FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Journey to Jazz 2026 Expands its Reach and Tickets Go on Sale
Prince Albert, South Africa, 1 December 2025 – As tickets officially go on sale through Quicket for the 4th annual Journey to Jazz (J2J) Festival (30 April – 3 May 2026), organisers, the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT), have announced the exciting expanded scope of the Karoo Jazz Project (KJP) – a year-round developmental initiative that is transforming the musical and cultural landscape of the Karoo.
The Karoo Jazz Project, powered by PACT and supported by Pro Helvetia and the Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater Insatief (Nati), continues to build on its bold vision – to discover, nurture, and develop jazz talent within rural Karoo communities.
In 2026, pianist and composer Paul Hanmer joins long-term supporters of the project, Ramon Alexander (one of the leading exponents of Cape Jazz), and Lynette Petersen (Outeniqua High School’s jazz educator and conductor), in unlocking musical potential by bridging education, mentorship, and exposure.
“The Karoo Jazz Project isn’t just about learning scales and songs in the months leading up to each J2J festival – it’s about creating access,” says Hanmer. “It’s about giving young people from Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka, and beyond, the tools to express themselves, to understand their heritage, and to speak the language of jazz with confidence.”
Traditionally, jazz practice has been confined to cities where musicians and audiences thrive in live performance spaces and experience the inner workings of ‘music conversations’ musicians have with one another through the art of improvisation. KJP seeks to reverse that paradigm – taking jazz into churches, schools, and community gatherings, cultivating a new generation of rural musicians who can play, compose, and perform alongside the country’s best.
The blending of the Karoo’s Afrikaans vernacular with a ‘jazzy sound’ on the stages of the Journey to Jazz Festival is something that really excites J2J’s audiences, according to Ramon Alexander, who says: “I believe that the pursuit and development of such a niche music community will appeal to many around South Africa. In my opinion, I would imagine that major, traditionally Afrikaans arts festivals, such as the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival and Suidoosterfees would be interested in showcasing the Karoo Jazz Project in its current form, standard and concept.”
Journey to Jazz 2026: Tickets Now Available on Quicket
Running parallel to the educational mission is the much-anticipated Journey to Jazz Festival, and at which the KJP will perform in May next year. The festival has become an emblem of cultural connection and youth empowerment, and every ticket sold directly supports PACT’s ongoing work in training, upskilling, and employment creation across the events industry and other sectors.
The J2J 2026 line-up already includes some of South Africa’s most revered and innovative artists:
· Vusi Mahlasela
· Paul Hanmer
· Nomfundo Xaluva
· Linda Sikhakhane & Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini (KwaNongoma)
· Zawadi Yamungu .
· Yonela Mnana & The Soultee Sisters
· Amy Campbell.
And – in exciting news for festival-goers – two very special acts will be announced on 31 January 2026 during the Journey to Jazz Preview event at The Dansvloer in the UNESCO World Heritage Swartberg Mountain Pass.
Importantly, organisers have confirmed that these new acts will not overlap or conflict with any of the current artist performances – meaning ticket holders can safely book now, knowing they won’t miss a single moment.
A Gift of Music and Meaning
With limited accommodation in Prince Albert and growing national interest, audiences are encouraged to secure their tickets early on Quicket.
“Journey to Jazz is the kind of gift that gives twice – to yourself, and to the youth whose futures are being rewritten through music,” says Brenda Sisane, Creative Director of Journey to Jazz. “This festival is a living example of what social cohesion can look like when art, purpose, and people meet in harmony.”
As the year draws to a close, festival organisers are inviting jazz lovers to share the spirit of giving through Journey to Jazz tickets – the perfect Christmas gift for those who believe in the power of culture to heal, unite, and inspire.
Journey to Jazz transforms lives, celebrates creativity, and ensures that the rhythm of the Karoo will continue to echo far beyond its mountains.
