Eswatini Tourism Authority has launched its 2026 calendar featuring large-scale events such as the MTN Bushfire Festival – an African music festival hosted in the Malkerns Valley – alongside traditional festivals as well as hikes, markets and races (mountain biking and trail running).
According to Chunky Mdluli-Dlamini, Head of Marketing at Eswatini Tourism Authority, the calendar is shared annually to “maximise visitor arrivals, drive economic growth and enhance Eswatini’s brand visibility”.
“It enables us to promote the Kingdom as a dynamic year-round destination, manage seasonality and promote diverse local experiences,” Mdluli-Dlamini said.
Tour operators have experienced on-the-ground operational benefits from the calendar. Lindelwa Mlotsa, Founder of Stiba’s Tours, said: “Before Eswatini Tourism Authority streamlined this, dates often clashed, which split the market. Now the industry feels more synchronised.”
Mlotsa said the calendar can help operators diversify their itineraries to include cultural and lifestyle events. “Often a client might book for a safari but, after we show them the calendar, they extend their stay to catch a local festival.”
The calendar can be accessed via Eswatini Tourism Authority’s website.
