Mahindra South Africa today officially launched the race to Fusion Fest 2026, returning on Saturday, 7 March 2026 at the iconic SunBet Arena, Time Square in Pretoria.
Back by overwhelming demand following its groundbreaking debut, the festival is set to deliver an even bolder, more immersive cultural showcase — where music, art and fashion collide in a way that is uniquely South African.
Speaking on the launch announcement, Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa, said the festival represents a powerful continuation of Mahindra’s journey to champion youth, creativity and community. “Fusion Fest is a celebration of South Africa’s incredible creative spirit — bold, energetic and built on the belief that together we rise. After an extraordinary response to our first edition, 2026 will be even bigger, more ambitious, and more powerful,” he said.
Designed as a movement rather than just an event, Fusion Fest 2026 will once again deliver four boundary-breaking fusion performances, featuring unexpected artistic collaborations and genre-defying moments crafted from the collision of wildly different worlds.
FUSION 1: REWIND THE REVOLUTION (Throwing back to the start with a lineup of legends)
Zöe Modiga takes us back on a personal musical journey that starts with her birth year: 1994. Our ‘born free’ grows and evolves, absorbing a rich sonic soundscape that includes contributions from Mafikizolo, Kurt Darren and Claire Johnston. It’s a celebratory trip into the heart of our shared rhythm, a true testament to a timeline of tunes that fuelled our nation, inspired optimism and sparked this cultural revolution. Epic. Nostalgic. Iconic.
FUSION 2: HIPHOP MOST HIGH (An uplifting, spiritual ode to our shared beliefs)
Hip hop heavyweights BLXKIE and Maglera Doe Boy join forces with the Tshwane Gospel Choir in a genre collision that swerves from rap to rapturous. Rhythmic bravado turns into a devotional praise session, where street and spirit are bridged by a shared South African truth: on Sundays, we all go to church. This sacred celebration will take all those present to a higher place. It’s the sound of Sunday, and it’s goosebump stuff.
FUSION 3: FEMME FOR ALL (Divine divas unleash a whirlwind of womanly wonder)
This powerhouse quartet of Naledi Aphiwe, Karen Zoid, Nomfundo Moh and Mariechan, takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the girl-powered hits that caught our collective imagination. A show-stopping, exhilarating performance of personal chart-toppers and singalong signatures, this Fusion spans generations, emotions and genres – fast and slow, soft and explosive, tender and fierce, upfront and introspective. It’s a chorus that never ends, from divas that always deliver.
FUSION 4: ALL ABOUT NOW (A contemporary showcase of everything we love about local)
Three South African youth icons. Three different styles. Three voices, all for one in a mind-bending, booty-shaking collaboration. Zee Nxumalo, Focalistic and Daliwonga segue seamlessly into each other as melodies collide with Amapiano grooves. It’s a celebration rooted in the now, with an eye on tomorrow, a proudly borderless, joyful shared statement of youthful intent. This performance will makes us all so damn proud of what we have, and who we are.
Mahindra South Africa last month ignited the nationwide appeal with a high-energy roadshow launch at UCT in Cape Town — and they’re not slowing down. Next stop: Durban’s vibrant Beach Marine Parade this December. They’re taking Fusion Fest on the road to give South Africans everywhere a thrilling taste of what’s coming: a powerhouse celebration of creativity, culture and community.
Driving the campaign is a dynamic talent hunt built around three lifestyle categories, each inspired by a core pillar of the fusion festival — Music, Fashion, and Art. The top creators in each category will snag a R30 000 cash prize and earn their moment in the spotlight at the main Fusion Fest event.
And the momentum doesn’t stop there. Mahindra’s 3XO Test Drive Challenge is a high-energy experience puts fans in the driver’s seat of the all-new Mahindra XUV 3XO, giving festival-goers and roadshow visitors the chance to put the vehicle through its paces.
Building on the inaugural festival this year, anyone attending selected roadshow stops can hop in for a test drive and automatically enter to win VIP Fusion Fest tickets, exclusive merch, and even a grand-prize Mahindra XUV 3XO weekend getaway. It’s a powerful showcase of Mahindra’s newest compact SUV — and a way to bring the spirit of Fusion Fest straight onto the streets.
Keep your eyes peeled as next year’s edition is gearing up to be the biggest, boldest and most immersive Fusion Fest yet. Fusion Fest 2026 is more than another lifestyle show — it’s a vibe. A celebration. A cultural spark. And the countdown is officially on!!! Get your tickets now.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MAHINDRA FUSION FEST
WHEN IS IT GOING DOWN Saturday, 7 March 2026
WHERE IS IT HAPPENING SunBet Arena, Time Square, Pretoria
WHAT TIME Doors open at 6:00 PM
HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS R450 upwards
WHERE CAN I BUY TICKETS Ticketmaster
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