Cllr Gregory Nthatisi
Executive Mayor
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
30 OCT — 01 NOV 2026THABA NCHU OLD AIRPORT · FREE STATE
BLACK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2026 · VILLAGE CAMP FEST
THE MOUNTAIN
IS CALLING.
A village Camp Fest. A sky full of stars.
Experience cultural tours, make new friends and find your Free State soul.
30 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER 2026COME FOR THE MUSIC. CONNECT WITH VILLAGE LIFE.
MUSIC✦CAMPING✦SPINNING✦AFRICAN FLAVOURS✦HIKING✦SHOW & SHINE
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
BLACK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2026
The countdown to
our Media Launch.
08 OCTOBER 2026ThursdayROYAL HOUSEThaba Nchu, Free State
A special media briefing brings together government leadership and senior management representatives ahead of Black Mountain Festival 2026.
THE BRIEFING WILL BE LED BY
Maggie Sotyu
Deputy Minister of Tourism
National Department of Tourism
Ketso Makume
MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism
Free State Provincial GovernmentTogether with relevant senior management representatives.
Leadership photographs: Mangaung Municipality · Department of Tourism · DESTEA · Free State Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation.
BLACK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2026
Watch the
festival video.
Get a feel for Black Mountain Festival ahead of the media launch.
Apply for media attendanceMEDIA LAUNCH · 8 OCTOBER 2026
Apply to cover
the launch.
Journalists, broadcasters, digital media and creators: submit your details for the media briefing at the Royal House in Thaba Nchu.
Submitting an application does not confirm accreditation. The organisers will contact you about your attendance.
APPLICATION SAVED
Thank you for applying.
Your media application for the 8 October 2026 launch at the Royal House in Thaba Nchu has been received.
YOUR APPLICATION REFERENCE
Keep this reference for your records. The organisers will contact you about your attendance. Accreditation is subject to confirmation.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES
Event News.
The latest announcements from Black Mountain Festival 2026.
1,000 free Reggae Concert tickets
Book your free tickets for Friday, 30 October at Thaba Nchu Old Airport. These tickets cover the Reggae Concert only, excluding camping and other festival sessions.
Get free Reggae ticketsMedia launch set for 8 October
A special media briefing will take place at the Royal House in Thaba Nchu, led by the Executive Mayor, Deputy Minister of Tourism, MEC Makume, with senior management representatives.
View the announcementApply to cover the launch
Journalists, broadcasters, digital media and influencers can submit a media application for the 8 October briefing. Attendance is subject to organiser confirmation.
Apply for media attendanceFree entrance: register for Friday’s sessions
Register for the SMME information session, career guidance, Albany Kasi Kota Challenge or African Cuisine Challenge on Friday, 30 October 2026.
Register nowYOUR WEEKEND, TURNED ALL THE WAY UP
More than a festival.
A place to belong.
Come together for a village Camp Fest in Thaba Nchu. From cultural discovery to conversations under the stars, Black Mountain brings music, motoring culture, African food and new friendships into one shared weekend.
30 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER 2026
Your people.
Your weekend.
Your festival starts here.
Live music, spinning, African flavours and a village Camp Fest experience. Come together at Thaba Nchu Old Airport and make memories from Friday to Sunday.
The mountain is calling. Make your plans.Buy Tickets NowBook through Computicket. Ticket options and current availability are shown on the booking page.Staying over? Festival and camping tickets must be purchased together. Explore glamping or contact the organisers about your stay.
THREE DAYS. MANY WAYS TO EXPERIENCE IT.
Your festival rhythm.
Programme times are approximate and may change. Artist lineup announcements and additional confirmations will follow.
REGGAE · LIVE MUSIC · GOOD VIBESPromotional image · artist lineup to be announcedFRIDAY NIGHT · BLACK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL 2026
Reggae
Concert.
Start the festival weekend with reggae rhythms, live performances and DJs under the Free State sky.
Friday, 30 October 2026Thaba Nchu Old Airport, Free StateApproximately 17:00/18:00–00:00
Final start time to be confirmed.
Final start time to be confirmed.
FREE TICKETS · R0
Get your free Reggae ticket1,000 tickets available. Valid for the Reggae Concert only. Camping and other festival sessions are excluded.
FREE TICKET INVENTORY
Checking availability…From an allocation of 1,000 free tickets.
Book up to 4 tickets. Each ticket admits one person to the Reggae Concert.
Checking email and WhatsApp delivery availability…
FREE TICKETS ISSUED
You’re going to the Reggae Concert.
Friday, 30 October 2026
Thaba Nchu Old Airport, Free State
Each code below admits one person. Save your tickets and present them at the Reggae Concert entrance.
These tickets are valid only for the Reggae Concert. Camping and other festival sessions are excluded.
FRIDAY · 30 OCTOBER 2026
Let your business
get empowered.
Entrance to these Friday sessions is free. Register now for the SMME information session, career guidance, Albany Kasi Kota Challenge or African Cuisine Challenge. Select your session and tell us where you’re coming from.
REGISTRATION SAVED
You’re registered to attend.
Friday, 30 October 2026
Thaba Nchu Old Airport, Free State
YOUR ATTENDANCE REFERENCE
Keep this reference for your records. Session times will be confirmed. Food challenge participant selection is managed separately by the organisers.
CAMPING AT BLACK MOUNTAINUNPACK. SWITCH OFF. STAY A WHILE.
Your tent.
Your people.
Your weekend.
Arrive on Friday, check in, collect your wristband and settle into village Camp Fest life. Spend your days discovering local culture and your evenings enjoying music, stargazing and the company of new friends.
- FRIDAY ARRIVALCampers arrive and settle in throughout the day.
- ONE FULL EXPERIENCEFestival and camping tickets must be purchased together.
- PLAN YOUR STAYConfirm camping packages, facilities and check-in arrangements with the organisers before booking.
CAMP LIFE, WITH A LITTLE MORE COMFORT
The glamping
experience.
A comfortable bed, canvas overhead and the festival close by. Explore the glamping accommodation and picture your weekend in the village.
Contact the organisers to confirm glamping packages, bed arrangements and availability for your festival weekend.
SLOW DOWN. LOOK UP. CONNECT.
Village life.
Wide-open wonder.
Make room for the moments between the music. Experience the culture, enjoy the night sky and leave with more friends than you arrived with.
01 / AFTER DARKStargazing
Step away from the bustle, look up and take in the Free State night sky. Share a quiet moment under the stars with your camping crew.
02 / LOCAL DISCOVERYCultural tours
Explore village life through cultural tours that connect you with local stories, heritage and everyday experiences around Thaba Nchu.
03 / SHARED MOMENTSMake new friends
Meet fellow campers, swap stories and connect over music, food and adventure. Come with your people, or find your people here.
Ask the organisers about cultural tour arrangements and how to include them in your camping weekend.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
Local flavours.
Bigger futures.
The weekend begins with opportunity. Friday gives local businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs and young people a space to connect, learn and explore their next step.
SMMEs & cultural stalls
Market access, business development and information on funding and government support, alongside a village of local enterprise and cultural creativity.
Career guidance
Explore further study, skills development and opportunities in tourism, hospitality and the events industry.
Inclusive participation
A community vision that makes space for youth, women, rural enterprises and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
MOMENTS FROM CAMP FEST LIFE
The people.
The memories.
Music under canvas, a campsite to call home and friends who make the weekend. Explore our gallery.
GET TO KNOW THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS
Find your way.
Make it your weekend.
From your first arrival to your campsite and the stage, explore where the festival comes together at Thaba Nchu Old Airport.
Your festival, mapped.
- AEntrance & exit
- BParking
- CCamping parking
- DCampsite
- EStage
- FStalls
- GPolice & ambulance
- HSpinning
Illustrative visitor guide, not to scale. See the detailed event plan for toilets, emergency assembly points and security markers. Follow event signage and staff directions on arrival.
SEE YOU IN THABA NCHU
Make your way here.
Thaba Nchu Old Airport
Free State, South Africa
30 October – 1 November 2026
FREE STATE / SOUTH AFRICAThaba Nchu
Thaba Nchu
Old Airport
A village Camp Fest filled with music, cultural discovery and new connections in the Free State.
Find the venue on MapsConfirm the festival entrance with the organisers before travelling.A few things to know
When does the festival take place?
Friday, 30 October to Sunday, 1 November 2026. Friday arrivals and daytime activities lead into Reggae Night. Sunday closes with deep house until late.
How do I get festival and camping tickets?
Book your festival tickets on Computicket. For the camping experience, festival and camping tickets must be purchased together. Contact the organisers to confirm camping and glamping package arrangements.
Buy tickets on ComputicketWhat time is the Saturday hike?
The hiking experience starts at approximately 07:00, in association with Bloem Social Hiking Club. Assemble and register before the hike. Participating hikers receive water and fruit; confirm meeting arrangements with the organisers.
What can I experience beyond the music?
Enjoy stargazing, cultural tours, meeting new friends and the Black Mountain Hiking Experience. Ask the organisers about cultural tour arrangements, availability and meeting points before you travel.
Who is performing?
The programme includes reggae, soul, R&B, live music, DJs and deep house. Named artist announcements will follow. Additional artists are subject to confirmation.
Can my business participate?
The festival includes an SMME information session, an exhibition village and cultural stalls. Contact the organisers about participation, food challenges and available stall arrangements.
30 OCT — 01 NOV 2026 · THABA NCHU
ANSWER
THE CALL.
Make the mountain your weekend. Book your festival tickets on Computicket.
Buy Tickets Now