Boys from Michaelhouse School during a marimba performance
More than 2 300 young musicians from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Lesotho will converge on St Dominic's Catholic School for Girls in Johannesburg for the 2026 Education Africa International Marimba & Steelpan Festival, recognised as the largest event of its kind in the world.
The three-day festival, taking place from July 24 to 26, will bring together learners, educators and professional musicians for performances, competitions, workshops and collaborative learning experiences celebrating music, cultural diversity and youth development.
Participants will represent schools and community organisations from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape, alongside international groups from neighbouring African countries.
KwaZulu-Natal schools taking part include Westville Senior Primary School, Northwood High School, Michaelhouse, Hillcrest College, Durban Girls' College and Curro Hillcrest High School.
