Photo Credit: Deane Bayas
South Africa’s flagship music and lifestyle festival, Rocking the Daisies, has officially cancelled its 2026 edition, with organisers citing “unforeseen circumstances” beyond their control.
The announcement, made on Friday 24 July, confirms that the annual festival will not return to Cloof Wine Estate in Darling this October as originally planned. Organisers said the decision followed multiple efforts to keep the event on track but ultimately concluded that proceeding with this year’s edition was no longer possible.
“The decision was not made lightly,” the organisers said in a statement, thanking fans, artists, partners and the wider festival community for their continued support despite the disappointing news. They did not disclose the specific circumstances that led to the cancellation.
Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds, with organisers confirming that no action is required from attendees. Instead of the traditional three-day camping festival, Rocking the Daisies will pivot to a series of one-day IN THE CITY events in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. The new shows are expected to feature several artists who were originally booked for the 2026 festival, with additional details to be announced in the coming weeks.
The cancellation marks one of the most significant disruptions in the festival’s recent history. Since launching in 2005, Rocking the Daisies has grown into one of Africa’s premier live music events, regularly attracting tens of thousands of fans while hosting international headliners alongside South Africa’s biggest artists. The festival has become synonymous with music, fashion, art and camping culture, making its absence particularly notable for the country’s live entertainment calendar.
This year’s edition had already generated considerable excitement, with artists including British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith announced as part of the lineup before the cancellation. While the festival itself will not go ahead, some scheduled performers are still expected to appear as part of the replacement IN THE CITY shows. Isaiah Rashad, for example, is still expected to perform in South Africa through the new concert format.
