Lauded as a “Top African festival” by the BBC and hailed by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see”, internationally acclaimed festival of music and the arts, MTN Bushfire, is calling on visionary, socially conscious artists to apply for the opportunity to perform at the 19th edition of the festival to be held from 29th – 31st May 2026, at House On Fire in Eswatini.

In an exciting development, the authentically African, globally infused and proudly Swati festival is also inviting artists to apply for the chance to be part of 4th edition of Bushfire Records’ annual music collaboration project, CollaboNation.

“Uniting Africa through Music”, CollaboNation is a dynamic expression of MTN Bushfire’s arts development focus, connecting cross-border and cross-genre artists for the creation of unique, uplifting songs. In addition to a behind-the-scenes creative content production, the CollaboNation journey also culminates in the artists performing at the MTN Bushfire festival.

True to the festival’s multidisciplinary programme curation, the MTN Bushfire Artist Call-Out invites talented artists across a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines, including live music, dance, theatre, spoken word, comedy, puppetry, film, art exhibitions, storytelling, and roving performances.

Artists can apply for a chance to showcase their art on one of MTN Bushfire’s five official stages, each offering a unique platform for multidisciplinary expression: the iconic Main Stage, the immersive House On Fire Amphitheatre, the high-energy Firefly Stage, the Bring Your Fire Zone – home to the festival’s arts advocacy programme – and the family-friendly KidZone.

As an authentically African event with global appeal, MTN Bushfire’s line up stands out every year for its eclectic style and inclusivity which underpin the festival’s wholesome blend of emerging and established artists alike.

Guided by MTN Bushfire’s ‘Bring Your Fire’ call to action for positive social and environmental change, MTN Bushfire looks for artists of the highest calibre who embody the festival’s mission to celebrate unity in diversity, promote creative expression and champion social responsibility. The festival welcomes artists who do more than simply entertain but use their art as an instrument for meaningful arts advocacy.

Applicants for MTN Bushfire and CollaboNation will be required to complete an application form available on the Artists page of the MTN Bushfire website www.bush-fire.com/artists. Artist applications close on 7 November, 2025.

ABOUT MTN BUSHFIRE

MTN Bushfire is an authentically African, proudly Swati and  globally infused 3-day conscious festival of music and the arts, held annually at House On Fire in Eswatini’s scenic Malkerns Valley.

Named “Top African festival” by the BBC, hailed by CNN as one of the “7 African music festivals you really have to see” and winner of the Most Responsible Event Award at the WTM African Responsible Tourism Awards in 2017, MTN Bushfire is much more than a music festival.

As one of Africa’s largest multicultural gatherings, the festival unites over 23,000 festivalgoers, artists, partners and sponsors from over 55 countries in a family-friendly celebration of creativity, unity and sustainability. MTN Bushfire champions the arts while inspiring social and environmental change through its sustainability mandate, #BRINGYOURFIRE. Recognised as the “Best Responsible Event” by the WTM African Responsible Tourism Awards, the festival supports Eswatini’s creative economy and uplifts local communities.

ABOUT COLLABONATION

CollaboNation is an annual arts development project supported by MTN and produced by Bushfire Records.

Since 2023, CollaboNation has connected and united the continent through a series of unique music collaborations, each one supporting the weaving together of Africa’s rich and diverse musical genres and facilitating linkages between cultural industries and networks.

Every year, CollaboNation is complemented by a creative online content journey that invites audiences to witness the artists coming together for the first time to use their voices and share talents in creating magic in the studio.

Fans of African music get to follow the unfiltered and uplifting behind-the-scenes CollaboNation journey and engage with the compelling stories, creative process and powerful messaging behind each song.  These exclusive intimate in-studio snippets and short documentaries are shared across CollaboNation’s social media pages on Instagram and Facebook and YouTube.

Previous CollaboNation Artists & Songs

• 2023: Chisimo by Mokoomba (Zimbabwe) x Morena Leraba (Lesotho),
• 2023: Sek’sedvute by Thobile Makhoyane (Eswatini) x The Hood Brodz (Mozambique)
• 2024: Mama by Stewert Sekuma (Mozambique) x Bholoja (Eswatini) a
• 2025: Elukhalweni by Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba (South Africa) x Tlale Makhene (Eswatini

For all the hottest updates on the festival, follow @mtnbushfire and @collabonation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, subscribe to the MTN Bushfire and CollaboNation channels on YouTube channel and sign up for emails on the website.