March is set to be a month of jazz across the Western Cape, but in April the music travels inland. From 30 April to 3 May 2026, the small Karoo town of Prince Albert will host the fourth edition of Journey to Jazz, opening on International Jazz Day – a fitting moment to celebrate one of the world’s most powerful and unifying music traditions.
This jazz festival has become an emblem of cultural connection and youth empowerment, and every ticket sold directly supports the Prince Albert Community Trust’s (PACT) ongoing work in training, upskilling, and employment creation across the events industry and other sectors. Karoo Jazz Project (KJP) – a year-round developmental initiative that is transforming the musical and cultural landscape of the Karoo.
The KJP’s vision is to discover, nurture, and develop jazz talent within rural Karoo communities, and will also perform at the festival. This year pianist and composer Paul Hanmer (pictured above) joins long-term supporters of the project 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 Journey to Jazz (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.”
The J2J 2026 line-up includes Vusi Mahlasela; Paul Hanmer; Nomfundo Xaluva; Linda Sikhakhane & Paras “Sibalukhulu” Dlamini (KwaNongoma); Zawadi Yamungu; Yonela Mnana & The Soultee Sisters, and Amy Campbell.
With limited accommodation in Prince Albert and growing national interest, audiences are encouraged to secure their tickets early.
Details
When: 30 April – 3 May 2026
Where: Prince Albert, Western Cape.
Tickets: Quicket
