News and events

Rocking the Daisies 2026 has been cancelled

The organisers have called off this year's festival, promised automatic refunds, and said they will replace it with a one-day show in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Updated 24 July 2026

What happened

Rocking the Daisies has been a fixture of the South African spring calendar for two decades, drawing large crowds to the farm fields of Cloof Wine Estate near Darling, about 90 minutes north of Cape Town. The 2026 edition had been set for early October, with UK singer Jorja Smith announced as the first headliner.

On 24 July 2026 the organisers announced that the festival would not go ahead this year. In their words, "despite multiple attempts to find solutions, a number of unforeseen circumstances beyond our control have made it impossible for Rocking the Daisies to proceed in 2026." They did not give further detail on the specific reasons.

Refunds: what ticket holders need to do

A few sensible checks while you wait:

• Refunds go back to the card or account you paid with, so watch that account rather than expecting a separate message.
• If nothing has arrived after three business days, contact the ticketing provider you bought from, not your bank first.
• Keep your original booking confirmation until the refund clears, in case you need a reference number.

The replacement: a one-day In The City show

The festival will not simply disappear from the calendar. The organisers say they will announce an alternative one-day show through their In The City platform, running in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, with a line-up of international and local acts. Dates, venues and the full bill had not been confirmed at the time of writing.

If you were counting on a live music weekend this spring, this is the event to watch for. Details will appear on the official Rocking the Daisies and In The City channels.

Were you planning a trip around the festival?

Plenty of visitors build a Cape Town and West Coast holiday around Daisies. If that was you, the festival itself is off, but the region is not going anywhere.

• Cancel or move any refundable camping, car hire and accommodation you booked specifically for the festival weekend.
• Early October is still a good time to visit: the spring flowers on the West Coast, Darling itself, and Cape Town's beaches and mountains are all at their best.
• Keep an eye on the In The City announcement before you rebook flights, in case the one-day show lands on a weekend that suits you.

Sources

• Rocking the Daisies official website, where the cancellation notice and refund information are posted.
• South African news coverage of the announcement, including News24 and The Citizen.

Treat the organisers' own channels as the final word on refunds and on the replacement show. Details can change after this article was written.