IMAGES SUPPLIED
BY: TANA MALINGA
The wait is over, and the craving is real. The Kota Festival Tour is officially back, and it kicks off where Kota love runs deep, the East Rand. The Eastrand Kota Festival takes place on 28 March at Willmore Stadium in Benoni, launching the much-anticipated 2026 Kota Festival Tour.
This is not just about food. This is about culture, community, hustle, and flavour. The Kota Festival celebrates South Africa’s favourite street food while bringing people together through music, stories, and township energy that hits you right in the heart and the stomach.
Families can expect a full-day experience packed with fun. There’ll be kids’ activities, live performances, and some of the best Kota vendors in the country. Whether you’re coming to eat, vibe, dance, or connect, this festival promises a real Kota experience that leaves you full and smiling.
Tickets are made for everyone:
Kids: from R80
Students: from R100
Adults: from R150
Tickets are available online via Computicket and at all Computicket outlets, including Checkers, Usave, Shoprite, and OK Stores.
Big Music, Big Energy
The 2026 tour comes with major excitement as Lwah Ndlunkulu officially joins the Kota Festival as a brand ambassador and strategic partner. She teams up with longtime ambassador Somizi Mhlongo, strengthening the festival’s powerful link to South African music, culture, and storytelling.
Festivalgoers in the East Rand can expect high-energy performances, familiar faces, and moments that truly reflect the heartbeat of the community.
More Than a Festival , a Movement
Ahead of the tour launch, the Kota Festival hosted a successful Gauteng Kota Festival Business Workshop at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre. Aspiring and established Kota entrepreneurs came together to learn, grow, and share knowledge.
The day opened with a warm welcome from MC Napo Modise, followed by the festival leadership unpacking the bigger vision, empowering local businesses, creating jobs and building sustainable futures.
Industry leaders David Mofokeng from The Food Shed and Mam Miya from Amazizi Kitchen shared hands-on demonstrations and real-life lessons, proving that every great Kota is built on passion, resilience, and hard work.
The technical team guided vendors through the festival application process, while Prosper explained COA (Section 638) compliance, stressing the importance of running credible and long-lasting food businesses.
Powered by Strong Partnerships
The festival continues to grow thanks to committed partners. A special thank you goes to Albany (Karabo Lubisi) and Parmalat (Mahlatse Sethole) for supporting local vendors and helping take the Kota Festival to the next level.
The strong engagement during the Q&A session showed one thing clearly, people believe in this platform. The message was loud and clear: the Kota Festival is not just an event, it’s a movement.
2026 Kota Festival Tour Dates
28 March – Eastrand Kota Festival
25 April – Jozi Kota Festival
2 May – Mpumalanga Kota Festival
6 June – eThekwini Kota Festival
1 August – Limpopo Kota Festival
29 August – Vaal Kota Festival
5 September – Cape Town Kota Festival
3 October – Jozi Kota Festival
24 October – Eswatini Kota Festival
31 October – Pitori Kota Festival
7 November – Tembisa Kota Festival
28 November – Free State Kota Festival
5 December – Lesotho Kota Festival
The 2026 tour will travel across South Africa and beyond, bringing Kota culture to more communities than ever before.
As the journey begins in Benoni, the Kota Festival invites families, students, food lovers, and entrepreneurs to come taste, feel, and experience the very best of Kota culture.
In closing, Kota Festival COO Luvo Limba shared:
“Let us join hands and efforts as we take Kota to the world.”
Come hungry. Come thirsty. Leave inspired.
