Once a vibrant hub for South African youth culture, music, fashion and art, CottonFest now bows out. Picture Credits: Riky Rick (Instagram)
By Duncan Mnisi
South Africa – After seven years of delivering some of South Africa’s most culturally charged music, fashion and lifestyle events, CottonFest has officially announced its closure under the current organisational framework.
The decision, outlined in a statement released this week, follows irreconcilable differences among shareholders, with organisers citing a divergence in creative vision that made it impossible to continue the festival “in a manner that upholds the standards and vision set out by its sole founder.”
Launched in 2019 by the late musician and cultural pioneer Riky Rick (Rikhado Makhado), CottonFest quickly became a defining fixture in Johannesburg’s youth culture, later expanding to Cape Town and Durban. Over time, it evolved into a movement that combined music, fashion, art, streetwear, sport and lifestyle — reflecting Riky’s original vision.
The festival’s course shifted after Riky Rick’s passing in 2022. Despite the loss, the organising team — led by his partner Bianca Naidoo and the Makhado family — committed to maintaining and expanding the brand. In 2025, they introduced the CottonFest Creative Programme, which provided bursaries for art students through partnerships with institutions including PUMA, and created a collaborative space for young creatives across multiple disciplines.
“We wanted to do much more for the culture as a whole, and offer support within the community,” Naidoo said at the time.
However, internal disagreements over the festival’s direction ultimately became untenable. According to the statement, “differences among the current shareholders … following the initial announcement of the 2026 festival … made it clear that concluding this chapter is the most realistic path forward.”
Speaking on behalf of the team, Naidoo expressed both pride and disappointment.
“CottonFest has always been rooted in creativity, community and cultural celebration, focused on creating a platform for the youth to shine. While we remain extremely proud of what the festival has achieved … the differences in the festival’s vision and purpose among the two parties … made it clear … that concluding this chapter is the most realistic path forward,” she said.
As a result, ticket holders for the planned 2026 edition will receive refunds via Webtickets.
Although the festival itself is ending, organisers emphasised that the movement will continue. The CottonFest Creative Programme will remain active, with plans to build new platforms that support youth creativity.
“We remain optimistic about future plans, with deeper support for creative expression in new and meaningful ways for the youth to be celebrated,” the statement concluded.
