Groove Biennale III to close with Joburg alternative culture showcase

Presented by DORMANTYOUTH and supported by Jägermeister’s Night Embassy, the bi-annual architecture and music festival focuses on alternative music, design, identity and creative communities in Johannesburg.

The closing programme follows four days of public programming held during the festival’s April residency. It will explore themes including queering, worldbuilding and placemaking, while bringing together local and international club sounds.

The programme will feature genres including gqom, ballroom, Jersey and Baltimore Club, house, techno, Chicago Footwork and electronica.

Groove Biennale also places emphasis on communities that have historically had limited access to opportunities within the creative sector, including queer and Ballroom communities and emerging creatives.

The October programme will include a collaboration with Johannesburg’s queer Ballroom community through VNJ Ball, which will co-curate the musical programme following its earlier collaboration with the festival on the Sci-Fi Ball.

The event will also feature Post Eco (Sound) System, an installation presented by DORMANTYOUTH, DY and BUJIN, extending the programme beyond music and the dancefloor.

The festival’s partnership with Jägermeister’s Night Embassy also includes paid opportunities for young creatives from historically underrepresented communities to work in event production and staging.

Ephraim Manana, Senior Culture & Experiential Marketing Manager at Jägermeister South Africa, said the initiative was intended to improve access to opportunities within the nightlife and cultural sectors.

“For us, inclusivity is about creating meaningful access and ensuring that the future of nightlife and culture is shaped by a diversity of voices, perspectives and lived experiences. South Africa’s history means that access to creative opportunities has not always been equal, and through the Night Embassy, we want to play an intentional role in opening doors for emerging creatives from historically underrepresented communities.

“It’s not only about who is on the stage or on the dancefloor, but who is behind the scenes creating, producing and ultimately shaping the culture.”

The final Groove Biennale III programme will take place on 8 October as the festival concludes its 2026 edition.