Milk and Cookies Festival Returns Bigger, Louder And More Confident In Joburg

A confident return to the Joburg calendar

Johannesburg’s summer party season found its closing statement on Saturday, 10 January 2026, as Milk and Cookies delivered its second annual Music Fest. This year’s edition felt less like a follow-up and more like a clear declaration that the festival is settling into its place on the city’s cultural calendar.

After bringing international attention to Joburg with Kaytranada in 2025, the team returned with a bigger vision. More artists, more stages, a new venue and an entire week of curated experiences showed a brand that had taken notes and come back sharper.

Building momentum with music week

The festival did not begin at the gates of the concert venue. It started days earlier with Milk and Cookies Music Week, which ran from 7 January and leaned into education, access and community.

The Dot Connector Panel opened proceedings, bringing together event co-founders, music executives and familiar industry faces to speak about navigating creative careers. For many young creatives in Joburg, it felt like a rare opportunity to hear honest conversations about the business behind the culture.

A Rap Live Masterclass series followed, alongside internship opportunities supported by EMPIRE Africa and MCMW Global, reinforcing the festival’s effort to create pathways rather than just moments. The week also included an Out The Oven merch pop-up that blended fashion and music culture seamlessly.

A festival that remembers its community

One of the strongest elements of the week was its community focus. On 8 January, the team hosted a celebration at the Lion of Judah ministry, bringing games, music and creative activities directly to local youth.

Rather than treating community outreach as an add-on, Milk and Cookies framed it as part of the festival’s identity. It was a reminder that Joburg’s music culture is rooted in shared spaces and collective energy, not just headline acts.

The following morning saw an unexpected but welcome crossover between music and wellness. A 5km run with festival headliner Gunna and his Wunna Run Club turned fitness into a social experience, with fans jogging alongside the artist through the city.

A venue upgrade that made a difference

Saturday’s main event marked a noticeable step forward. Moving from Huddle Park to the Johannesburg Expo Centre at Nasrec proved to be a smart decision. The space allowed the festival to expand comfortably, introducing a Golden Circle, VIP and VVIP areas, a media section, two main performance stages and the EXTREME mini club experience.

The layout gave concertgoers options. You could chase live performances, settle into a lounge area or dance uninterrupted in the EXTREME section, which ran club-style music throughout the night.

Performances that delivered across stages

The multi-stage setup paid off. The Move Mzansi Stage powered by Extreme became a home for local DJ excellence, with Baby Whitz, Omagoqa and Lelowhatsgood keeping energy levels high.

On the Main Stage, South African hip hop took centre stage. A-Reece led passionate word-for-word singalongs, while DJ Speedsta delivered crowd favourites with surprise appearances from 25K and Frank Casino.

International acts drew massive anticipation. British singer Elmiene made his South African debut with a smooth, soulful set that connected instantly. Canadian duo Majid Jordan followed with an emotional performance, clearly taken aback by the reception they received.

Gunna closed the night, with fans roaring every lyric back at him, wrapping the festival on a high.

Sound quality remained crisp throughout the evening, and the visual production added polish without overpowering the performances.

Food, facilities and the fine print

Food options were plentiful and familiar, with General Access guests enjoying everything from Spur and Braai Box to Pronto Pizza, Mugg n Bean and Dancing Doughnut. VIP and VVIP ticket holders benefited from additional vendors and the option to order hubbly within their sections.

The cashless system worked efficiently for most, although network issues caused payment delays for some attendees. Toilets were well managed, regularly cleaned and restocked, which made a noticeable difference in comfort levels.

Wayfinding inside the venue was less intuitive. While entrance signage was clear, navigating deeper into the grounds became trickier. Parking was abundant, but exiting the venue took up to two hours for some, slightly dulling the afterglow of an otherwise strong night.

A festival growing into its identity

Milk and Cookies 2026 felt assured. It balanced global appeal with local relevance, spectacle with substance, and celebration with intention. More importantly, it showed growth without losing the spirit that made its debut memorable.

As Joburg continues to evolve as a live music destination, festivals like this play a crucial role in shaping how the city experiences culture at scale. Milk and Cookies did not just end the festive season. It set expectations for what comes next.

{Source:What’s on in Joburg}

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