Gauteng’s new culture-led, environmentally conscious festival brings music, food, creativity and sustainable living into one of the province’s most remarkable natural spaces.

Johannesburg, South Africa – 15 September 2026: Rooted Fest 2026 has officially begun its journey towards 10 October, following an intimate launch experience held at the breathtaking Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in Gauteng on Sunday.

Hosted in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Environment, the launch brought together media, government representatives, partners, creatives and key stakeholders for a first-hand introduction to the vision behind Rooted Fest – a new cultural experience where music, food, nature, sustainability and South African creativity meet.

More than simply announcing a festival, the morning was designed to allow guests to experience the environment that sits at the heart of Rooted.

Guests arrived at Suikerbosrand for a morning immersed in nature, including hiking and a guided reserve drive supported by Volvo, before gathering for an intimate brunch experience.

The brunch was curated by Chef Mahlomola Thamae, with a drinks experience curated by Matte & Soda and custom Rooted tableware created by Art By Zulu, offering guests an early taste of the considered, locally driven experiences that will form part of the festival.

Volvo’s involvement in the guided reserve experience brought sustainable mobility into the Rooted story, allowing guests to discover Suikerbosrand while engaging with the landscape that will host the festival.

A FESTIVAL ROOTED IN PURPOSE

Speaking at the launch, Ayandamantombazane Mhlongo, Festival Director of Rooted Fest, shared the thinking behind creating an experience that places the environment at the centre of contemporary culture.

“Rooted was born from a very simple question: what happens when we bring the things that shape our culture – our music, our food, our creativity and our people – back into nature?

We want to build an experience that celebrates who we are while encouraging a more conscious relationship with the spaces we occupy. Suikerbosrand isn’t simply the venue for Rooted; it is part of the story. Everything we are building around this festival starts with respecting and celebrating this environment.”

The launch also provided an opportunity for the Gauteng Department of Environment to introduce guests to the ecological significance of Suikerbosrand and the importance of creating new ways for South Africans – particularly younger audiences – to engage with the province’s natural spaces.

Speaking at the launch, MEC Ewan Botha highlighted the importance of creating platforms that bring communities closer to Gauteng’s natural heritage while demonstrating that environmental conservation can form part of contemporary culture and everyday life.

“Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is one of Gauteng’s most important natural assets, and our responsibility is not only to protect spaces such as this, but to ensure that our communities understand their value and feel connected to them.

Rooted Fest gives us an opportunity to introduce people to this extraordinary environment in a new way – through music, food, culture, creativity and shared experiences – while keeping environmental responsibility at the centre.

We want people to enjoy our natural spaces, but equally, we want every person who enters Suikerbosrand to understand that they have a role to play in protecting them. This is why the principle of ‘Leave No Trace’ is so important. It speaks to the kind of relationship we want to build between our communities and the environment: one rooted in enjoyment, ownership, respect and responsibility.”

Rooted Fest is built around the principle of “Leave No Trace”, with sustainability integrated throughout the festival experience – from infrastructure and waste management to environmental education, conscious consumption and the way audiences interact with the reserve.

THE ROAD TO 10 OCTOBER

The launch marks the beginning of the final countdown to Rooted Fest 2026, taking place on Saturday, 10 October 2026 at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.

The full-day festival will transform the reserve into a multi-experience cultural destination featuring live music, food, sustainability, family entertainment, wellness, creativity and interactive experiences.

Festival-goers can expect performances from some of South Africa’s most exciting artists, led by Makhadzi, alongside Big Zulu, DBN Gogo, Tamara Dey, Ruhan du Toit, Litshepe and Chris Beats.

But Rooted is deliberately designed to be more than a music festival.

Across the reserve, audiences will be invited to explore a series of carefully curated zones and experiences that bring the broader Rooted philosophy to life.

The Main Stage will provide the soundtrack to the day through a diverse programme of South African music.

The Food Village will celebrate South African food and flavour through a curated culinary experience, bringing food, community and storytelling together.

The Green Living Zone will place sustainability at the centre of the festival, creating an interactive space where festival-goers can engage with environmental innovation, education and practical approaches to more sustainable living.

The Playroom will create a dedicated environment for children and families, ensuring Rooted is an experience that can be shared across generations.

Curated lifestyle, beverage, cultural and wellness experiences will further transform the reserve, encouraging festival-goers to move through Rooted, discover new spaces and engage with the environment throughout the day.

At the centre of it all is Suikerbosrand itself.

Rooted Fest aims to introduce audiences to one of Gauteng’s most remarkable natural assets while demonstrating that environmental responsibility and contemporary culture do not have to exist separately.

Mhlongo added:

“Sunday gave our partners and guests a glimpse of what we mean when we say Rooted. On 10 October, we get to open that experience to thousands of people.

We want people to come for the music, the food and the experience, but we also want them to leave having discovered something new about Suikerbosrand, about sustainable living and perhaps even about their own relationship with nature.

If we can create an incredible cultural experience while inspiring people to see our natural spaces differently, then Rooted is doing exactly what it was created to do.”

TAKING ROOTED BEYOND THE RESERVE

The journey to 10 October will continue across an integrated media and communications campaign designed to take the Rooted story beyond Suikerbosrand and into communities across Gauteng.

Through media and platform partnerships including Kaya FM, TRACE NGOMA and TRACE+, alongside digital, outdoor, PR and community amplification, audiences will continue to discover the music, people, experiences and environmental purpose behind Rooted Fest in the weeks leading up to the festival.

The campaign will also place a spotlight on Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, creating greater awareness of the reserve as an important Gauteng natural asset and encouraging a new generation of visitors to discover the destination.

With its official launch complete, Rooted Fest now enters its final countdown.

On 10 October 2026, Suikerbosrand will become the meeting point between culture and conservation, music and nature, celebration and responsibility.

It is an invitation to come together, reconnect and experience Gauteng differently.

It is time to #GetRooted.

ROOTED FEST 2026

Date: Saturday, 10 October 2026

Venue: Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng

Theme: Leave No Trace

Tickets: Available via Webtickets

Hashtag: #GetRooted

ABOUT ROOTED FEST

Rooted Fest is a culture-led, environmentally conscious festival experience that brings together music, food, lifestyle, family entertainment, creativity and sustainability within one of Gauteng’s most significant natural environments.

Created around the principle of “Leave No Trace,” Rooted seeks to demonstrate how largescale cultural experiences can celebrate creativity and community while encouraging environmental responsibility, sustainable living and a deeper appreciation of South Africa’s natural spaces.

Rooted Fest 2026 takes place at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve on Saturday, 10 October 2026.

ABOUT THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT

The Gauteng Department of Environment is responsible for protecting and managing the province’s natural environment while promoting sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and environmental awareness.

Through its partnership with Rooted Fest, the Department is supporting new ways of connecting communities with Gauteng’s natural assets and encouraging environmental responsibility through accessible cultural experiences.