Joburg Feels Left Out as WAV Festival Brings Mariah the Scientist to Cape Town

Every so often, a single announcement manages to turn timelines into town halls and that’s exactly what happened when WAV Festival revealed the first headliner for its 2026 edition. What began as a celebration of global R&B entering Cape Town has evolved into a conversation that stretches far beyond the coastal city.

The reveal came through WAV Festival’s official poster, confirming that Mariah the Scientist will be making her South African debut on 2 January 2026 at Green Point Track in Cape Town. The announcement, part of what organizers describe as R&B “reimagined in the world’s most beautiful city,” quickly took on a life of its own online. Within hours, excitement and disbelief coexisted as South Africans processed the news with Johannesburg residents making their voices especially clear.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WAV Festival (@wav.festival)

Comments began flooding in under the festival’s social media posts, some filled with joy, others laced with mild frustration. One user wrote, “As y’all can see from the comments that Cape Town doesn’t deserve Mariah, so do the right thing and let her come to Joburg,” capturing the playful yet pointed tone of many responses. Another user added, “Okay but how is she going to Cape Town and not Joburg?” A thread of similar remarks soon followed, echoing a collective wish for the R&B singer to extend her stay beyond the Mother City.

Still, the coastal destination holds firm as the first confirmed location for WAV Festival’s upcoming showcase. Alongside Mariah, the lineup features Kelvin Momo as a special guest being a significant addition, given his imprint on amapiano’s evolution and a selection of South Africa’s most notable R&B and soul acts, including Shekhinah, Manana, Nanette, Kujenga, Yandani and Strictly Soul Hour featuring Akio. More acts are expected to be announced in the lead-up to the festival.

For many, the choice of Cape Town speaks to WAV Festival’s broader vision of merging sound, setting as well as the culture under one atmosphere. The festival, known for blending international and local artists, positions the city as a backdrop for R&B’s global resurgence with a sentiment that has drawn both admiration and debate.

However, Johannesburg continues to make its case. The city’s musical legacy and energetic audiences remain a strong argument for adding another date, one that many online are hoping will follow soon after Cape Town. The digital dialogue has since become part of the rollout itself being the evidence of the excitement Mariah’s upcoming appearance has sparked across the country.

As it stands, Mariah the Scientist is set to headline WAV Festival on 2 January 2026 at Green Point Track, Cape Town, alongside a lineup celebrating South Africa’s growing R&B landscape. Whether the festival expands its reach to Johannesburg remains to be seen, but the anticipation has already confirmed one thing is that the arrival of Mariah marks a significant cultural moment waiting to unfold.