A century of African music. One iconic stage. One unforgettable celebration.
Cape Town, South Africa – In 2026, Gallo Record Company celebrates 100 years of shaping, preserving and championing the sound of African music – a remarkable century that has seen the company become an integral part of the soundtrack of generations.
To mark this extraordinary milestone, Gallo will bring Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century to Cape Town on 15 December 2026, transforming the city’s Grand Parade into a spectacular celebration of music, memory, culture and legacy.
Leading this once-in-a-century celebration will be one of Africa’s most globally recognised musical exports, Black Coffee, who has been announced as the festival’s headline act.
And this is just the beginning. Additional artists and the full artist line-up will be announced in the coming weeks, promising a landmark gathering that brings together some of the most celebrated voices and sounds connected to Africa’s rich musical heritage and its ever-evolving future.
More than a concert, Gallo 100 is a celebration of where African music has been, where it is today and where it is going. Conceived as a living archive, a dancefloor and a cultural landmark, the festival will bring together live performance, archive-led storytelling, African music history, festival culture and a new generation of music lovers in one shared celebration.
Since its beginnings in 1926, Gallo has played a defining role in recording, preserving and carrying the voices and sounds that have shaped generations. Its extraordinary catalogue spans jazz, mbaqanga, isicathamiya, maskandi, reggae, gospel, pop, rock, soul, house, dance and kwaito, connecting Gallo to some of the most significant artists, recordings and cultural movements in South African and African music history.
From the early recordings of Solomon Linda’s “Mbube” to the international journeys of Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lucky Dube, Gallo’s story is deeply woven into the story of African sound itself.
The Cape Town festival forms part of Gallo’s wider centenary celebrations, which include archive storytelling, playlists, documentary work, exhibitions, educational initiatives, live performances and cultural programming throughout the year.
At the heart of the centenary is a simple but powerful truth: every generation has a soundtrack.
A song can take us back to where we were, remind us who we loved, reflect what we survived, capture what we celebrated and echo what we believed in. Across 100 years, Gallo has helped create and preserve those moments.
Gallo 100 brings those songs, stories and memories together – and invites a new generation to become part of the next chapter.
“Gallo’s centenary is not only a company milestone. It is a cultural milestone,” said Antos Stella, CEO of Music Arena. “For 100 years, Gallo has been part of the soundtrack of people’s lives. This celebration is about honouring the artists, producers, writers, communities and music lovers who helped carry that story across generations, while creating a space for us to celebrate the future of African music.”
As one of South Africa’s most influential global music figures, Black Coffee has taken the sound of South Africa to audiences around the world, making him a fitting artist to headline a celebration that spans a century of African musical influence.
His presence at Gallo 100 represents the powerful connection between heritage and evolution, legacy and innovation, and the sounds that shaped us and the sounds shaping the world today.
Sharing his excitement around the headline announcement, Stella added: “Black Coffee represents the global reach of African sound today. Having him headline Gallo 100 allows us to honour where the music has come from, while also celebrating where it is going. It is a powerful moment for Gallo, for South African music and for everyone who has been part of this journey.”
With Black Coffee announced as the first major artist reveal, the anticipation is only set to build, with further artist announcements and the full Gallo 100 line-up still to come.
Music fans can expect a full-scale festival experience at Grand Parade, featuring live music, premium production, food and bars, VIP experiences and curated cultural moments inspired by Gallo’s extraordinary archive.
On 15 December, Cape Town will become the meeting point between a century of musical history and the future of African sound – bringing generations together for a celebration that is as much about the music we remember as it is about the music still to come.
One hundred years. Countless songs. Generations of memories. One sound.
More exciting details and guest artists to be announced.
Tickets for Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century are available via Howler.
Event: Gallo 100: The Sound of a Century
Date: 15 December 2026
Venue: Grand Parade, Cape Town
Age Restriction: 18+