JOHANNESBURG, 5 OCTOBER 2026 — WAV Festival is turning up the volume for 2027, expanding beyond its Cape Town home to bring its distinctive celebration of contemporary R&B to two South African cities in one weekend.
Founded by Africa Creative Agency (ACA), the festival will return to Cape Town on Saturday, 2 January 2027, before making its highly anticipated Pretoria debut at SunBet Arena on Sunday, 3 January 2027.
Leading the charge will be two international R&B heavyweights with distinctly different sounds and perspectives: Ty Dolla $ign and British R&B breakout KWN.
Their pairing signals WAV’s ambition to celebrate the evolution of R&B while connecting the genre’s global influence with Africa’s increasingly prominent creative voice.
Ty Dolla $ign and KWN lead the charge
With a career spanning R&B, hip-hop and pop, Ty Dolla $ign has built a reputation as one of contemporary music’s most recognisable collaborators and performers.
Known for his distinctive vocals and genre-fluid approach, the American star has worked with some of the biggest names in global music, establishing a catalogue that continues to blur the boundaries between R&B and mainstream pop and hip-hop.
Joining him is KWN, the British R&B artist whose emotionally driven music and individual style have positioned her among the UK’s emerging voices to watch.
Together, the two artists represent different generations and interpretations of modern R&B — providing the perfect soundtrack for a festival built around the genre’s past, present and future.
From Cape Town to Pretoria
WAV made its debut in Cape Town in 2026, establishing itself as a destination for audiences seeking a contemporary R&B experience rooted in culture, style and connection.
Its expansion into Pretoria marks a significant step for the festival, allowing audiences in another major South African city to experience the event while creating a weekend-long celebration across two destinations.
ACA CEO Colin Gayle said the expansion reflects the festival’s growing ambitions.
“We’re excited to take WAV to the next level in 2027,” says Gayle.
“Cape Town gave us the perfect beginning, and expanding to Pretoria allows us to bring the WAV experience to even more R&B fans across South Africa.”
He said the headline pairing of Ty Dolla $ign and KWN speaks directly to the direction of the genre.
“Having Ty Dolla $ign and KWN lead the line-up is a strong reflection of where contemporary R&B is today, and the role Africa continues to play in shaping its future.”
More than music
While music remains at its core, WAV is positioning itself as a broader cultural experience at the intersection of music, fashion, culture and connection.
The festival aims to create a space where international sounds meet African creativity and where audiences can experience R&B through the lens of the cities and communities in which the festival takes place.
That approach has also attracted a partnership with Bernini, which joins WAV as its official cider, beer and RTD partner.
The collaboration will include the Bernini Golden Circle, adding another premium social experience to the festival environment across both cities.
Tickets go on sale this week
Fans eager to secure their place at WAV 2027 will be able to purchase tickets from 6 October 2026, with pre-sale registration already available.
The Cape Town edition will take place on Saturday, 2 January 2027, with tickets available through Howler.
The Pretoria edition follows one day later at SunBet Arena on Sunday, 3 January 2027, with tickets available through Webtickets.
With two cities, two major international headliners and a festival concept built around the evolving sound and culture of R&B, WAV 2027 is shaping up to be one of the first major entertainment highlights of the new year.
Cape Town gets the opening wave. Pretoria gets the next one. And WAV Festival is bringing R&B along for the ride.
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