ULTRA South Africa 2026 Delivers a Masterclass in Production and Performance at Landmark 11th Edition in Johannesburg and Cape Town and Announces 2027 Dates

ULTRA South Africa proudly celebrated its landmark 11th edition this weekend, delivering two unforgettable days of world-class electronic music, high-energy performances, and cultural unity across Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The festival kicked off in Johannesburg on Saturday, April 25 at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, before heading to Cape Town on Sunday, April 26 at The Ostrich, transforming the long weekend into a nationwide celebration of dance music. Fans turned out in full force for both shows, packing the venues from early afternoon through to the final beat at 2 a.m.

Building on more than a decade of ULTRA South Africa legacy, the 11th edition raised the bar once again with spectacular production, immersive stage design, and a dynamic blend of international superstars and homegrown talent.

Main Stage Highlights

The main stage delivered one unforgettable moment after another. Multi-award winning and platinum-record-selling artist Afrojack and Dutch DJ/producer R3hab set the tone with a high-energy back-to-back set, seamlessly blending their biggest hits and signature sounds.

Swedish House Mafia icon Axwell followed with a commanding performance that balanced nostalgia with fresh energy, keeping the crowd locked in throughout.

In one of the weekend’s standout moments, French powerhouse and international superstar DJ Snake surprised fans by bringing out Zimbabwean-born artist Bantu to perform their brand-new collaboration ‘Company’ alongside a run of his global chart-topping hits.

Closing the night in style, Experts Only label boss and Beatport chart-topper John Summit, fresh off the release of his album CTRL, delivered a world-class set that kept fans moving well into the early hours.

Underground Energy on the RESISTANCE Stage

The RESISTANCE Stage maintained its reputation for deeper, darker underground sounds, led by New York house legend Dennis Ferrer and South African titan Shimza, delivering intricate sets that fused melodic techno, progressive house, and Afro-house.

Full support across all stages included standout performances from Apashe, Kyle Watson, DJ Kent, TiMO ODV b2b Kyle Cassim, Indigo, Kitty Amor, Major League DJz, Caiiro b3b Enoo Napa b3b Da Capo, Mpho.Wav, Mila Rose, Baby Whitz, Headroom b2b Geometric Flux, Niskerone b2b Dakota, Kurt April, Dwson, Leighton Moody b2b Cassiem, and Roz.

Surprise Collaborations and New Stages

A defining moment of the weekend came in Johannesburg, when Afrojack joined Shimza for a surprise back-to-back set. Fresh off their debut collaboration at Coachella, the duo delivered a genre-blending performance that captivated the crowd from start to finish.

In Johannesburg, the festival showcased four stages. Alongside the Main Stage and RESISTANCE, The Groove Room returned to celebrate the continent’s most influential sounds with a stacked Amapiano and Afrobeats lineup featuring Liquideep, Scorpion Kings, DBN Gogo, Zee Nxumalo, Oscar Mbo, Que DJx DJ Lag, Sun-El Musician, 2shoes, Lelowhatsgood, and Slow Poison.

The brand-new Confessions Stage ZA takeover of the UMF Radio Stage pushed boundaries with cutting-edge sounds from Dean Fuel, CINIMIN, Chunda Munki, Vimo, Connie, Aidin Caye, Mia, Skelm, Jevan Binder, and Threemanweave.

A Celebration of Music and Culture

Now in its 11th year, ULTRA South Africa continues to evolve while staying true to its core: bringing people together through music. This year’s edition stood as a powerful celebration of culture, connection, and the growing global influence of South Africa’s electronic music scene.

2027 Dates Announced

As the dust settles on another unforgettable edition, ULTRA South Africa has already confirmed its return in 2027 — #UltraSA2027 is coming.

Next year, ULTRA South Africa will return across two days:

Friday, April 30, 2027 – The Ostrich, Cape TownSaturday, May 1, 2027 – Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg

Stay connected with ULTRA South Africa on Instagram, Facebook, and X for lineup announcements and exciting updates as the festival gears up for ULTRA South Africa 2027.