Bulawayo has always had musicians who can hold their own on stage however creating regular spaces for live music remains important for the city’s artists and audiences.

This month of October, jazz takes its turn when the Zimbabwe Jazz Festival opens its 2026 programme in Bulawayo before moving to Harare the following day.
The Bulawayo edition will be held on Friday, 16 October at the Alliance Française de Bulawayo gardens on Heyman Road, running from 6pm to 10pm.

The night brings together four musicians with different sounds and backgrounds Hudson Simbarashe, Nicholar, Joshua Nemaire, also known as Josh Nemaire, and Bulawayo’s own award winning legend Jeys Marabini.

Hudson Simbarashe will open the programme with his guitar-led sound, followed by Nicholar will then bring her Afro-soul sound to the stage, giving the evening a different feel.
Joshua Nemaire will be the third artist to grace the stage,while Jeys Marabini will close the night with the Afro-jazz and Imbube sounds that have become part of his musical identity.

Having the festival start in Bulawayo is also significant for the local music scene. The city has a long history of producing musicians across different genres, and events such as this create another space for artists to perform while audiences experience live music away from the usual entertainment spots.

The festival is being organised by the Zimbabwe Jazz Community Trust and Alliance Française, with support from partners including the French Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland, British Council, CFAO and TotalEnergies.