ULTRA South Africa is once again placing African dance music firmly in the international spotlight with the return of its dedicated stage, The Groove Room, for the 2026 edition in Johannesburg.
Designed to celebrate and elevate the sounds shaping dance floors across the continent, The Groove Room transforms the festival into a high-energy celebration of Amapiano, Afro-house, Gqom and cutting-edge electronic fusion.
A Line-up Driving African Electronic Music Forward
Returning to Johannesburg in 2026, the stage will feature a powerful line-up of artists who are pushing African dance music to new heights.
The Groove Room will showcase performances by Liquideep, Scorpion Kings, DBN Gogo, Dlala Thukzin, Oscar Mbo, DJ Lag x Que DJ, Sun-El Musician, 2Shoes, Lelowhatsgood and Slow Poison.
Together, these artists represent the energy and innovation shaping the next chapter of African electronic music.
Global Momentum for Amapiano and Afro-house
African electronic dance music is experiencing unprecedented global growth, with Amapiano leading the charge as one of the fastest-rising genres worldwide.
According to Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data and the IFPI Global Music Report 2025, Amapiano has recorded explosive international growth, while South African artists collectively generated hundreds of millions of rands in streaming royalties across platforms in 2025.
Genres such as Gqom and Afro-house are also dominating international playlists, major festivals and Billboard charts. Artists including DJ Lag, DBN Gogo and Sun-El Musician continue to expand their global reach through collaborations, viral releases and international festival bookings.
The Groove Room plays a central role in accelerating this momentum, transforming local innovation into a global cultural movement.
The Groove Room Expands Online
To extend the experience beyond the festival grounds, ULTRA South Africa has launched the official Groove Room YouTube Channel.
The platform serves as a permanent digital home for exclusive performances, live sets and curated content from the artists shaping African electronic music.
In its first week, the channel surpassed 300 000 views. It has already crossed the one million view mark, highlighting strong global demand for authentic African dance music.
Shaun Duwe, ULTRA South Africa organiser and The Unit CEO, says the platform reflects a growing international interest in African sounds.
“The Groove Room is more than just a stage, it’s an African dance music movement. We created this platform to give African dance artists the world-class showcase they deserve, right here on home soil. The incredible response to our new YouTube channel in just one week proves that the world is finally ready to listen. 2026 is going to be our biggest celebration of African sound yet, and we can’t wait to share it with fans both at the festival and around the globe.”
ULTRA South Africa Returns in April 2026
ULTRA South Africa returns for its 11th edition in April, bringing its signature mix of world-class production, cutting-edge sound and global and local talent.
The festival will take place in:
Johannesburg on Saturday, 25 April at the Expo Centre at Nasrec
Cape Town on Sunday, 26 April at The Ostrich
ULTRA South Africa continues to strengthen its position as one of the continent’s leading electronic music festivals while showcasing the global rise of African dance music.
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