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    Excited audience watching confetti fireworks and having fun on music festival at night. Copy space.
    Drazen Zigic | Confetti fireworks above the crowd on music festival.
    Drazen Zigic

    Parklive Jozi 2026: The ultimate guide to this year’s festival

    One of Johannesburg’s favourite outdoor music festivals returns this August, bringing together international headliners, local stars and a vibrant day out at Marks Park.

    Nhlalala Mthembi
    Written by Nhlalala Mthembi
    City Expert, Time Out Johannesburg
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    Few things beat spending a Sunday outdoors with live music, delicious food and Johannesburg’s crisp winter sunshine setting the scene for a laid-back day with friends and fellow festivalgoers. Year after year, Parkalive has drawn music lovers to Marks Park in Emmarentia, solidifying its reputation as one of Johannesburg’s favourite outdoor music festivals.

    A fixture on Johannesburg’s live music calendar for more than a decade, Parklive Jozi has built a loyal following with its carefully curated mix of international artists, South African favourites and an easy-going outdoor festival experience. Back for its 13th edition on Sunday, 30 August, Parklive Jozi is promising to be another full day of live entertainment, delicious eats and a lively festival atmosphere. 

    Nhlalala Mthembi is a Johannesburg-based freelance journalist. He writes about culture, entertainment, and lifestyle, with a particular interest in storytelling that highlights South African experiences. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

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    Essential festival information

    • Sunday, 30 August - Gates open at 11am.
    • Location: Marks Park, Orange Road, Emmarentia, Randburg
    • Cost: R395 for children, R595 - R695 general admission, R1 295 VIP via Howler 

    Families with young children should note that children under five enter free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If you’re driving, secure parking will be available at the venue. Otherwise if you’re planning to drink, organisers recommend using a ride hailing service instead.

    Leave the picnic basket at home. Outside food and drinks is prohibited, but there’ll be plenty of options available from on-site food vendors and bars operating throughout the festival. For the comfort of all festivalgoers, camping chairs and small umbrellas are only permitted in the designated area behind Front of House (FOH). To help keep the event safe and enjoyable, the festival does not allow gazebos, tables, weapons, fireworks, glass containers, laser pointers, professional recording equipment and pets, unless they are registered service animals. 

    Who’s taking the Parklive stage?

    Elaine

    Elaine
    Elaine
    Instagram: elaineofficial_

    Pretoria-born Elaine is one of South Africa’s leading contemporary R&B voices, known for pairing intimate songwriting with a smooth blend of soul and trap influences. Her breakout EP Elements made her the first independent female artist to top both the South African iTunes and Apple Music album charts.

    Nasty C

    Nasty C
    Nasty C
    Instagram: nasty_csa

    Nasty C is a Durban-raised rapper, songwriter and producer who has helped take South African hip-hop to a global audience. Known for his sharp lyricism and confident live performances, he has collaborated with international artists including T.I., Ari Lennox and French Montana.

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    Teeks

    Teeks
    Teeks
    Photograph: BreakOut Events

    This celebrated Māori soul artist, whose given name is Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, has built a devoted following since releasing his 2017 EP, ‘The Grapefruit Skies’. Many will know him best for his slow-burning love song ‘First Time’. At the festival, you'll discover that TEEKS’ catalogue runs deeper, spanning a style that blends soul, R&B and emotional balladry.

    Matthew Mole

    Matthew Mole
    Matthew Mole
    Photograph: James Cairns

    Matthew Mole is a South African singer-songwriter whose upbeat sound blends indie folk, pop and electronic production. A charismatic multi-instrumentalist, he has built a devoted following through hits including ‘Take Yours, I’ll Take Mine’, ‘Run’ and ‘I’m With You’. 

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    Rowlene

    Rowlene
    Rowlene
    Instagram: rowlene_sa

    Cape Town-born Rowlene is an R&B singer-songwriter known for her smooth vocals, emotional honesty and genre-fluid approach to music. She rose to wider prominence through collaborations with Nasty C, including ‘SMA’, before establishing her own voice through projects such as 11:11. 

    Good Neighbours

    Good Neighbours
    Good Neighbours
    Good Neighbours

    If you’re not one of the hundreds of millions of people who have seen Good Neighbours on TikTok (where they broke out in 2024), it’s time to fix that. The duo comprises Oli Fox and Scott Verrill, who hail from East London in the UK. More than one-hit-wonders, the debut album 'Blue Sky Mentality', along with the uplifting energy of ‘Home’, makes them a must-see on the day.

    What else to expect at Parklive

    This event is not just the line-up that keeps people coming back. Parklive has become known for offering much more than live music, encouraging festivalgoers to settle in and make a day of it. 

    Take a break between sets to explore the food stalls, pick up a drink from the festival bars or take in the sunshine from the lawns between sets. One of Parklive’s biggest draws would be Marks Park itself, where its expansive lawns and open spaces make it easy to switch between the energy of the stage and a quieter spot to unwind and catch up with friends.

    Designed as an all-ages event, Parklive brings together families, friends and music lovers of every generation.

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