of his 20-piece Umngqunqgo Orchestral Experience. This is your stage if you want big names, big performances, and plenty of festival-sized energy.
Mbira Stage: Soulfully Intimate
If you prefer your festival sets to be intimate and soulful, with a few new voices to discover, then start here. Floetry and Nomfusi share the stage with French singer-guitarist Anais Rosso, with Buhlebendalo Mda, Zawadi YaMungu and Xolisa Dlamini paying tribute to Busi Mhlongo. The programme gets a younger, more modern edge from the Internet, Athi, Manana, and the Soweto group Gurulogic. If vocals, stories and atmosphere matter as much to you as technical skill, this is your stage.
Conga Stage: Genre-crossing Collaborations
Come here for a more adventurous mix of African sounds, high-energy performances and genre-crossing collaborations. The Conga Stage is home to sets from Tank and the Bangas, Reza Khota, Mandla Kunene and Sibusile Xaba. The line-up also includes Sydney Mavundla performing material from Dirge of Our Fathers and Tumi Mogorosi’s Thank You For Your Service Quartet, joined by UK saxophonist Soweto Kinch and other collaborators. The stage finishes on a high note with Ndabo Zulu and the Umgidi Ensemble. Come here when you want the jazz to get a little louder and the crowd a bit more vibrant.
Diphala Stage: New Discoveries
If you want to hear some of the women shaping where contemporary jazz is heading, start here. The Diphala Stage is home to sets from Nubya Garcia, Gabi Motuba and Lorraine Klaasen. One of the more unusual ideas on the programme is 4 Bass Lines, pairing four women bassists for a collaborative performance. If finding someone new is half the reason you go to festivals, leave some time for this stage.
This article is sponsored by Standard Bank
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