Following the success of the 2025 edition, which brought 25 local SMMEs into the heart of the Joy of Jazz experience, the Jazzy Joburg Market continues its commitment to creating meaningful market access for local entrepreneurs while showcasing the distinctive creative spirit of Johannesburg.
The 2026 edition will take place alongside the 27th edition of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, which returns to the Sandton International Convention Centre on 25 and 26 September 2026. The festival itself brings together some of the biggest names in international and South African jazz, while the Jazzy Joburg Market offers audiences another way to experience the city’s cultural richness beyond the stages.
More than a marketplace, the Jazzy Joburg Market is a celebration of the people, ideas and businesses that contribute to Johannesburg’s creative economy. Visitors can expect a carefully curated selection of locally produced fashion, jewellery, home décor, art, crafts and artisanal products, providing an opportunity to discover and support emerging and established entrepreneurs.
“The Jazzy Joburg Market is about creating a space where creativity and commerce meet,” says Mantwa Chinoamadi, CEO of T Musicman and Festival Producer of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. “The market gives local entrepreneurs an opportunity to connect directly with audiences who appreciate culture, creativity and authentic experiences. As we return in 2026, we want to continue building on that platform and creating opportunities for the businesses and creatives that make Johannesburg such a dynamic city.”
The market is presented in collaboration with the Johannesburg Tourism Company, reinforcing its role in promoting Johannesburg not only as a destination for world-class entertainment, but also as a city where culture, entrepreneurship, tourism and creativity intersect.
The 2025 edition demonstrated the value of placing local enterprise at the centre of a major cultural event. With 25 SMMEs showcasing their products at the Sandton Convention Centre, the market gave festivalgoers the opportunity to engage directly with local entrepreneurs and take a piece of Johannesburg’s creative identity home with them.
“Johannesburg is a city driven by creativity, diversity and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Belu Mabandla, Executive Head: Destination Marketing & Events atthe Johannesburg Tourism Company. “The Jazzy Joburg Market gives us an opportunity to showcase that Joburg’s creativity to local and international visitors while supporting the entrepreneurs who contribute to our city’s economy and cultural landscape.”
The 2026 market takes on added significance as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz reflects on two important national milestones: the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising and 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March. Against this backdrop, the festival is exploring themes of heritage, memory, identity and the evolution of South African culture, creating a fitting environment for a market that celebrates the people and businesses shaping the country’s contemporary creative landscape.
The Jazzy Joburg Market also forms part of the broader economic impact of the Joy of Jazz ecosystem. The festival has historically generated more than R34.5 million in direct spending, contributed approximately R86 million to the Gauteng economy and supported more than 1,200 temporary and permanent jobs across its value chain. The market itself supports more than 25 SMMEs annually, further extending the festival’s contribution to entrepreneurship, tourism and local enterprise.
For visitors, the market provides an opportunity to move beyond the music and immerse themselves in the broader lifestyle of Johannesburg – discovering local brands, meeting entrepreneurs, experiencing South African creativity and supporting small businesses while enjoying one of the continent’s leading jazz festivals.
As Johannesburg prepares to welcome audiences for the 2026 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, the Jazzy Joburg Market invites festivalgoers to experience another side of the city – one defined by its makers, designers, artists, entrepreneurs and storytellers.
The rhythm of Johannesburg does not only live on the stage. It lives in the people who create.
