The Kota Festival Tour Returns, Kicking Off in the Eastrand This March
The wait is finally over. The Kota Festival Tour is back, and it all begins right here in the East Rand with the EastRand Kota Festival, taking place on 28 March at Willmore Stadium in Benoni.
Known for celebrating South Africa’s most loved street food, the Kota Festival is more than just a food event — it’s a celebration of culture, community, and local hustle. The EastRand edition officially launches the 2026 Kota Festival Tour, setting the tone for a year packed with flavour, music, and unforgettable township vibes.
Families can expect a full day of fun, with activities for kids, live entertainment, and some of the best Kota vendors South Africa has to offer. Whether you’re coming for the food, the music, or the atmosphere, the Eastrand Kota Festival promises an authentic Kota experience that brings everyone together.
Tickets are affordable and accessible, starting from R80 for kids and R150 for adults, with student tickets available from just R100. Tickets are available online via Computicket and at
all Computicket outlets, including Checkers, Usave, Shoprite, and OK Stores.
Big Music, Big Energy
Adding even more excitement to the 2026 tour is the announcement of Lwah Ndlunkulu, who has officially joined the Kota Festival as a brand ambassador and strategic partner. She joins longtime ambassador Somizi Mhlongo, further strengthening the festival’s connection
to South African music, culture, and storytelling.
Festivalgoers in the Eastrand can look forward to high-energy performances, familiar faces, and moments that reflect the heartbeat of the community.
Ahead of the tour launch, the Kota Festival hosted a successful Gauteng Kota Festival Business Workshop at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre, bringing together aspiring and established Kota entrepreneurs from across the province.
The workshop opened with a warm welcome from MC Napo Modise, setting the tone for a day focused on growth, opportunity, and shared knowledge. The festival’s leadership team then unpacked the vision behind the Kota Festival, a vision that goes beyond food and focuses on 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 honest insights from their journeys, reminding attendees that behind every great Kota is resilience, passion, and hard work.
Participants were also guided through the festival application process by the technical support team, while Prosper broke down COA (Section 638) compliance, highlighting the
importance of running credible, compliant, and long-lasting food businesses.
The Kota Festival continues to grow thanks to the support of partners who believe in the platform. A special thank you goes to Albany (Karabo Lubisi) and Parmalat (Mahlatse Sethole) for their continued commitment to supporting local vendors and helping elevate the Kota Festival experience.
Engagement throughout the workshop, especially during the Q&A session, reflected just how invested vendors and stakeholders are in making the festival a success. It reinforced one clear message: 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.
As the tour kicks off in Benoni, the Kota Festival invites everyone, families, students, food
lovers, and entrepreneurs to come 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. Leave inspired.