{"id":6832,"date":"2026-01-21T13:23:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swazidailynews.com\/?p=6832"},"modified":"2026-01-21T13:23:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:23:42","slug":"makoti-festival-2026-opens-artist-applications-for-5th-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/6832\/eswatini-daily-news\/makoti-festival-2026-opens-artist-applications-for-5th-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Makoti Festival 2026 opens artist applications for 5th edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Makoti Festival has officially opened artist applications for its highly anticipated fifth edition, scheduled for April 25, 2026, at Malkerns Country Club.<\/p>\n<p>This announcement was made by Festival Director Thembinkosi Mthethwa, who encouraged artists from across Southern Africa and beyond to apply through the festival\u2019s official website.<\/p>\n<p>Since its inception in April 2022, the Makoti Festival has grown into a premier cultural event that celebrates the rich tapestry of Southern Africa\u2019s creative talents.<\/p>\n<p>The festival is renowned for its unique blend of live music, fashion, and cultural exchange, showcasing the region\u2019s artistic brilliance while fostering a global spirit of unity and creativity.<\/p>\n<p>Presented by NewLife Entertainment in partnership with the Illa PenBoy Foundation, the Makoti Festival has quickly established itself as a key fixture on the cultural calendar.<\/p>\n<p>Its influence now stretches well beyond Eswatini, as evidenced by recent media launches in Mbombela, South Africa, Lesotho, and Maputo, Mozambique.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6837\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6837\" style=\"width: 1281px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6837\" src=\"https:\/\/genesisekucalenimedia.com\/edn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PAGE-12-Makoti-Festival-director-Thembinkosi-Mthethwa-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1281\" height=\"1708\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6837\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Makoti Festival director Thembinkosi Mthethwa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These events highlight the festival\u2019s expanding regional footprint and its growing appeal to a diverse audience across Southern Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Ticket sales for the 2026 edition are already in full swing, available through major platforms including Computicket, Howler, Moja Ticket, and the festival\u2019s official website.<\/p>\n<p>The ticketing strategy is designed to accommodate a wide range of fans, with prices structured in three phases. General admission tickets start at E200 during the first phase and will increase to E300 by the final phase.<\/p>\n<p>For those seeking more exclusive experience, VIP tickets are priced from E500 to E750, promising premium access and amenities.<\/p>\n<p>Mthethwa expressed confidence that the upcoming festival would surpass all previous editions in scale and vibrancy. \u201cThis year\u2019s Makoti Festival will be bigger and more vibrant than ever before,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><div class=\"_df_book df-lite\" id=\"6807\"  data-title=\"\" wpoptions=\"true\" thumbtype=\"\" ><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a series of exciting announcements lined up, including the reveal of headline artists, DJs, and special guests who will bring unparalleled energy to the event.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Makoti Festival has officially opened artist applications for its highly anticipated fifth edition, scheduled for April 25,&hellip;","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,22,36,25],"tags":[46,39,73,40,41,58],"class_list":["post-6832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-lifestyle","category-national","tag-africa","tag-entertainment","tag-eswatini","tag-festival","tag-music","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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