Cape Town International Jazz Festival unveils bold new identity for 2026 return

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, long considered the heartbeat of the city’s live-music calendar, is stepping into 2026 with a bold new look. With that comes a renewed sense of purpose. After more than two decades as one of Africa’s most influential music gatherings, the festival has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of its 23rd edition, set for 27–28 March 2026. 

From its early beginnings at the Good Hope Centre to its current home at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the CTIJF’s rebrand reflects a scene that has grown, shifted, and reimagined itself alongside the city it calls home. 

Over the years, the festival’s iconic stages Rosies, Manenberg, Moses Molelekwa, and Kippies have hosted a lineage of global heavyweights and homegrown icons: Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu, Judith Sephuma, Youssou N’Dour, Zahara, Marcus Miller. It is a roll call that speaks not only to jazz’s enduring influence but to the festival’s role in shaping South Africa’s musical identity.

Festival Co-Director Georgia Jones sees the new brand as more than a facelift. “A festival with such a rich legacy and heritage truly deserves this new breath of life and fresh approach,” she says. “We’re looking forward to a new wave of progressive thinking, deeper community integration, and a brand that effectively encompasses this new vision.” 

Her counterpart, Festival Co-Director Carolyn Savage, echoes the sentiment. To her, the rebrand links past, present, and future. “As anticipation continues to grow for the latest instalment of Africa’s grandest gathering, the rebrand not only signals a new era, but also pays homage to the festival’s foundations, which have inspired generations of musicians and music lovers.” 

The brand's new identity sees a change from the old logo to a more modern and simplistic look. Talent Coordinator Mariana del Carmen speaks more on the new look which has generated significant online discussion. ”What a privilege to be a part of the evolution of the biggest jazz festival in Africa! We hold the legacy of Cape Town and jazz dearly and are so excited to bring the future of global music to a city rich with flavour and culture.”

The CTIJF’s renewed identity lands at a moment when jazz itself is enjoying a resurgence. Cape Town is at the centre of that revival, and the festival appears ready to embrace the shifting landscape with open arms. 

As the festival prepares to enter its next chapter, the new identity feels like a promise to innovate without abandoning history, to serve the community that shaped it, and to continue offering a stage where jazz, in all its forms, can thrive.