South Africa’s Homecoming Africa Festival Turns Ten in Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA · MUSIC
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Key Facts
- The country — South Africa has about 63 million people and the most developed economy on the continent. Pretoria, its administrative capital, sits beside Johannesburg in the country’s densest urban belt.
- The festival — Homecoming Africa began in Pretoria in 2016 as a one-day event for music, fashion and youth culture. Its organiser, Homecoming Events, also runs Artist On The Rise for new musicians.
- Why now — The 2026 edition marks ten years and takes 2016 itself as its theme, mixing the music and fashion of that year with artists popular today.
- What happened — The festival runs on Saturday 3 October 2026, 10am to 10pm South African Standard Time, at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden in Brummeria.
- The tickets — Howler sold three tiers: Early Bird at R250 (about US$15), General at R300 (about US$18) and Late Bloomer at R350 (about US$22). All three were listed sold out on 22 September.
- What it means for you — The official sale is closed, and tickets on resale sites do not come from the organiser. The festival is cashless, and entry is over-18s only with identification.
- Still open — The organiser has not said whether more tickets will be released before 3 October.
Homecoming Africa 2026 celebrates ten years of the Pretoria festival with a day of music in the city’s botanical garden.
Homecoming Africa, a one-day music and culture festival, marks ten years on Saturday 3 October 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. It runs from 10am to 10pm South African time at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. Tickets on Howler cost R250, R300 and R350 (about US$15 to US$22), and all three tiers are listed as sold out.
A festival that looks back ten years
Homecoming Africa began in 2016 in Pretoria. The organiser, Homecoming Events, describes the 2026 edition as a celebration of ten years of culture, music and memories.
This year’s theme looks back to 2016 itself. The festival promises music, fashion and moments from that year, next to newer artists popular today.
Ten years is a long time in youth culture. A festival that started with a young crowd now serves people who have grown up, found work and started families.
Homecoming Events also runs Artist On The Rise, a programme for new musicians from Pretoria and Johannesburg. It gives some of them a slot on the main festival stage next to established names.
What the tickets cost
Homecoming Africa is not a free event. Tickets are sold through Howler, a South African ticketing and cashless payment platform.
There were three tiers. The Early Bird ticket cost R250 (about US$15). The General ticket cost R300 (about US$18). The Late Bloomer ticket cost R350 (about US$22).
On 22 September 2026, Howler listed all three tiers as sold out or booked out. The organiser has not announced whether more tickets will be released.
Conversions use a rate of about R16.25 to the US dollar on 22 September. Tickets offered on resale sites are not sold by the organiser.
Who is performing
The festival guide What’s On in Joburg lists Uncle Waffles, Zee Nxumalo, A-Reece, Blxckie and Scotts Maphuma among the performers. The organiser has not published set times.
Uncle Waffles is a DJ born in Eswatini and based in Johannesburg. She plays amapiano, a South African style of house music with deep bass and log-drum sounds.
A-Reece is a rapper from Pretoria, and Blxckie is a rapper from Durban. Zee Nxumalo and Scotts Maphuma are amapiano artists with large followings among young South Africans.
Amapiano grew in the townships around Johannesburg and Pretoria in the mid-2010s. The festival and the genre grew up in the same years and the same region.
The garden that hosts it
The Pretoria National Botanical Garden covers 76 hectares in Brummeria, in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) runs it.
A 35-metre quartzite ridge splits the garden into two parts. The plants on each side differ because one slope faces the sun and the other faces away.
On normal days, adults pay R80 to R100 (about US$5 to US$6) to enter. The garden opens daily from 8am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.
What’s On in Joburg lists flat, maintained paths across the grounds. It says manual wheelchairs are available at the main entrance, with adapted toilets on site.
House rules for the day
The festival is for over-18s only. Guests need a valid ID or passport, and copies are accepted.
Homecoming Africa is cashless, so guests pay by card or contactless payment only. Glass, weapons and outside food and drinks are not allowed.
Hand-held umbrellas are allowed. Empty cooler boxes with sealed bags of ice are also allowed. Guests may bring a hookah pipe for a R150 (about US$9) fee.
Professional cameras with detachable lenses are not allowed. Gazebos are not allowed, and there are no pass-outs, so guests who leave cannot come back in.
Getting there and getting home
Pretoria is South Africa‘s administrative capital, about 55 kilometres north of Johannesburg. The Gautrain, a fast rail link, connects the two cities.
The nearest Gautrain station to the garden is Hatfield. From there, ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Bolt are the simplest way to reach Brummeria.
The organiser offers free parking on the streets around the garden. It advises guests not to pay unofficial parking attendants.
The festival ends at 10pm. Booking a ride home before the crowd leaves, and walking in groups to the pick-up point, makes the night easier.
A busy Saturday in Pretoria
Early October is spring in Pretoria. Days are usually warm, and afternoon thunderstorms can arrive quickly. Sun cream, water and a light rain layer are useful.
The city is also known for its jacaranda trees, which usually flower in purple from late September into November.
The same evening, British rapper Dave plays SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria. Visitors planning both events should allow for heavy traffic across the city.
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FAQ
Is Homecoming Africa 2026 free?
No. Tickets cost R250, R300 or R350 (about US$15 to US$22) on Howler. On 22 September 2026, all three tiers were listed as sold out.
What time does Homecoming Africa start and finish?
The festival runs from 10am to 10pm South African time on Saturday 3 October 2026. The organiser has not published set times.
Can I pay with cash at the festival?
No. Homecoming Africa is a cashless festival, so guests pay by card or contactless payment. Having a bank card that works in South Africa helps.
Are under-18s allowed?
No. Only people aged 18 and over may enter. Guests must show a valid ID or passport, and copies are accepted.
Sources: Howler: Homecoming Africa 2026 event page · Howler: Homecoming Africa 2026 tickets · What’s On in Joburg: Homecoming Africa · Homecoming Africa Festival (organiser site) · SANBI: Pretoria National Botanical Garden visitor information · Big Concerts: Dave in Pretoria, 3 October 2026
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