The countdown to ULTRA South Africa 2026 officially just shifted into a higher gear. As the country prepares for the return of the world’s premier electronic music festival on April 25 and 26, MXD has stepped in as the official partner for a high-stakes national search to find the emerging talent ready to graduate from local club residencies to the festival spotlight.
The MXD DJ Search isn’t just a competition; it’s a career-defining bridge for the artists who keep South Africa’s groove life alive and have honed their craft behind the decks night after night. To find the right fit, MXD has assembled a heavyweight panel of judges led by Grammy-nominee and SAMA-winner Mörda, alongside deep house extraordinaire Dwson, and YFM’s Hype Factory. Together, they’re searching for DJs with true resident DJ DNA - the ability to read a room, control the energy of a crowd, and hold a floor for hours on end.
“Being a resident DJ is one of the toughest roles in the game,” says Mörda. “You have to adapt in real-time and keep people locked in for hours. I’m looking for the DJs who truly understand that craft - the ones who can control a floor and make it their own.”
The search serves as a headline feature of the Official ULTRA South Africa Countdown, an expansive 24-stop tour hitting the hottest spots across Southern Africa. While the tour kicks off in Nairobi on March 14, the search for the winner will ignite during live regional heats in Pretoria at Europa (March 20), Cape Town at Club Paradise (March 27), and Durban at Harry James (April 1). Attendees to the events will be able to vote for their favourite DJs on the night and stand to win tickets to Ultra in Cape Town on April 25 and Johannesburg on April 26.
Two standouts from each hub will form a national Top 6, representing the best resident DJ talent in the country, followed by a public vote to shortlist the top 3 and a performance before the judges in the finale.
The stakes are unprecedented for an emerging artist. The winner will secure a performance slot at ULTRA South Africa 2026 on the Confessions Stage, a year-long MXD Ambassadorship, professional mentorship from Bridges For Music, and guest mix sets on both 5FM and YFM.
“South Africa’s club scene is filled with DJs who have put in the hours and mastered their sound but haven’t yet had the platform to break through,” says Candice van den Bosch, Brand Director at MXD. “This search is about recognizing that dedication and giving it the stage it deserves.”
HOW TO ENTE
This competition is open to DJs across South Africa with experience as resident DJs — the artists who can read a room, build a journey, and control a floor from start to finish. Aspiring resident DJs must submit a 15-minute showcase mix via MXDofficial.co.za by March 15, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to become the next breakout resident DJ on the national stage!
Anticipation is building across the continent as the team behind Ultra South Africa rolls out an extensive pre-party and countdown tour ahead of the festival’s 2026 edition. The multi-city activation will bring a wave of club events, DJ showcases and nightlife takeovers to several African destinations throughout March and April.
The tour forms part of the lead-up to the 2026 edition of Ultra South Africa, which returns later in April with major festival stops in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Kicking off on 14 March in Nairobi, the opening event will take place at the World Safari Rally WRC Village before the tour travels through Southern Africa with stops across major nightlife hubs including Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Durban, Maputo and East London.
Several events on the circuit will also feature the MXD DJ Search, offering emerging DJs the opportunity to perform as part of the festival’s wider build-up and potentially secure a slot during the Ultra South Africa weekend.
Additional countdown stops will take place in Soweto, Gqeberha and Ballito, alongside a packed calendar of nightlife activations across Johannesburg and Cape Town throughout early April.
The final run of events will unfold between 16 and 18 April, marking the closing stretch of the tour before fans converge for the main festival weekend.
- 14 March — Nairobi — World Safari Rally WRC Village
- 20 March — Pretoria — Europa (MXD DJ Search)
- 21 March — Potchefstroom — Impala
- 26 March — Johannesburg — Lock, Stock & Beer
- 27 March — Cape Town — Club Paradise (MXD DJ Search)
- 28 March — Maputo — Cocobeach
- 28 March — East London — Yoso
- 28 March — Durban — CRCL
April
- 01 April — Pretoria — N-Joy
- 01 April — Durban — Harry James (MXD DJ Search)
- 02 April — Cape Town — Club 101
- 03 April — Soweto — Kofifi
- 03 April — Gqeberha — Elements
- 04 April — Johannesburg — Malbroer
- 04 April — Ballito — Conchilla
- 09 April — Johannesburg — Greenhouse
- 10 April — Cape Town — Biblio
- 11 April — Johannesburg — Bad Manors
- 16 April — Johannesburg — The Naked Wolf (MXD DJ Search)
- 16 April — Cape Town — Rita’s
- 16 April — Johannesburg — Rita’s
- 17 April — Johannesburg — Smoking Kills
- 18 April — Cape Town — Halo
- 18 April — Johannesburg — The Wild Side
Ultra South Africa Festival
- 25 April 2026 — Johannesburg — Expo Centre, Nasrec
- 26 April 2026 — Cape Town — The Ostrich