Oluthando Keteyi|Published
South African music star Zee Nxumalo is set to kick off her 2027 on the festival circuit with a performance at the third edition of the Milk + Cookies Festival in Johannesburg on January 31.
Organisers have confirmed Nxumalo as one of the performers for the Johannesburg leg of the festival, adding local star power to an event that has fans eagerly anticipating the announcement of its headline act.
Zee Nxumalo confirmed for Johannesburg
Nxumalo has had a standout 2026, further cementing her position as one of South Africa’s leading music stars.
The singer released her EP, "Izinja Zam Vol. I", and reached an international milestone with a billboard in New York City’s iconic Times Square. She also graced the cover of GQ South Africa and performed at major events, including Afro Nation and Piano People in the Park in London.
Taking her brand beyond music, Nxumalo launched her first global pop-up store, Zee’s Spaza, in South London. She has also secured brand partnerships with Nivea and McDonald’s.
Her appearance at Milk + Cookies Festival will give fans another opportunity to see the hitmaker perform live as she carries her momentum into 2027.
Meanwhile, Elaine and Chelsea Sloan are among the artists confirmed for the Cape Town leg of the festival.
“Never the same sound, always the same feeling,” said Chase Freeman, Head of Marketing at Milk + Cookies.
“That’s the only brief we’ve ever had. We book for the people in the room, not for a genre, and they come for what the room feels like as much as the name on the poster.”
Headliner still to be announced
While the announcement of local acts has generated excitement, festivalgoers are still waiting to find out who will headline the Johannesburg event.
Organisers have confirmed that the headline act will be revealed on Friday at 10.00am, with expectations high following the festival’s previous editions in South Africa.
Milk + Cookies Festival has previously brought international acts such as Gunna and Kaytranada to the country, raising questions about which global star could be next.
The upcoming announcement is likely to be one of the biggest talking points for fans, particularly those hoping the festival will once again deliver a major international name alongside its local talent.
What fans need to know
The third edition of Milk + Cookies Festival will take place in Johannesburg on January 31, 2027, with Nxumalo among the confirmed performers.
The festival’s Cape Town leg will feature Elaine and Chelsea Sloan, while further details about the Johannesburg headline act are expected on Friday at 10.00am.
Beyond the music, organisers say their focus remains on building a festival that reflects the communities in which it takes place.
“We came here to put on a show, and what we found changed how we do this everywhere else,” said Kevin Reese, co-founder of Milk + Cookies.
“Three years in, this isn’t a visit. We build it with the people who live here, and it belongs to them as much as it does to us. The jobs, the vendors, the artists on the bill, that’s the part we’re proudest of.”