These global A-listers are headed to SA shores!

Joy of Jazz: Ibrahim Maalouf & The Trumpets of Michel-Ange, Angelique Kidjo, Floetry and many more

• When: 25 and 26 September
• Where: Sandton Convention Centre
• Cost: 1-day pass R1150, Weekend pass R2250 on Ticketmaster

Standard Bank cardholders can qualify for a 15% discount on select tickets when buying through the portal.

As usual, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is bringing in the big guns to this year’s edition of Africa’s highly coveted premium jazz festival. These are not the only international stars gracing the JoJ, so if you’re keen to discover who else is landing in Joburg this Heritage Month, make your booking before the tickets sell out.

Ibrahim Maalouf & The Trumpets of Michel-Ange’s infusion of Middle Eastern sounds with the globally celebrated jazz genre, Kidjo’s Yoruba folk fused with jazz and Floetry’s neo-soul sounds will definitely be something to write home about.

Ne-Yo (United States)

• When: 17 and 18 October
• Where: Grand Arena, Cape Town and SunBet Arena, Pretoria
• Cost: R990 to R1890 Cape Town and R950 to R2950 Pretoria on Webtickets

Miss Independent hitmaker Ne-Yo brings his sensual R&B lyricism to the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on 18 October, right after his performance in the Mother City on 17 October.

Johannesburg to Pretoria traffic will likely be insane on the day of his SunBet performance because fans travelling between the two cities to experience their favourite artists live is not unheard of.

The stage will be filled with some Sexy Love that will drive Ne-Yo’s fans Mad but that’s okay because his level of talent is One In A Million.

Jill Scott (USA)

Listen before you go To Whom This May Concern on Spotify

• When: 7 and 11 November
• Where: SunBet Arena, Pretoria and GrandWest, Cape Town
• Cost: R800 to R2500 on Ticketmaster

A four-time returnee, the neo-soul and jazzy poetry star just cannot get enough of Mzansi and her fans love her for it.

Her To Whom It May Concern World Tour, named after her latest album released in February this year, serenades fans across the US and UK before heading to Mzansi, which is her only African destination for the tour.

Jilly from Philly, as she is affectionately known to her fans across the world, has been a household name since her award-winning debut Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1, released in the year 2000.

It featured such hits as Gettin' In The Way, A Long Walk and many others.

• When: 3 (CPT), 4 (PTA) and 6 December (DBN)
• Where: Grand Arena Cape Town, SunBet Arena Pretoria, International Convention Centre (Durban)
• Cost: R750 to R1750 on Blu Blood Tickets

Johannas and Annabellas in Mzansi are getting ready to shake what their Mamas gave them at the discovery that Sean Paul too, is heading our way. 

The Gimme the Light hitmaker who was featured in Beyonce’s Baby Boy is coming to brighten up the silly season and take his South African fans on a bumpy ride through his chart topping hits.

Durbanites are especially psyched since they are always taking to social media to lament how they are always treated like unwanted step children by not being included in the performance venues of international stars.

Sean Paul is about to remind everyone why the saying Fact: Durban Rocks exists! 

J Cole (USA)

• When: 12 December
• Where: FNB Stadium
• Cost: R715 to R6319 on Ticketmaster

J Cole’s popular hit Power Trip features R&B star Miguel, who is also coming to Mzansi next year, so this one is going to be very special.

Known for being a conscious artist, J Cole also collaborated with music industry veterans TLC on the track Crooked Smile, which reminds fans about the importance of self-acceptance and inner beauty.

The last time he was on South African shores was 10 years ago, so this one is long overdue.

Parental guidance is advised for the hip-hop star’s performance as the language might not be child-appropriate.

Fatboy Slim (UK)

• When: 12 (JHB), 15 and 16 December (CPT)
• Where: James & Ethel Gray Park, Johannesburg and Cabo Beach, Cape Town
• Cost: R600 to R2500 Johannesburg, R1000 to R2000 Cape Town on Howler.

The English DJ and multi-award-winning musician is officially breaking his 16-year absence from Mzansi, as his last visit was during the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

His fans definitely missed him as much as he did them because before this break, Fatboy Slim had been a regular in South Africa since the 1990s.

A lot has happened in the global musical landscape since his last visit, but he has also made changes. His last album release was in 2004, and he has since dedicated his talent to live DJing.

Limp Bizkit

• When: 13 December
• Where: FNB Stadium
• Cost: R395 to R3468 on Ticketmaster

The experimental rap rock and alternative metal outfit are making their official South African debut this December, making it a summer to remember.

In Mzansi, the band is most loved for Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle) and Break Stuff, which have each been streamed more than a billion times in this country.

Limp Bizkit will share the stage with local star Jack Parow and Australian artist Ecca Vandal.

Kehlani (USA)

• When: 15 and 17 December
• Where: SunBet Arena, Pretoria and GrandWest, Cape Town
• Cost: From R800 on Ticketmaster

Gen Zs are among the biggest consumers of music in South Africa, so it’s important for artists who appeal to this demographic to also take a sho't left to this country.

Kehlani’s performance is among the most highly anticipated international appearances of 2026, with young people taking to social media to express how much they can’t contain their joy.

Kehlani gained popularity when they placed fourth on season 6 of America's Got Talent in 2011, when they were just 16 years old.

They have since won Grammy Awards, dropped multiple top-performing albums including this year’s self-titled release Kehlani which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, collaborated with other household names like Cardi B and accumulated more than 5 billion global streams.