Galpalooza, the annual music, arts and lifestyle festival dedicated to celebrating women, is expanding in a big way for 2026. The festival’s fourth edition will be it’s biggest yet, as it simultaneously takes over nine venues across South Africa as part of its ambitious “Nationwide Takeover” this National Women’s Day (August 9th).
Since its inception in 2023, Galpalooza has built a reputation as a festival that centres female creatives while remaining open to audiences of all ages. Alongside a programme of female-fronted live performances, this year’s edition will once again feature meditation and yoga sessions, art exhibitions, fashion showcases, wellness experiences, drumming circles, market stalls and more, continuing its mission of creating an inclusive space that celebrates women’s creativity across multiple disciplines.
The nationwide expansion marks a significant evolution for the festival, transforming what has traditionally been a destination event into a coordinated celebration taking place across the country. By activating nine venues on the same day, Galpalooza hopes to open up access to its community-driven ethos to audiences nationwide while creating one of South Africa’s largest Women’s Day cultural celebrations.
Smaller, more intimate venues like Bev’s Burgers in Johannesburg will be free to enter, while larger scale venues like Daisy Jones in Stellenbosch and Railways Cafe in Irene are ticketed. Each participating venue offers a unique lineup of artists and an experience tailored to the location. In Secunda, the festival takes place at the Umuzi Theatre for a ‘Dinner and a Show’ offering, while in Edenvale and Pretoria, they takeover stages at popular open air markets.
Festival updates and additional details are available via the Galpalooza website as organisers prepare for what promises to be the festival’s most ambitious endevour to date.
