Events Calendar
Eswatini has a annual calendar full of traditional & modern events
Below is a Calendar of Events in Eswatini, ranging from the major annual cultural festivals, to organised hikes or small one-off event evenings at a particular hotel or restaurant. They are listed in date order but can also be filtered by Type and Date and Location (though Eswatini is so compact, any event can be attended wherever you are in the country!)
Eswatini is known around the world for the magnificent traditional festivals that the country hosts. Chief amongst these are the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) held in August / September, the Incwala held in December / January and the Marula Festival in February-March. These are living cultural events that, bar the odd wristwatch and mobile phone, have hardly changed in two hundred years. Visitors are allowed to watch, but the ceremonies make no concession to tourism; even the precise dates are not published in advance, being dependent on the vagaries of ancestral astrology. The main events happen at the royal parade grounds at Ludzidzini or other royal residencies, but the mood of celebration sweeps the nation, and visitors to the country around the time of the events will doubtless see wandering bands of warriors or maidens decked out in full regalia as they head to or from the festivities.
Alongside the traditional, there is now a growing number of modern events gaining international recognition. One that leads the way and has gained an excellent international reputation over many years is the MTN BUSHFIRE Festival – a performing arts festival held every May. Hot on its heels is the younger Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival, held in August at the same venue.
The country also plays host to a number of sporting events around the year, particularly a series of challenging mountain bike races.
For a calendar of Public Holidays, check the Travel Advice page, and for further advice about the best times of year to visit Eswatini, check the When to Go page.
A PDF Events Calendar has been produced for 2025. You can download it here.
