ULTRA SOUTH AFRICA
ULTRA South Africa marked a decade of dance with two monumental shows this weekend, kicking off in Cape Town on Friday, May 9, before heading to Johannesburg for a grand finale on Saturday, May 10. Together, they formed a euphoric celebration of music, energy, and unity — and a fitting tribute to 10 years of ULTRA magic in South Africa.
Both cities turned up in full force, with fans packing out the venues from early afternoon to the final beat at 2 a.m. As expected, ULTRA South Africa’s 10th anniversary was nothing short of spectacular, with an electrifying lineup of international headliners who delivered unforgettable performances across both cities.
Martin Garrix closed the night incredibly, delivering a career-spanning set. The highlight: a jaw-dropping surprise appearance by American indie pop star Lauv and South Africa’s own Lloyiso, who joined Garrix as surprise guests. Iconic trance legend Armin van Buuren kept the energy soaring with a flawless mix of massive hits and fresh new tracks bringing South African fans an experience they won’t soon forget.
Making his South African debut, ISOxo brought his high-energy sound and genre-bending style to local fans, cementing his place as one of the most exciting new names in electronic music and KSHMR thrilled fans by putting his own dynamic spin on local favourites like ‘Sister Bethina’, ‘Jerusalema’, ‘I Fink You Freeky’ and even ‘Nkalakatha’, creating an incredible cultural crossover moment on the main stage.
The ever-evolving RESISTANCE stage offered deeper, darker energy, delivering a pulsating soundtrack to ULTRA South Africa’s more underground electronic fans. This year’s lineup was a masterclass in melodic Techno, Progressive House and Afro-house, with international heavyweights like Mind Against and Massanocaptivating the crowd with their intricate performances while South African titans like Shimza and Culoe De Song delivered transcendent sets that fused Afro-tech and Afro-house elements with a deep, spiritual resonance – a beautiful reminder of the country’s influence on the global dance scene.
Cape Town’s show at The Ostrich kicked off the weekend, set against the picturesque Western Cape views. From Dean Fuel B2B Kyle Cassim to Gil Glaze, Niskerone, and a powerful opener by MIA, the day was packed with South African talent at its finest.
Johannesburg’s ULTRA South Africa experience at the Expo Centre, Nasrec was the larger of the two, featuring additional stages: The Groove Room and Clubhouse, where legends such as Kabza De Small, DBN Gogo, DJ Maphorisa, and Da Capo took the celebration to new heights.
Celebrating and paying homage to South African electronic music and Amapiano, The Groove Room was an exciting addition to the ULTRA South Africa offering. Sets by Oscar Mbo, Dlala Thukzin, 2woBunnies, and Mörda drew massive crowds and proved to be an exciting new chapter for Ultranauts. Meanwhile, Clubhouse returned and kept things vibing with incredible sets from the likes of Kasango, Shamiso, andMpho.Wav who all delivered unforgettable moments.
Across both cities, the weekend was a powerful reminder of why ULTRA South Africa has become a cornerstone of the country’s music culture — bringing fans together to celebrate the sounds that move us.
2026 DATES ANNOUNCED!
Thank you for being part of an unforgettable 10th anniversary celebration — #UltraSA2026 is coming! Next year’s dates were announced at the culmination of the Johannesburg event.
For the first time, ULTRA South Africa will kick off in Johannesburg on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, and then in Cape Town on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at The Ostrich Farm
9
#UltraSA2026 pre-registration is officially open but will close on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at 23:59 SAST.
Pre-register NOW to be first to hear when general on-sale dates are announced later this year.
Stay connected with ULTRA South Africa on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for lineup announcements and exciting updates as the festival gears up for ULTRA South Africa 2026.
About ULTRA South Africa and ULTRA Worldwide
ULTRA South Africa is Africa’s largest electronic music festival and is part of the ULTRA Worldwide family. ULTRA South Africa is a single-day event taking place in two cities (Johannesburg and Cape Town). Having debuted in 2014, ULTRA South Africa is one of the longest-standing ULTRA Worldwide festivals.
ULTRA Worldwide continues to cement its status as the world’s most international music festival brand. Boasting active events on all six inhabited continents, including the flagship Ultra Music Festival in Miami, the global festival brand is heralded for delivering an unparalleled combination of top-tier electronic talent, cutting-edge technology and large-scale productions
🔥 ULTRA South Africa 2025 Was a Monumental 10-Year Celebration – 2026 Dates Announced!
Africa’s Biggest Electronic Music Festival Marks a Decade With Sold-Out Shows and Surprise Performances
🎉 ULTRA South Africa Celebrates 10 Years of Dance Music Magic
ULTRA South Africa 2025 has officially raised the bar. Celebrating 10 years of dance music excellence, the continent’s largest electronic music festival drew sold-out crowds to both Cape Town and Johannesburg for a weekend that will go down in South African music history.
The celebration continues as ULTRA South Africa 2026 dates are now confirmed:
📍 Saturday, April 25 – Expo Centre, Nasrec – Johannesburg
📍 Sunday, April 26 – The Ostrich – Cape Town
Pre-registration for tickets is now open!
🔊 2025 Festival Highlights – International Icons, Local Legends & Cultural Crossovers
🌍 A Decade of Ultra: From Miami to Mzansi
Since its debut in 2014, ULTRA South Africa has remained a flagship event in the global ULTRA Worldwide family. 2025 marked a celebration of everything the brand stands for — unity, innovation, high-calibre talent, and jaw-dropping production.
🎶 Martin Garrix, Lauv & Lloyiso Leave Cape Town and Joburg Shaking
Superstar Martin Garrix delivered an explosive headlining set, but it was the surprise appearances by Lauv and South Africa’s own Lloyiso that created an unforgettable moment of cross-genre magic.
The high-energy didn’t stop there. Trance titan Armin van Buuren had the crowds pulsing to euphoric beats, while ISOxo made his highly anticipated South African debut, instantly becoming a crowd favorite with his genre-bending sound.
🇿🇦 Celebrating South African Sound – Amapiano & Afro-House Take Centre Stage
🪩 The Groove Room – Amapiano Royalty in Full Force
Johannesburg’s Groove Room was a landmark moment for Amapiano at ULTRA, featuring:
Kabza De Small
DJ Maphorisa
DBN Gogo
Dlala Thukzin
Oscar Mbo
2woBunnies
Mörda
Fans were treated to a deeply local yet globally resonant musical journey that celebrated South African innovation in the electronic space.
🌀 The Resistance Stage – Deep Tech Meets Afro Spirituality
The RESISTANCE Stage delivered deeper, darker beats with a blend of Melodic Techno, Progressive House, and Afro-Tech. Highlights included:
Mind Against
Massano
Shimza
Culoe De Song
These sets brought a spiritual intensity that served as a soulful contrast to the main stage madness.
🌄 Cape Town’s Scenic Showcase: A Festival Under the African Sky
At The Ostrich, the Cape Town leg was nothing short of picturesque. The lineup brought together fan favourites like:
Dean Fuel B2B Kyle Cassim
Niskerone
Gil Glaze
MIA (opener)
Set against the iconic Western Cape views, the vibe was electric and intimate, creating an immersive sonic experience.
📢 ULTRA South Africa 2026 Dates & Pre-Registration Details
Missed out this year? Don’t make the same mistake twice.
📅 Official 2026 Dates
Johannesburg – Saturday, April 25, 2026 @ Expo Centre, Nasrec
Cape Town – Sunday, April 26, 2026 @ The Ostrich
🎟️ Pre-Sale Ticket Registration Now Open
Be among the first to gain access to exclusive pre-sale tickets. Registration is now live but closes on May 25, 2025, at 23:59 SAST.
👉 Register for #UltraSA2026 Pre-Sale
Follow @UltraSouthAfrica on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for real-time updates.
💥 Why ULTRA South Africa Remains the Ultimate EDM Experience
For a decade, ULTRA South Africa has brought the world’s best DJs, cutting-edge production, and diverse cultural expression to thousands of Ultranauts. Whether you’re a fan of Afro-house, Amapiano, Trance, or Techno, there’s no other festival that offers this scale of sonic celebration.
From international icons to local legends, ULTRA South Africa 2025 was more than a music festival — it was a movement.
DK Expressions® will be covering every beat of ULTRA South Africa 2026 — stay tuned for more artist announcements, ticket details, and festival insights.
PUBLISHED BY DK EXPRESSIONS
