Media accreditation for the 2026 Standard Bank Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival is now open, giving journalists, photographers, videographers and content creators an opportunity to be part of documenting what is set to be the festival’s biggest edition yet.
The eighth edition of the festival will take place on the 1st and 2nd of August 2026 at House On Fire in Malkerns, Eswatini, marking the first time Luju will be hosted across two full weekend days. The festival is expected to welcome more than 12,000 visitors from Eswatini, the African continent and beyond.
According to Luju Communications Manager, Phiwo Dhlamini, opening media accreditation is an important step in preparing for the storytelling that surrounds the festival each year.
“Luju has always been about celebrating Africa’s creativity, heritage and future through food, fashion, music and culture. The media plays an important role in sharing these stories with wider audiences, and we are looking forward to welcoming storytellers who will help capture the experience of the 2026 edition,”
This year’s festival, as shared through an official press release, will continue under the broader theme “A Return to the African Future”, showcasing different expressions of African identity through culinary experiences, fashion, music and lifestyle.
The 2026 edition will be premised upon the Nguni Foodways theme, which focuses on culinary storytelling, alongside the Kwasukasukela fashion theme, inspired by African oral traditions and heritage.
Accreditation is open to media practitioners from established and reputable platforms, including newspapers and magazines, radio and television stations, online publications, digital platforms, as well as travel, food and fashion writers and bloggers.
Accredited media will have access to selected festival opportunities, including press conferences, interview requests with artists, front-of-stage access for photography and short video content, as well as the dedicated Media Hive. The Media Hive will serve as a centre for media information and interviews, equipped with power and wireless internet facilities.
Applications must be submitted through the official Luju Festival media accreditation page, where applicants will also be required to complete a media form from Eswatini’s Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology before accreditation can be confirmed.
Dhlamini said media members are encouraged to apply early, as spaces are limited and selections will be made at the festival’s discretion.
Media accreditation applications will close on Sunday, 12 July 2026, with successful applicants expected to be notified by 17 July 2026. The festival has also advised media representatives to arrange accommodation early, as nearby options are expected to get congested quickly and will not be provided by the festival.
With preparations underway, Luju 2026 aims to once again bring together food, fashion, music and cultural experiences while highlighting Africa’s evolving creative landscape.
Media applications can be submitted through the Luju Festival media accreditation platform accessible here: Standard Bank Luju Festival Media Accreditation
