EZULWINI – MTN Bushfire Festival has unveiled its ticket offering for the 2027 edition, marking 20 years of the festival and 20 years of partnership with headline sponsor MTN Eswatini.
The announcement was made on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at the MTN Bushfire 2027 Official Tickets Media Launch held at MTN Eswatini Headquarters (Mahlalekhukhwini House) in Ezulwini.
Speaking at the launch, Bongani Dlamini, the Sales and Marketing Manager for the MTN Bushfire Festival thanked MTN for its continued support over the past two decades.
“It is also a big milestone for us, not just 20 years of MTN Bushfire, but it’s also 20 years of partnership with our headline sponsor MTN,” Dlamini said. “They have been with us for the past 20 years and we would like to say thank you MTN for the continued belief in this project.”
Dlamini also thanked long-time local partner Eswatini Beverages, which has been part of the festival since the early years, when the festival ran initiatives such as Friday Night, a platform to unearth local talent.
MoMo tickets at 14 per cent discount
For the 2027 edition, the festival will continue to offer discounted MoMo tickets for emaSwati. The discount is a minimum of 14 per cent off the normal ticket price.
“This is our way, as a festival in partnership with MTN, to ensure that emaSwati are still at the festival,” Dlamini said.
The MoMo tickets will go live on Friday, October 24 at 10am. Customers can purchase them through the MoMo marketplace on MoMo. Users are required to send “Hi” and follow the prompts to select their ticket and pay using their MoMo account.
To access the discounted tickets, customers must pre-register via a QR code or link shared by the festival. Pre-registration allows customers to purchase a MoMo ticket but does not guarantee it due to high demand.
“Last year we had over 5 000 people in the first hour of launching tickets,” further said Dlamini.
For customers buying online, tickets will also be available on the festival website, http://www.bush-fire.com. Once MoMo tickets are sold out, sales will move to Phase 1 tickets. The price progression is driven automatically by the number of tickets remaining.
As part of the online purchase, customers can add value items to their shopping basket, including accommodation options from camping to hotels, and the official MTN Bushfire exclusive T-shirt. Travel packages are also available through partners such as Intercape and Moza.
The festival offers two main ticket types: the Main Arena ticket and the Golden Lounge ticket. The Golden Lounge is an exclusive area within the festival that has seating, waiter service and VIP toilets. The Main Arena ticket gives access to all stages, including the main stage, amphitheatre, and the family-friendly KidZone. A family campsite is also available.
Children’s tickets are also available. The festival said it remains family-friendly, with a dedicated programme for children.
Free Y’ello combo and Wi-Fi
As part of the 20th anniversary, every ticket purchased will come with a free Y’ello combo and free Wi-Fi access at the festival, in partnership with MTN.
Dlamini mentioned that for international visitors, every ticket will include an eSIM connected to the MTN network. The eSIM will come with data, allowing visitors to stay connected from the border or airport to the festival grounds without queuing for SIM cards.
Dlamini said a portion of every ticket sold goes to the festival’s beneficiaries, Young Heroes and Gone Rural boMake. Young Heroes supports vulnerable children, particularly in the Shiselweni region. To date, the festival has donated E7.7 million to the organisation. Since 2010, the festival has donated E2.7 million to Gone Rural, which supports rural women through craft and skills development.
Connectivity is more than a signal
Speaking at the same event, MTN Eswatini CEO Jerry Soko said the partnership is built on a shared belief in connectivity, culture and community.
“For us, this partnership, this initiative, this sponsorship, this asset, not only is it prized for the country but it is prized certainly for Eswatini and MTN for that matter,” he said.
He said MTN Bushfire has grown from a local Eswatini festival to one of the world’s leading festivals, taking the country global.
“Every year Bushfire reminds us that when people connect with music, art and shared experiences, something powerful happens,” he said.
The CEO said the introduction of free Y’ello combos, free Wi-Fi and free eSIMs with data shows the promise of MTN’s “One SIM, endless possibilities” campaign.
“Connectivity is more than just the signal. It is about the connection that enables sharing memories, discovering new experiences and bringing people together,” he said.
He added that the partnership goes beyond entertainment to support digital inclusion, community development and sustainability.
