UGU Maskandi Festival Returns to Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre Margate
About this event
The 6th Annual UGU Maskandi Festival lands at the UGU Sports and Leisure Centre in Margate, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday 26 September 2026. Gates open at 12 PM and performances start at 2 PM, right in the middle of the Heritage Day long weekend. Sjava, Phuzekhemisi and Mafikizolo top a bill stacked with Maskandi talent, and tickets are live on Webtickets from R80.
- Date: Saturday 26 September 2026, gates 12 PM, performances 2 PM
- Venue: UGU Sports and Leisure Centre, Margate, KZN South Coast
- Lineup: Sjava, Phuzekhemisi, Mafikizolo, Bahubhe, Ntencane, Mbuzeni, Mjolisi, Nkeshemba, Limit, Olified Khetha
- Tickets: R80 early bird general admission, R1200 VIP
- Where to buy: Webtickets online or WhatsApp 076 752 0126
Who’s on the bill
Sjava is the drawcard, and his slot matters because he’s the artist who carried Maskandi into mainstream playlists by blending the guitar style with hip-hop and Afro-soul. Phuzekhemisi brings the traditional weight, a veteran whose records helped shape the genre’s golden era. Mafikizolo adds crossover appeal from the Afro-pop side.
The rest of the bill runs deep with Ntencane, Mbuzeni, Mjolisi, Nkeshemba, Limit and Olified Khetha. Bahubhe, the Umzumbe artist who’s built a strong reputation on the South Coast, holds the golden hour slot and has promised fans nothing but the best. Keep an eye on the festival’s Facebook page in case more names get added before the day.
Organizer Ugu Broadcasting Services expects around 10,000 fans from across KwaZulu-Natal, and founder Sya Mkhungo says planning is on track. The festival runs under its usual unity banner of #Ubuntu #Ubunye #Ubumbano. If you can’t make the South Coast trip, there’s more Maskandi later in the season, with the Maskandi Fest in Rustenburg in October and the 150 Maskandi Festival in Ladysmith also on the calendar.
Tickets and practical details
Early bird general admission sits at R80, which is about as cheap as a big festival gets in KZN. VIP admission runs R1200, and a coolerbox permit costs R150, with no glass bottles allowed through the gates. There’s no sign of a sellout yet, but tickets have been moving since the lineup dropped in late August.
- Platform: Webtickets
- Early Bird General Admission: R80
- VIP Ticket Admission: R1200
- Coolerbox permit, no glass bottles: R150
- Buy online: Webtickets
- Buy on WhatsApp: +27 76 752 0126
The venue is a sports and leisure centre on the outskirts of Margate, and the ticket page carries a Google Maps pin for navigation. It’s a regional facility rather than a purpose-built festival ground, so arrive early for parking and bring cash for food stalls. No age restriction has been published, so check the ticket page if you’re bringing kids. With the long weekend pulling holidaymakers down the N2, accommodation in Margate, Uvongo and Ramsgate will fill up fast.
One thing worth knowing from past editions. Last year’s festival drew heat when Maskandi star Nyon’emhlophe said he’d been left off the poster, with organizers pointing to social media reach and budget limits. Nothing similar has surfaced around the 2026 bill, which carries the heavyweight names fans wanted.
For Maskandi fans on the South Coast and anyone visiting KZN that weekend, this is the biggest traditional music bill of the spring. The one thing to do next is lock in your ticket on Webtickets while the R80 early bird tier is still standing.
