Johannesburg, this one’s yours. The world’s most global electronic music festival brand is switching things up next year, with ULTRA South Africa 2026 starting right here in the city before heading south.
On Saturday, 25 April 2026, the Nasrec Expo Centre will transform into a pulsating world of light, bass and big-name DJs for the 11th edition of Africa’s biggest electronic music event. Then it’s Cape Town’s turn on Sunday, 26 April, conveniently followed by a public holiday on Monday.
After a record-breaking 2025 with heavyweights like Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, ISOxo, KSHMR, and Mind Against, this year’s lineup promises another massive mix of global stars and rising electronic acts. Expect larger-than-life stage design, immersive visuals, and that signature ULTRA energy that turns the crowd into a single, dancing organism.
Tickets are now live, with early bird Tier 1 tickets already sold out for Joburg, and Tier 2 tickets available from R995 for general admission. Now is not the time to rest on your laurels because, as always, they’ll sell out fast, so if you want to experience the drop when it hits, act now.
View this post on Instagram
What to Expect from ULTRA 2026
If last year’s lineup is anything to go by, we’re betting on a mix of big-name returns and a few curveballs. If we could curate the perfect weekend? We’d love to see Anyma or Tale of Us bring their cinematic visuals to Nasrec, David Guetta on sunset duty, and maybe a Black Coffee x Major League DJz homecoming set to close it all off. Throw in a Hardwell again, or a Calvin Harris surprise slot, and Joburg might lose its collective mind.
ULTRA’s organisers are famously tight-lipped until the big reveal, but part of the fun is the guessing game, and this year, with Joburg opening the festival weekend for the first time, it feels like the energy’s going to hit different.
Why Joburg gets the edge
The city has always had an unmatched appetite for dance music from rooftop parties in Braamfontein to deep house Sundays in Sandton. With ULTRA now kicking off in Johannesburg, the move signals recognition of Joburg’s growing status as South Africa’s electronic music capital (see you in November, Hugel).
Expect afterparties, collabs, and maybe even a few pre-festival pop-ups in the weeks leading up to April, because in true Jozi fashion, one night is never enough.
RECOMMENDED
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram!