World Record Braai Attempt Set for 24 September 2026 in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA · FOOD AND CULTURE

South africa latest: South africa news — latest coverage · South Africa Heritage Day Festival 2026 in Johannesburg

A world record braai attempt brings 3,000 cooks and 500 fires to Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Heritage Day, with tickets at R255, about US$15.70.

The Record Attempt at Loftus Versfeld

An attempt on a Guinness World Records title takes place at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, on 24 September 2026. The event is called The World’s Biggest Braai.

A braai is the South African barbecue, cooked over wood or charcoal. The word comes from Afrikaans, and it describes the fire, the food and the gathering around it.

The organisers want 3,000 people cooking at the same moment. Five hundred braai stations are being built inside the stadium for that purpose.

The record category is the most people braaiing at once. The current mark stands at 2,220 people and was set in Japan.

What Happened Last Year

South Africa tried this in 2025 and missed. Organisers gathered 2,412 people, which was more than the standing record, but the attempt was not ratified.

The reason was procedural. Some participants left their stations to talk to friends and take photographs, so the cooking was not judged to be simultaneous.

The 2026 plan addresses that directly. Stewards will patrol the stations, and organisers say participants must stay in place for the whole official attempt.

Anyone who walks away will not be counted. That rule is printed on the ticket page, and it is the single biggest risk to the attempt.

Guinness World Records sets strict conditions for mass participation titles. Everyone must do the activity at the same time, and stewards must be able to confirm it.

The 2025 shortfall was therefore not about numbers. It was about discipline, and that is the problem the organisers say they have designed around this year.

Times, Tickets and What You Get

Tickets cost R255 a person. At 16.267 rand to the United States dollar, that is about US$15.70.

The ticket covers the cooking kit and the food. Each participant gets wors, a South African sausage, plus a bread roll or pap, tongs, a branded apron and a pre-lit braai station.

The braai session runs from 09:00 to 12:00 South African time, which is two hours ahead of UTC. The official attempt happens inside that window.

Sources disagree on the exact minute the attempt begins. The ticket page says 10:00, while one newspaper report says 10:30, so arriving early is sensible.

The price is modest for a day out. R255 covers entry, the equipment and enough food for a meal. That is less than a restaurant lunch in Pretoria.

Stations are lit by the organisers before the start. That removes the slowest part of a braai and keeps everyone on the same clock, which the record rules require.

The Rest of the Day

The event does not end when the attempt does. A festival runs from 12:00 to 20:00, with food stalls and a beer garden inside the stadium.

Several South African acts are billed. Reported names include Mafikizolo, Shekhinah, Matthew Mole, Lady Zamar, Zaan Sonnekus and Ben Rodrigues.

Age rules apply. Braai participants must be at least 13, and the beer garden is restricted to those aged 18 and over.

Outside food, drink and equipment are not allowed. The organisers supply everything needed at the station, which is also how they keep the count clean.

Why Heritage Day and Why This Stadium

24 September is Heritage Day, a public holiday in South Africa since 1995. It marks the country’s cultural diversity, and many households already spend it at a braai.

In KwaZulu-Natal the same date was long observed as Shaka Day. It remembers the Zulu king Shaka, and the present holiday name came out of a parliamentary compromise.

Loftus Versfeld is one of the country’s best known sports grounds. It stands on Kirkness Street in the Arcadia suburb of Pretoria and holds 51,762 people.

The ground is home to the Blue Bulls rugby team and to Mamelodi Sundowns in football. It hosted matches at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The event itself is far smaller than the stadium. Capacity for the day is reported at 4,000, so the stands will stay largely empty while the pitch area fills.

Pretoria sits about 55 kilometres north of Johannesburg. Visitors staying in Johannesburg can reach the city by Gautrain and finish the trip by taxi.

Late September is early spring on the highveld. Days are warm and dry, and evenings cool quickly once the sun goes down.

Heritage Day falls on a Thursday in 2026. Many South Africans take the Friday as leave, which turns the holiday into a long weekend.

A record attempt is not a guarantee of a record. The count is confirmed afterwards, so the result may not be known on the day itself.

Sources

• Howler — official ticket page for The World’s Biggest Braai
• IOL — can South Africa reclaim the biggest braai record

FAQ

More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

The big picture: South Africa explained — economy, politics, society and daily life in one read.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the World’s Biggest Braai?

It takes place on 24 September 2026 at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. The braai session runs from 09:00 to 12:00 South African time. A festival follows until 20:00.

How much does a ticket cost?

A ticket costs R255 a person. At 16.267 rand to the United States dollar, that is about US$15.70. Tickets are sold through the Howler platform.

What is a braai?

A braai is the South African barbecue, cooked over wood or charcoal. The word comes from Afrikaans. It describes the fire, the food and the gathering around it.

What record is being attempted?

The category is the most people braaiing at the same time. The current Guinness World Records mark is 2,220, set in Japan. Organisers want 3,000 people at 500 stations in Pretoria.

The Big Picture

Africa: The New Scramble — why the world’s powers are competing for the continent