MALKERNS — The 2026 edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival was officially launched on Friday night at House on Fire, setting the stage for its return from May 29- 31, 2026.
The launch brought together government officials, corporate partners, artists and members of the public, as organisers outlined plans for the festival’s 19th edition.
This year’s theme, 'The Juncture of Hum', was introduced during the event.
Programme directors Phiwokuhle Dlamini and Anakhonza Kunene said the theme reflects a meeting point of culture, people and shared experiences, where music and conversation come together.
ENTERTAINMENT
The launch included a live performance from local artist iYa, who returned to the Bushfire stage after first performing at the festival in 2023.
Accompanied by Ndumiso Dlamini on the piano, iYa performed a selection of her music, drawing attention from the audience with her vocal delivery and songwriting style.
Her appearance formed part of the evening’s programme, which focused on both performance and announcements for the upcoming festival.
Meanwhile, MTN Eswatini confirmed a sponsorship of E5,000,000 towards the 2026 festival.
Speaking at the launch, MTN Eswatini Acting Chief Executive Officer Jerry Soko said the festival continues to play a role in supporting local businesses and creatives.
He said the use of MTN MoMo at the event allows small businesses and traders to operate using digital payments, improving access to income and reducing reliance on cash.
Soko added that the system creates opportunities for vendors and helps ensure that more people benefit financially from the festival.
Also speaking at the event, Minister for Commerce Manqoba Khumalo, representing the Prime Minister, outlined the country’s economic progress.
He said Eswatini’s economy has grown from E1.4 billion in 1986 to E95.2 billion.
Khumalo said the country is working towards increasing GDP per capita to E480,000 through continued development and inclusive economic participation.
The European Union was also represented at the launch by Ambassador Karsten Mecklenburg.
The EU continues to partner with the festival through initiatives such as the Bushfire Schools Festival, which introduces arts programmes to young people across the country.
Mecklenburg said the partnership focuses on supporting arts education and encouraging early participation in creative spaces.
The launch was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister for ICT Savannah Maziya and Minister Manqoba Khumalo, alongside representatives from MTN Eswatini and other stakeholders.
ARTISTS PERFORMING
Organisers also announced the Top 10 finalists for the MTN Bushfire Firefly competition.
The finalists are Cool Drop, Leelo G, Emagagu, Sweli, JD, Morewish, AS4JerryP, Hillary Mirindi, MCO Jamrock and Kyro.
They will compete at the Firefly Grand Finale scheduled for April 24 at House on Fire. The competition winner will secure a place to perform at the main festival.
The top three finalists will receive prizes including mobile phones, studio recording time, a music video and a scholarship from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
Additional performers for the Firefly finale include South African artist Blxckie, local artist Chantel and DJ Bandora.
The MTN Bushfire Festival is one of Eswatini’s major cultural events, attracting local and international audiences.
Organisers said the 2026 edition will continue to focus on music, arts and social engagement, in line with its theme.
Further announcements, including the full artist lineup, are expected in the coming weeks.
Bushfire 2025 injects E121.2 mln into Eswatini economy
MALKERNS — The MTN Bushfire Festival contributed E121.2 million to the local economy in 2025, according to findings from an Economic Impact Assessment by North-West University.
The figures were presented on a billboard screen during the official launch of the 2026 edition on Friday night at House on Fire.
The report shows that the E121.2 million injection came from a combination of direct visitor spending, extended stays and the broader circulation of money within the economy.
This includes spending on accommodation, transport, food, crafts and other services linked to the festival period.
According to the findings, the economic benefit was not limited to the event itself but extended to surrounding areas as money continued to move through different sectors.
The assessment also provided a breakdown of earnings and returns linked to the festival.
A total of 133 traders operated during the event, generating more than E10.8 million in revenue.
Of these, 87 percent were local businesses, indicating that most of the earnings remained within Eswatini.
The study further found that for every E16 spent on organising the festival, an additional E40.04 was generated indirectly in the economy.
This reflects the multiplier effect, where initial spending leads to further economic activity.
Organisers also noted that more than 70 percent of the festival’s operational budget was spent on local suppliers.
The festival supported over 2,300 jobs across different levels.
This includes direct roles at the event, as well as indirect and induced employment created through supply chains and increased demand for services.
Of these, approximately 1,400 were seasonal and permanent positions linked to the festival period.
Attendance figures for the 2025 edition exceeded 23,000 people per day.
The report noted that more than 25 percent of attendees stayed for four nights or longer.
This contributed to higher occupancy levels in hotels, lodges and other accommodation facilities.
Spending was also recorded beyond Malkerns, with visitors travelling to other parts of the country, including urban centres and nature reserves.
The findings were shared as part of the 2026 launch, offering context on the festival’s impact beyond entertainment.
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