Kadoma Music Festival 2026
Not every memorable Zimbabwean holiday needs to involve Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park or the Eastern Highlands.
Sometimes, the perfect weekend escape comes wrapped in live music, local culture and the atmosphere of a city that is steadily reinventing itself.
On 10 October 2026, the Kadoma Music Festival returns to The Odyssey Kadoma, bringing together international superstars and Zimbabwe’s biggest musicians for what promises to be one of the country’s largest entertainment events of the year.
But for travellers, the festival is more than a concert.
It is an opportunity to discover one of Zimbabwe’s oldest mining cities, experience its growing hospitality industry and enjoy a road trip that combines music, culture and relaxation in one memorable weekend.
The festival has become one of Kadoma’s biggest tourism drawcards, attracting visitors from across Zimbabwe and the region.
Why Kadoma deserves a place on your travel list
Situated roughly halfway between Harare and Bulawayo, Kadoma has long been known for gold mining.
Today, however, the city is building another reputation—as one of Zimbabwe’s emerging entertainment destinations.
Its central location makes it an easy drive for visitors from Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Chegutu, Bulawayo and many other towns, making it one of the country’s most accessible festival destinations.
For thousands of music lovers, the annual journey has become a tradition.
Instead of travelling overseas for a festival experience, many Zimbabweans are choosing to spend a weekend in Kadoma, where music, hospitality and local business combine to create an atmosphere that continues to grow with every edition.
The Odyssey: More than just a concert venue
Every successful festival needs an iconic home.
For Kadoma Music Festival, that home is The Odyssey.
Over the past few years, the venue has established itself as one of Zimbabwe’s premier entertainment destinations outside Harare, regularly hosting major concerts, lifestyle events and international artists.
Its spacious grounds, convenient location along the Harare-Bulawayo highway and growing reputation for staging large productions have helped transform it into a destination in its own right.
Whether welcoming African music legends, Jamaican dancehall stars or Zimbabwe’s biggest performers, The Odyssey has become synonymous with high-quality live entertainment.
The Kadoma Music Festival remains its flagship annual event and continues to elevate both the venue and the city on Zimbabwe’s tourism map.
A lineup worth travelling for
Few Zimbabwean festivals can match the breadth of talent assembled for this year’s edition.
International visitors and local travellers alike will be treated to performances from Jamaican dancehall legend Beenie Man and Congolese music icon Awilo Longomba, two artists whose careers have entertained audiences across Africa and beyond.
Joining them are some of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated performers, including Alick Macheso, Winky D, Feli Nandi, Selmor Mtukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu, Chillmaster and one of the country’s hottest current stars, Jnr Spragga.
That combination means festival-goers can experience everything from dancehall and sungura to Afro-pop, dendera and contemporary urban sounds in a single day.
For music lovers, it is difficult to find another event in Zimbabwe this year offering such variety.
Why everyone is talking about Jnr Spragga
If one artist arrives in Kadoma carrying extraordinary momentum, it is Jnr Spragga.
The dancehall sensation has spent much of 2026 dominating Zimbabwe’s streaming charts, with hit after hit cementing his status as the country’s breakout star.
His latest smash, “Daka”, has helped place him firmly at the centre of Zimbabwe’s music conversation, while multiple songs have simultaneously occupied the Apple Music Zimbabwe charts.
That remarkable run has given him what many fans describe as a genuine “chokehold” on the local music industry.
His performance is expected to be one of the defining moments of the festival, attracting audiences eager to witness the artist behind Zimbabwe’s biggest dancehall success story of the year.
Turn the festival into a weekend escape
One of the biggest advantages of attending Kadoma Music Festival 2026 is that it naturally lends itself to a weekend getaway.
Rather than driving home immediately after the concert, visitors can spend time exploring the city, supporting local restaurants and enjoying Kadoma’s relaxed atmosphere.
Its location also makes it an excellent stopover for travellers continuing to destinations such as Matobo, Bulawayo or the Midlands.
The festival has increasingly encouraged domestic tourism by giving Zimbabweans another reason to discover a city many previously knew only as a place to pass through.
As visitor numbers have grown, local hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, fuel stations and retailers have all benefited from the increased economic activity generated by festival weekend.
Travel tips for festival-goers
If you’re planning to attend, a little preparation will make the experience even better.
Consider arriving in Kadoma early to avoid peak traffic on the Harare–Bulawayo highway and to give yourself time to settle in before the gates open.
Book accommodation well in advance, as rooms tend to fill quickly whenever major events are held at The Odyssey. Previous editions have driven high occupancy across the city.
Comfortable footwear is recommended, along with a light jacket for the cooler evening temperatures that are common in October.
If you’re travelling with friends, arranging shared transport can reduce costs while making the road trip part of the overall experience.
Tickets and where to buy them
Organisers have announced the following ticket categories:
- Ordinary: US$20
- VIP: US$50
- VVIP: US$200
Advance tickets are available from:
- Booties – Montagu and Eastgate (Harare)
- Booties – Kwekwe and Gweru
- Booties – Ascot (Bulawayo)
- Odyssey Mattresses – Newlands, Westgate and Kadoma
- Chegutu Pharmacy – Chegutu
Buying in advance is recommended, particularly for travellers planning accommodation and transport around the event.
Kadoma Music Festival 2026: A festival shaping Kadoma’s future
Across the world, cities increasingly use music festivals to strengthen tourism, support local businesses and redefine how they are perceived.
Kadoma is doing exactly that.
The city may have built its reputation on gold, but every October it shines for another reason.
The Kadoma Music Festival has become one of Zimbabwe’s most important regional events, drawing visitors who might otherwise never have considered spending a weekend in the city.
It demonstrates how culture and tourism can work together, creating economic opportunities while giving travellers new reasons to explore different parts of the country.
For anyone looking to combine a road trip with world-class live entertainment, Kadoma Music Festival 2026 offers exactly that—a chance to discover a welcoming city, experience one of Zimbabwe’s premier entertainment venues at The Odyssey, and enjoy a day where international stars and local legends share the same stage.
It is the kind of event that reminds travellers that some of Zimbabwe’s best experiences are found well beyond the country’s traditional tourist trail.