MTN Bushfire 2026 has closed its gates, but the fire continues to spread luminously across Africa and the world! The festival delivered yet another multiculturally strong, multidisciplinary arts showcase in celebration of creativity, unity and sustainability.
Over 23,000 attendees from more than 55 countries gathered under the Juncture of Hum at the 19th edition of the festival staged from 29 to 31 May at its resident venue, House On Fire in Eswatini.
More than a festival, MTN Bushfire continues to inspire a conscious movement of Fire Starters united by the festival’s ‘Bring Your Fire’ founding values rooted in illuminating the transformative power of the arts to drive positive social and environmental change.
Thank you to every festivalgoer, staff member, trader, partner and sponsor who contributed their passion, energy, spirit and drive towards affirming MTN Bushfire as a measurable force for economic growth, tourism development, cultural exchange and community impact.
A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR ESWATINI TOURISM
The numbers tell a compelling story of resilience, impact and growth. Eswatini welcomed 50,403 arrivals over the festival weekend, comprising 28,392 international visitors and 22,011 EmaSwati living abroad. This marked an 11.5% increase from arrival statistics gathered in 2025. Visitors travelled from across the globe, with the strongest contingents arriving from South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Tanzania, the United States, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.
This growth reflects MTN Bushfire’s expanding international and regional footprint, and invaluable contribution to positioning Eswatini as a premier cultural tourism destination on the African continent. The festival’s footprint extends well beyond the Malkerns Valley, driving occupancy across accommodation providers with Mbabane recording 73%, Ezulwini 80.5% and Manzini 82.3%, and stimulating economic activity in hospitality, transport, retail and the broader creative economy. Air arrivals also saw notable growth, with 32 aircraft landing at King Mswati III International Airport between Thursday 28 May and Friday 29 May, up from 23 aircraft during the same period in 2025.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry echoed the significance of the festival’s reach. “The slight rise in total arrivals, including those arriving by air, reflects the ongoing appeal of the festival and underscores Eswatini’s sustained efforts to facilitate a welcoming environment for all guests. The Immigration Department remains committed to ensuring smooth border crossings, efficient processing, and the safety and security of all attendees for a successful festival weekend.”
The MTN Bushfire Festival Director, Jiggs Thorne, expressed heartfelt gratitude and reflected on the festival’s enduring impact. “We are deeply grateful to all the Fire Starters that made their way to Eswatini during the festival weekend, the Lobamba Lomdzala community, and our lead sponsor MTN, whose unwavering support made this festival possible. To all our partners who contributed in ways big and small, thank you. This festival is a testament to what we can achieve together. Reflecting on this year’s edition, it is humbling to see the continued impact the festival has, not only in bringing people together through music and culture, but in driving real economic activity and showcasing Eswatini on a regional and international stage. We look forward to building on this momentum.”
POWERING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
Over three days, 378 artists across 96 unique acts from 20 countries brought the MTN Bushfire stages to life. For the more than 23,000 Fire Starters from nearly 55 countries who made the journey to Malkerns, the festival delivered an experience that was at once deeply local and unmistakably global.
MTN Bushfire’s economic ripple effects extend far beyond ticket sales as evidenced by the E121.2 million generated by the 2025 edition of the festival towards Eswatini’s economy. MTN Bushfire creates direct income for hundreds of local vendors, community traders, hospitality operators and service providers.
The festival’s Food Passport initiative, an interactive culinary journey through the Global Food Village, Golden Lounge, Soapstone, Express Eats, KidZone and the Nguni Food and Craft Lounge encouraged Fire Starters to explore every trading zone, driving increased spend and footfall across the grounds.
The festival also empowers local public transport operators through the Park n’ Ride shuttle service, operating across Mbabane, Manzini, Ezulwini and Matsapha. This year, 1,858 festival attendees used the service, up from 1,700 in 2025. reducing congestion, emissions and drink driving while putting money directly into the hands of local operators.
New this year, the Flying Fish Surprisingly Good Sets Secret Stage and the Golden Lounge Silent Disco introduced premium experiences designed to deepen engagement and reward loyalty, reinforcing Bushfire’s reputation as a festival that consistently raises the bar for Fire Starters.
A WEEKEND OF STANDOUT MOMENTS
This year’s programme delivered some of the most memorable performances in the festival’s history. Uncle Waffles’ long-awaited homecoming to Eswatini ignited the Main Stage on Friday giving Fire Starters a deeply personal and exhilarating set that felt nothing short of a national celebration. Zimbabwe’s mbira queen Hope Masike drew audiences into a deeply rooted African musical journey at the House on Fire Amphitheatre, while Spain’s Filas de Cassandra wove Galician oral tradition with electronic textures in a performance that captured Bushfire’s spirit of cross-cultural discovery.
The rare intercultural collision of Réunion Island’s Lindigo and Japan’s Anna Sato fusing Maloya rhythms with Shimauta tradition, was one of the weekend’s most talked-about moments. A moving tribute to the late Busi Mhlongo on Saturday, delivered by Xolisa Dlamini, Buhlebendalo and Zawadi Yamungu, honoured the South African icon’s enduring legacy and drew one of the weekend’s most emotional responses from the crowd. Congo’s legendary Jupiter & Okwess brought their explosive blend of Congolese funk, soukous and rock to the Sunday afternoon programme, before kwaito icon Kabelo Mabalane closed the night in euphoric fashion, sending thousands of Fire Starters home dancing to the very last beat.
Across the House On Fire Amphitheatre, Corona Firefly Stage and Bring Your Fire Zone, more than 90 additional acts, spanning jazz, mbira, Afrofuturism, electronic music, acrobatics, poetry and communal drumming ensured that every corner of the valley hummed with creative life throughout the weekend.
ADVOCACY, INCLUSION AND THE SPIRIT OF BRING YOUR FIRE
MTN Bushfire’s commitment to social and environmental impact was as vibrant and participatory as ever. The festival’s arts advocacy space, the Bring Your Fire Zone, hosted 11 advocacy organisations alongside a mobile clinic, creating space for meaningful dialogue on environmental sustainability, minority rights, equitable healthcare and HIV prevention. The annual Unity Parade, which drew approximately 200 participants, transformed advocacy into joyful collective action, and emerged as one of the weekend’s most powerful expressions of the festival’s values.
The MTN Bushfire Arts Round Table, held in partnership with the Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), brought together 22 international delegates, 24 panel speakers and over 180 attendees for the exchange of creative industry insights and celebrate local talent. The Vuts’Umlilo showcase preceding it, spotlighted seven compelling local artists in a soul stirring reminder of the depth of Eswatini’s creative community.
THE COUNTDOWN TO 20 YEARS!
If MTN Bushfire 2026 is anything to go by, the 20-year milestone next year will be nothing short of legendary.
The 20th edition of MTN Bushfire will celebrate two decades of its enduring family-friendly atmosphere, uncompromising music identity and collective action from 28 to 30 May, 2027. This milestone belongs not just to the festival, but to every artist, attendee, partner, the community of Lobamba Lomdzala who have all helped to advance MTN Bushfire’s positioning as a globally infused, authentically African and proudly Swati festival of music and the arts.
Save the dates and #KeepTheFireBurning until then!
Look out for the official announcement on Early Bird tickets coming soon! Stay tuned to www.bush-fire.com and follow @MTNBushfire on all social media channels.
Will you be there?
