Gagasi FM Beach Fest Hits Durban, South Africa on 5 Dec
SOUTH AFRICA · MUSIC
Key Facts
- —What The 13th Gagasi FM Beach Fest, a day-to-night festival of Amapiano, Gqom, Maskandi, Gospel and Hip-Hop.
- —When Saturday 5 December 2026. Gates open at 10:00 and the event ends at midnight.
- —Where Moses Mabhida People’s Park, 44 Isaiah Ntshangase Road, Durban.
- —Tickets Ticketpro: R350 (about US$21) until 4 October, R400 (about US$24) from 5 October, VIP R1,000 (about US$60), at the RT rate of 2 October 2026 (about R16.7 per US$).
- —Good to know Adults 18 and over only. No tickets are sold at the gate.
Gagasi FM Beach Fest marks its 13th edition and the station’s 20th anniversary at Moses Mabhida People’s Park in Durban on Saturday 5 December 2026.
Gagasi FM Beach Fest takes place at Moses Mabhida People’s Park in Durban, South Africa, on Saturday 5 December 2026. Ticketpro sells general admission at R350 (about US$21) until 4 October, then R400 (about US$24).
What Is Gagasi FM Beach Fest?
Gagasi FM is a Durban-based radio station that broadcasts across KwaZulu-Natal. Its Beach Fest is the station’s flagship summer event, built around the music its listeners hear on air: Amapiano, Gqom, Maskandi, Gospel and Hip-Hop. For a foreigner, that mix is a useful introduction to South African popular sound, from the log-drum pulse of Amapiano to the fast, syncopated rhythms of Gqom that originated in Durban itself.
The festival is not a single-genre concert. Ticketpro describes a programme that moves across several South African styles, and the organisers market it as a day-to-night summer gathering rather than a seated show. People bring camp chairs, cooler boxes and food, especially in the earlier hours, which gives the event a relaxed, picnic-style start before the main performances take over.
Gagasi FM says the 2025 edition drew more than 12,000 festivalgoers and sold out. The station has also noted that the event sold out about a month before the date in each of the previous two years, so early booking is sensible if you are planning a trip around it.
The 2026 Edition and Anniversary Year
This edition is the 13th annual Beach Fest and falls within Gagasi FM’s 20th-anniversary programme. The station announced the date through its own website and local reporting in early September 2026, positioning the festival as a highlight of the KwaZulu-Natal summer calendar.
The full line-up had not been published in the official material available by early October 2026. Sun-El Musician, a producer and DJ associated with Afro-house, has been confirmed, and more artists are expected as the date approaches.
The venue matters as much as the bill. People’s Park sits directly beside Moses Mabhida Stadium and a short walk from the beachfront promenade. The setting gives the festival a distinctly coastal, open-air character, and December is midsummer in South Africa, with long daylight hours and warm evenings.
Tickets and Prices
Tickets are sold through Ticketpro, with Pick n Pay and Spar listed as additional sales channels by Gagasi FM. The event page on Ticketpro confirms that tickets will not be sold at the venue entrance, so you need to buy before arriving.
General admission costs R350 (about US$21) per person in Phase 1, which runs until 4 October 2026. Phase 2 is listed at R400 (about US$24) per person from 5 October to 4 December 2026. VIP admission is R1,000 (about US$60) per person and includes a light lunch, light dinner and unreserved cocktail seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Conversions use the RT rate of 2 October 2026 (about R16.7 per US$).
The festival is restricted to adults 18 and over. If you are travelling with children, this is not the event for them. For everyone else, Phase 1 is the cheaper window, and the event has sold out about a month early in each of the past two years, according to the organisers.
Getting There and Practical Tips
Moses Mabhida People’s Park is at 44 Isaiah Ntshangase Road, Durban, in the same precinct as Moses Mabhida Stadium. The venue is level ground, and Ticketpro lists disabled facilities. Paid on-site parking is available on the mustering fields, but if you are staying along the beachfront or in the city centre, a ride-hailing service may be simpler.
The festival allows camp chairs, food and snacks before 5:00 p.m., and cooler boxes no larger than 35 litres, subject to timed charges. Cooler boxes are free from 10:00 a.m. to noon, R200 from noon to 4:00 p.m., and R350 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. They are prohibited after 7:00 p.m. Umbrellas, glass bottles, hubbly or hookah equipment and folding tables are not allowed.
For foreign visitors, the practical rhythm is straightforward: arrive early with a chair and a cooler box, enjoy the beachfront setting through the afternoon, and stay for the main performances after dark. The event ends at midnight, so plan your return transport in advance.
What Else to Do in Durban
The festival sits in one of Durban’s most visitor-friendly areas. Moses Mabhida Stadium offers a SkyCar ride to the top of its arch, and the beachfront promenade stretches for several kilometres along the Indian Ocean. The Golden Mile, as the beachfront strip is known, has restaurants, surf spots and public swimming areas.
If you are in Durban for the weekend, the city’s Indian-influenced food scene is worth exploring, particularly around the Victoria Street Market or in the suburb of Greyville. December is peak summer season, so book accommodation early and expect warm, humid weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Gagasi FM Beach Fest 2026?
It is on Saturday 5 December 2026 at Moses Mabhida People’s Park in Durban. Gates open at 10:00 and the event ends at midnight.
How much do tickets cost?
General admission is R350 (about US$21) until 4 October and R400 (about US$24) from 5 October. VIP tickets cost R1,000 (about US$60).
Can I buy tickets at the gate?
No. Ticketpro states that tickets will not be sold at the venue entrance. Buy in advance through Ticketpro, Pick n Pay or Spar.
Is there an age restriction?
Yes, the festival is restricted to adults 18 and over. Children will not be admitted.
Related reading: More from South Africa; Comic Con Africa Opens Today: Day 1 at NASREC, Johannesburg Expo Centre; Music at the Lake Durban Brings Sjava to South Africa on 24 September 2026.
Sources: ticketpro.co.za, kzntopbusiness.com, gagasiworld.co.za. Retrieved 2 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Read More from The Rio Times