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Member News| Fête de la Musique strengthens French–South African partnerships through music
The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) has successfully concluded the 2026 edition of Fête de la Musique, reaffirming the festival's role as one of the country's longest-running examples of French-South African cultural cooperation.
Presented across three cities, the festival began in Cape Town on 29 March as part of Bree Street Sundays, continued to the Alliance Française of Pretoria on 13 June, and concluded with its flagship 15th Johannesburg edition at Victoria Yards on 20 June. Together, the three events brought free live music to thousands of audience members while showcasing established and emerging Southern African artists.
Originally created in France in 1982, Fête de la Musique has grown into a global celebration of accessible live music, taking place in more than 100 countries. In South Africa, IFAS has developed the festival into a platform that extends beyond performance, supporting artistic mobility, professional development and collaboration within the music sector.
The Johannesburg edition featured headliners Zoë Modiga, The Brother Moves On, and lordkez alongside a diverse line-up selected from more than 300 applications by a jury of South African and international music professionals. Artists also participated in a professional development program, equipping emerging artists with practical skills and opportunities to connect with music industry professionals.
The success of Fête de la Musique relies on long-term partnerships between the public, private, and cultural sectors. Organized by IFAS and co-produced with Bassline, the festival was made possible through the support of TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa and a broad network of partners, including the Alliance Française of Cape Town, the Alliance Française of Pretoria, the City of Cape Town, Young Urbanists through Street Experiments SA, Bridges for Music, Mission for Inner City Cape Town, Jazz in the City, TEDxJohannesburg, and Victoria Yards.
Over the years, Fête de la Musique has demonstrated how cultural cooperation can create opportunities for artists, strengthen international partnerships, and contribute to South Africa's creative economy while making high-quality live music freely accessible to the public.
As a member of FSACCI, the French Institute of South Africa welcomes opportunities to collaborate with businesses that recognize the value of culture and the creative industries in building stronger international connections. Members interested in exploring future partnerships, events, or creative initiatives are encouraged to contact the IFAS team at culture(@)frenchinstitute.org.za.
Disclaimer:
This article is an external contribution and was not produced by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI). The views, opinions, and statements expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of FSACCI.
