South Africa, Sept. 8 -- Standard Bank Joy of Jazz does not begin only when musicians step onto the stage. Across Johannesburg, the experience is already taking shape along the routes, business districts and cultural hubs where audiences encounter the festival in their everyday movement.

Now in its 27th year, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz has grown from an intimate gathering of approximately 1,800 attendees in 2000 into a major cultural event attracting more than 25,000 festivalgoers. The 2026 edition returns to the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing internationally acclaimed artists, South African jazz legends and emerging talent together across four stages.

The line-up includes Angelique Kidjo, Kamasi Washington, Thandiswa Mazwai, Judith...