By: Ingrid M
MoMo Xperience returns for its third edition on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Malkerns Country Club, with organisers saying this year’s event will extend into the early hours of the morning.
This will expand what has quickly become one of Eswatini’s most recognisable entertainment gatherings.
From its early beginnings, the festival has grown into more than a music event.
It has developed into a lifestyle experience that combines live performances, culture, and social interaction with a strong focus on community engagement and the creative economy.
At the official launch held at Mahlalekhukhwini House, Melting C Events Director Mbekezeli Dlamini, also known as Culolam, said the growth of the event has been driven largely by audience demand and continuous refinement based on previous editions.
He confirmed that this year’s edition will run longer than before, extending the experience until 3:00am.
“Due to popular demand, this year’s festival will no longer end at midnight. Instead, we will extend the celebration until 3:00am, giving our attendees more time to enjoy the music, the atmosphere and the connections,” Dlamini said.
He added that the extension is part of improving the overall experience while maintaining order and safety, noting that last year’s edition was delivered without incident, something organisers say remains a benchmark going forward.
Government also continued to show support for the event’s growing cultural relevance.
Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima said the MoMo Xperience has become a meaningful addition to Eswatini’s cultural calendar.
He said the festival reflects how partnerships between the public and private sector can help develop the creative industry.
“Events like these play a vital role in strengthening our social fabric and fostering a sense of unity and national pride,” Nzima said.
He added that such platforms give artists visibility while also creating opportunities for economic participation within the creative sector, including trading spaces for small businesses.
Over the past editions, MoMo Xperience has steadily built a reputation for large-scale attendance, structured programming, and a controlled but energetic atmosphere.
While organisers have not released official attendance figures, previous editions have been described as well-attended and increasingly influential within the local entertainment scene.
The second edition, in particular, helped solidify the festival’s identity as a hybrid entertainment experience, blending live music, branded activations, and cultural showcases into a single platform.
Organisers have consistently pointed to its incident-free delivery as a key factor in building trust with both audiences and stakeholders.
As anticipation builds for this year, attention has shifted toward the lineup, which brings together both international and local acts across multiple genres.
Artist spotlight: A mix of Soul and Amapiano energy
This year’s MoMo Xperience will feature South African singer Lloyiso and amapiano producer Sam Deep, two artists expected to headline with contrasting but complementary styles.
Lloyiso, known for his emotive vocals and stripped-down storytelling approach, has built a following across the region for his soulful sound and live performance delivery.
Sam Deep, on the other hand, brings a high-energy amapiano set style that has made him one of the genre’s consistent crowd favourites, particularly in live festival environments.
While international acts bring regional appeal, organisers say the strength of the festival also lies in its local lineup.
Meanwhile, performers such as DJ MBO, DJ Tibza, Sweet Shandis, and Its All BlaQ are also confirmed, representing a cross-section of Eswatini’s evolving music scene.
The inclusion of both established and emerging DJs reflects what organisers describe as a deliberate effort to balance global influence with local identity.
The Soil is also among the names linked to the broader entertainment conversation around this year’s edition, further reinforcing the festival’s blend of soulful, live, and contemporary sounds.
Together, the lineup is expected to move across genres including amapiano, soul, and contemporary African sounds, creating a continuous flow of performances designed to carry the crowd through the extended hours.
For returning attendees, the third edition builds on a familiar formula that has steadily expanded each year.
For first-timers, organisers say it offers a full-scale introduction to what MoMo Xperience brand has come to represent, a long-form entertainment environment built around music, movement, and social connection.
With extended hours, a strengthened lineup, and growing institutional backing, MoMo Xperience third edition continues to position itself as one of Eswatini’s defining entertainment events.
Local first approach strengthens creative industry
Beyond the headline performances, this year’s MoMo Xperience continues a growing shift toward prioritising local talent, with organisers increasing the number of Eswatini-based artists on the lineup.
While the festival still features international acts, the structure of the programme shows a deliberate effort to balance imported entertainment with homegrown creativity.
According to organisers, the intention is not only to stage a large-scale event, but also to ensure that local artists benefit directly from the platform in terms of exposure, bookings, and income.
Over the past editions, MoMo Xperience has steadily increased the visibility of local performers across its stages.
This year’s edition continues that pattern, with DJs, vocalists, and performance acts from Eswatini forming a significant portion of the lineup alongside regional headliners.
Industry stakeholders have often pointed out that one of the biggest challenges for local creatives is limited access to large, well-funded stages that attract wide audiences.
Events such as MoMo Xperience help bridge that gap by placing local talent in the same space as established regional acts, effectively allowing them to perform in front of larger and more diverse crowds than they typically would on their own.
Organisers have also highlighted that this approach is tied to broader economic participation.
Local artists, technicians, stage crews, vendors, and small service providers all benefit from increased local bookings, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond entertainment into informal business activity.
While international headliners often draw attention, it is the consistent inclusion of local acts that has helped define the festival’s identity in recent years.
Rather than positioning local talent as filler, the programme integrates them into peak performance slots, ensuring visibility and audience engagement.
Last year’s edition also reflected this structure, with a strong local presence across multiple genres performing alongside regional acts.
That balance, organisers say, is intentional and continues to evolve as the festival grows.
While MoMo Xperience enters its third edition, the 'local first' approach is becoming one of its defining characteristics not as a slogan, but as a working model for how large-scale entertainment events can support and develop Eswatini’s creative industry while still maintaining regional appeal.
To purchase tickets visit www.smartticket.co.za.
