Johannesburg has never been shy about a big night out, but early February is lining up to feel especially cinematic. Just a week before Valentine’s Day, the BollyRave Festival lands in the city with its Shaadi.com Edition, turning Sandton into a late-night celebration of music, colour, and connection.
Set to take over Maracanã on Friday night, 6 February 2026, the festival runs from 6pm until the early hours of Saturday morning. It is strictly for over-18s and promises a full-scale Bollywood rave experience rather than a typical club night.
BollyRave has built a reputation for blending high-energy Bollywood music with the pace and polish of festival production. Think big sound, packed dance floors, and a crowd that comes dressed to be seen. For Joburg’s Indian community and for anyone who loves Bollywood culture, it has become one of those events that feels both familiar and fresh.
The Shaadi.com Edition leans into that sense of playful destiny. Instead of swiping left or right, guests are encouraged to wear their relationship status in colour. Green or black signals you are single. Red or pink means taken. Blue or white says it is complicated. It is lighthearted, slightly chaotic, and very on brand for a city that loves themed nights done properly.
Timing matters here. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the festival taps into that mix of excitement and dread that early February brings. Some people arrive loved up. Others come with friends and zero expectations. The colour-coded idea gives everyone an easy icebreaker without forcing anything too serious.
Online, the reaction has been enthusiastic, especially among younger Joburg partygoers who see it as a chance to meet people in real life again rather than through dating apps. The Shaadi.com partnership adds a wink to the concept rather than turning it into a hard sell.
General access tickets start at R100 for early birds and move through phases up to R250. For groups who want a more comfortable base, VIP tables range from four-seaters to ten-seaters, with private Corona huts available for larger crews. Parking at Maracanã is free and inside the venue, which is always a win for Sandton events.
Music is front and centre. Expect Bollywood anthems, dancefloor favourites and festival-grade sound designed to keep energy high well past midnight. The organisers have positioned this as the first big party moment of 2026, and judging by early buzz, it is shaping up to be exactly that.
Johannesburg thrives on events that blend cultures rather than keep them siloed. BollyRave fits neatly into that rhythm. It is unapologetically Bollywood but open to anyone who wants to dance, dress up, and lean into something a little different.
In a city that loves a theme and a late night, the Shaadi.com Edition feels less like a gimmick and more like a reflection of how Joburg social life actually works. Loud, colourful, social, and always just a bit chaotic.
For those looking to start the year with something memorable, this might be the night that sets the tone.
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