The 26th Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is set to return this September with three full days of jazz, culture, and global collaboration. What used to be a two-day festival is expanding into an immersive three-day experience from 26 to 28 September 2025, held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
What Makes This Edition Special
- More stages & artists: Over 60 performers from some 15 countries, spanning three continents will take to the stage.
- Four distinct stages: The festival uses Dinaledi, Diphala, Conga, and Mbira stages, each offering its own flavor whether straight-ahead jazz, pan-African sounds, cross-genre blends, or vocal-heavy performances.
- Women at the forefront: This year’s lineup showcases many female musicians and strong voices (local and international) in jazz.
Here are some of the headline and highlight acts confirmed so far:
| Stage | Selected Headliners & Acts |
| Dinaledi Stage | Esperanza Spalding (USA); Lakecia Benjamin (USA); Thandi Ntuli (SA); Nomfundo Xaluva (SA); Steve Dyer ‒ Vision of Ubuntu (SA); Siya Makuzeni Big Band (SA) |
| Diphala Stage | The Baylor Project (USA); Kyle Shepherd Trio (SA); Jazzmeia Horn (USA); Hakan Basar Trio (Turkey); Simon Denizart (Canada); Phinda Matlala (SA) |
| Conga Stage | Oumou Sangaré (Mali); Meshell Ndegeocello (USA); Gabi Motuba (SA); Alune Wade (Senegal); Guitar Convergence (SA) with Moss Mogale, Vusi Mahlasela, Billy Monama |
| Mbira Stage | José James “Sings Badu” (USA); Elaine (SA); Berita (SA); KB Motsilanyane (SA); Muneyi (SA) ‒ 2025 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner; Sylent Nqo (Zimbabwe) & more |
Themes & Experience
- An emphasis on heritage and innovation: the program aims to honour the roots of jazz in Africa while pushing boundaries with fusion, cross-genre, and storytelling through sound.
- Elevation of emerging talent: festival stages feature younger artists and alumni of the Standard Bank Young Artist program, giving them a big platform.
- Jazz for all kind of lovers: whether you’re a jazz purist or someone who enjoys smoother, crossover, or soul-inflected sounds, there’s something across the four stages.
Tickets & Access
- Tickets are on sale via the usual platforms (Ticketmaster etc.).
- There are various ticket options: single-day tickets, multi-day passes (Friday/Saturday, Saturday/Sunday, or the full weekend).
- Discounted tickets for Standard Bank cardholders are offered.
