Commemorating 50 Years of Youth Activism & Creative Freedom
25–27 June 2026
CONSTITUTION HILL
Commemorating 50 Years of Youth Activism & Creative Freedom
Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival returns to Constitution Hill for a landmark edition honouring 50 years of youth activism and creative freedom.
Across four days, the festival brings together music, film, poetry, public art, dialogue, masterclasses, market culture and creative enterprise — carrying the spirit of 1976 into the creative future of South Africa.
This is not just a festival.
It is a creative uprising.
It is a platform for youth expression.
It is a space to imagine freedom forward.
It’s Not Just a Festival. It’s a Movement.
This is your platform. This is your playground. This is Basha Uhuru.
CREATIVE WEEK
24–26 June 2026
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Where We Come From, Where We Stand
A closed youth leadership session exploring constitutional literacy, civic action and how young people can shape South Africa’s next 30 years.
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Youth Summit + Film Festival
Day two moves from civic action into local film, with youth-focused dialogue during the day and films exploring memory, identity, protest and freedom in the evening.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Creative Week Showcase.
A full Creative Week programme of talks, workshops, music industry sessions, theatre and poetry exploring freedom, creativity and South Africa’s future.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Sounds of Freedom Music Festival
A full-day music celebration with live performances, DJs, food, fashion, local makers, public art and festival energy at People’s Park.
Creative Conference
A gathering of young creatives, activists, cultural workers and entrepreneurs for talks, workshops, masterclasses and conversations that ask what freedom means in 2026 and how the next generation can shape South Africa’s future.
Art Exhibition
A public art and creative legacy programme, with the 2026 edition honouring Maria McCloy through a new mural by Lazi Mathebula at Constitution Hill.
Visions of Freedom Film Festival
A showcase of local filmmakers using documentary, fiction and animation to explore identity, protest, memory, womanhood, queer freedom and the unfinished work of liberation.
Curated Market
A platform for local makers, food vendors, fashion labels, designers and creative entrepreneurs to connect with festival audiences and showcase South African creativity in action.
Sounds of Freedom Music Festival
A full-day celebration of music, movement and creative freedom, bringing together iconic performers, new-wave talent, local culture, food, fashion and the Curated Market.
