al to bring R&B heat to
Seen Here: 🎶🔥 Sandton is about to go WAV! Get ready for WAV AFTER DARK — where R&B, hip-hop, Afro House and amapiano energy converge for the ultimate after-party experience following the Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards! 🌊🎧 Photo Credit: Sourced
JOHANNESBURG, 14 October 2026 — South Africa’s biggest celebration of digital creativity is set to transition from the red carpet to the dance floor, with WAV Festival confirmed as the official after-party host for the Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards on Saturday, 17 October.
Taking place at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, the awards will celebrate the creators shaping the country’s digital entertainment landscape before WAV AFTER DARK delivers a night of R&B, hip-hop and Afro-inspired sounds.
With a line-up of DJs bringing distinct musical styles to the decks, the after-party promises to unite creators, music lovers, brands and culture-shapers for an evening celebrating the intersection of music, creativity and contemporary South African culture.
The after-party begins at 22:00, at the same venue as the awards ceremony. There are no separate after-party tickets; guests must hold a valid awards ticket to attend.
A DJ line-up built for the dance floor
WAV AFTER DARK will feature five DJs, each bringing a different sound and energy to the celebration.
Internationally recognised DJ Teddy Tumi will move between hip-hop, R&B and house, while Count Lupa is set to bring high-energy Afro House and Afro Tech to the floor.
DJ Radix will deliver his signature blend of hip-hop, Afrobeats, dancehall, R&B and Kwaito, creating a genre-crossing sound designed to keep the crowd moving.
Rising R&B selector DJ Ethan will also join the line-up, alongside DJ Venom, whose experience across radio and club environments has established his presence in hip-hop and R&B.
Together, the DJs will bring a diverse musical offering to an event designed to keep the celebration going long after the final award is announced.
Bernini joins the celebration
Bernini has been confirmed as an official sponsor of the after-party, joining the brands supporting this year’s Content Creator Awards.
The partnership adds to the event’s broader celebration of South Africa’s creative community, bringing together entertainment, lifestyle and brand experiences under one roof.
For WAV Festival, hosting the after-party is an opportunity to celebrate the relationship between music, digital creativity and the cultural movements shaping entertainment today.
A night celebrating South Africa’s creative talent
Before the after-party takes over, the Content Creator Awards will deliver a programme featuring 20 awards, live performances and appearances by presenters from across the entertainment industry.
Comedian Mpho “Popps” Modikoane will host the ceremony, which will recognise creators and cultural contributors across the awards’ categories.
Music will be a key feature of the evening, with the six nominees in the 947 Sound of Tomorrow category — Chesrae Megan, Carter Najar, Lordkez, Lukiemusic, Mikhalé Jones and Teagan’s Things — scheduled to perform an eight-minute musical medley.
Dance nominees Chad Jones, Benny Jnr, Ludopie, Rudi Smit and TDO Thando will also collaborate on a live performance choreographed by nominee Benny Jnr.
With a line-up of presenters and additional celebrity appearances expected, the awards will showcase the breadth of talent influencing South Africa’s digital, music and entertainment industries.
The ceremony doors open at 17:30, with the show starting at 20:00.
Tickets and event details
The Samsung Galaxy Content Creator Awards take place on Saturday, 17 October 2026, at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Tickets are available through Quicket.
The event is strictly for guests aged 18 and over, with a dress code of red-carpet-ready glamour.
Organisers have brought together a range of partners and sponsors, including Samsung, BYD, Cars.co.za, Telkom, YouTube, 947, eVOD, LIFT, One-eyed Jack, The Creator Club, Ray-Ban, Africa Creative Agency for WAV Festival and Humanz.
More information is available on the Content Creator Awards website.
WAV Festival takes its sound to Cape Town and Pretoria
The after-party also builds anticipation for WAV Festival’s upcoming events, with the festival returning to Cape Town on 2 January 2027 before making its Pretoria debut at SunBet Arena on 3 January 2027.
The upcoming festival dates are set to feature Ty Dolla $ign and KWN as headline acts, extending WAV’s celebration of contemporary R&B and global music culture into the new year.
From recognising the creators shaping South Africa’s digital landscape to bringing music fans together on the dance floor, the partnership between the awards and WAV Festival highlights the growing connection between content creation, music and lifestyle experiences.
When the awards are handed out and the cameras turn away from the stage, WAV AFTER DARK will take over — transforming a celebration of creativity into a night of music, movement and culture.
