Sun-El Musician, Dlala Thukzin to headline Red Bull Symphonic 2026 in Joburg

The concert, titled Afro House, Our Home, will take place on 13 June at Montecasino in Johannesburg. The performance will feature the artists’ catalogues reworked with a full symphonic orchestra conducted by Chad Hendricks.

Organisers said the 2026 edition will focus on the influence of South African house music and its role in shaping genres such as kwaito, gqom, amapiano and the emerging 3-Step sound.

Sun-El Musician, whose debut album Africa to the World reached Apple Music’s Top 200 Electronic Albums chart globally, is known for tracks including ‘Akanamali’ and ‘Ubomi Abumanga’. The latter spent seven weeks at number one on South African radio airplay charts.

Speaking about the event, he said: “I’m happy to be part of this year’s Red Bull Symphonic. It’s always special to be in spaces that truly celebrate the music. It feels like the right space for where I am right now and I’m looking forward to sharing something real for the people to feel.”

Dlala Thukzin, who emerged from Durban’s gqom scene, has collaborated with artists including Babes Wodumo and DJ Tira. His tracks ‘Phuze Remix’ and ‘iPlan’ achieved gold certification, while his streaming figures have contributed to his profile as a live performer.

“It’s very inspiring to be a part of this year’s Red Bull Symphonic,” Thukzin said. “Sun El and I have created beautiful music respectively and coming together to produce this show is quite exciting. We aim to put up a great show for everyone.”

The orchestral arrangements will be led by Chad Hendricks, who serves as resident conductor of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and music director of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

“Red Bull Symphonic brings together musical worlds that I simultaneously live in,” Hendricks said. “I can’t wait to create something that is uniquely and proudly South African.”

The event continues the Red Bull Symphonic series, which combines contemporary music with orchestral performance formats.