Cape Town Saturday 14th November Sunday 22nd November 2026

Africa’s most dynamic cocktail and spirits festival AJABU, returns to Cape Town for it’s 6th edition, uniting some of the world’s finest bartenders with Africa’s most exciting bar talent to celebrate culture, community and the art of the cocktail.

Born from the Swahili word meaning miracle or something wondrous, AJABU continues to redefine Africa’s position on the global drinks stage — not just through its world-class events, but by building pathways for education, equity, and representation across the industry.

AJABU has become a festival that celebrates more than cocktails.

AJABU has evolved into a global movement that champions creativity, community, and connection. Each festival edition brings together leading local and international bars to collaborate on exclusive seminars, workshops, experiences and AJABU Mashups; unique one-night pop-ups designed to Celebrate the Art of the Cocktail through African ingredients, stories, and style.

Featuring 30+ world class bars, including:

• Anthm – Cape Town
• Bon Vivants – The Bahamas
• Batanga – Cape Town
• Fable – Cape Town
• Front Back – Accra
• Hero – Nairobi
• Hiball – Cape Town
• La Mamounia – Marrakesh
• Mama Koko – Baltimore
• Naked – Athens
• Nkula – Cape Town
• Satans Whiskers – London
• Sin + Tax – Johannesburg
• Smoking Kills – Johannesburg
• Stone and Soil – New York
• Talking to Strangers – Cape Town
• The Drinkery – Cape Town
• The House of Machines – Cape Town
• Trade Bar & Social – Cape Town
• Unclaimed – Cape Town

This November, AJABU is getting bigger and offering more.

Your AJABU Ticket and wristband gives you exclusive access to the following:

• A chance to win a 5 day trip to Goa – India for you and a friend in April with John Paul Whiskey. This will include flights, accommodation, and a distillery tour. (Full details on registration).

• A half price Porn Star Martini cocktail (R86) in over 30 bars for the duration of AJABU, as we celebrate the 25^th birthday of this global classic, born in Cape Town in 2001.

• Live music performances across the various venues

• Exclusive and educational cocktail and spirit Masterclasses

• Limited AJABU Cocktail Festival Luxury Cotton Tote bags with special goodies and Merch

• Seminars and Workshops during the festival week.

We will be celebrating collaboration and creativity, and a fusion of globally recognized local and international distillers, Spirit makers, and bartenders as they join forces to curate a series of inspired menus that showcase the very best of Africa’s bars, brands and cocktail culture.

Tickets & Registration:

Early Bird General Access Tickets ZAR100 for the first 500 registrations.

General Access ZAR150

Festival wristband includes entry to all participating bars and festival events from 15 – 22 November

(Tasting tables at the European Bar School on 14 November to be ticketed separately)

What to Expect:

• Watch Cape Town come alive once again with AJABU bar Pop ups: Where world-class bartenders collaborate with South Africa’s finest bars to create once-in-a-lifetime cocktail experiences.
• Across the city, you’ll find over 30 unique pop-ups, collaborations, and events, all celebrating African ingredients, creativity and hospitality.
• Explore Cape Town with your AJABU wristband for 6 nights from Tuesday 17th to Sunday 22 November.
• Sign up for free workshops, seminars, concerts, events and cocktail classes from Monday 16^th to Sunday 22^nd November.
• Celebrate the 25th Birthday of the Pornstar Martini by enjoying unique half-price twists on the iconic cocktail for R86 in each of the 30+ bars on any night during the festival.

What to do now:

• Purchase your AJABU festival ticket
• Follow our social media platforms for updates. @ajabufestival #ajbufestival; ajabufestival.com to learn more about the participating bars, bartenders and local/international brands.

Before the festival you will:

• Receive a confirmation email with a QR code.
• Arrive at the welcome desk at any time from 7 November
• Scan your QR code at the Welcome Desk to unlock access to all things AJABU

We look forward to sharing all the friendship, love and pleasure of AJABU with you this November – a true celebration of African excellence in cocktails and spirits

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AJABU