By Michelle Chigwada
The French Riviera is set to inspire one of Harare’s biggest women-focused lifestyle gatherings this month when Girlfest Zimbabwe stages its 2026 edition under the theme “Rosa Riviera”.
The festival, scheduled for September 19 at Old Hararians Sports Club, is drawing inspiration from the glamour of the French coast, with the organisers promising an atmosphere influenced by Saint-Tropez summers, citrus markets, sunset skies and feminine freedom.
Unlike a conventional music concert, Girlfest has built its identity around creating an entire lifestyle experience, combining entertainment with fashion, food, friendship and social interaction.
The Rosa Riviera concept is expected to give attendees an opportunity to express themselves through colour and fashion, with the festival drawing on pastel shades of pink, orange and yellow.
The visual direction is part of an increasingly important element of Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry, where festivals are becoming platforms for fashion, lifestyle brands, photographers, content creators and small businesses to reach young urban audiences.
Girlfest’s organisers describe the festival as an annual celebration of women, friendship and sisterhood, with its social media platforms encouraging all the ladies to embrace the experience collectively.
The festival was established in 2019 and has since developed into a recurring women-focused event. It is a women-only and women-organised festival designed to provide a safe environment where women can relax, enjoy entertainment, eat, socialise and make new connections.
The 2026 edition is expected to build on that identity while introducing a distinctly Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic.
Music will remain a major part of the experience, with Takura, Saintfloew, Enzo Ishall and Atenda Chinx confirmed among the performers. DJs MadeHerBelieve, Samuel Cosmic and KingHer will also feature, with media personality KVG serving as host.
The lifestyle component will extend to food, with RocoMamas, Chicken Hut, Jollof Junxion, Subs & Mo, Chicken Basket, Leekays Kitchen and Chicken House among the outlets expected at the food village.
For Harare’s fashion-conscious young women, the event is therefore likely to be as much about appearance and self-expression as it is about the performances.
The festival’s organisers are also encouraging women to use the gathering as an opportunity to meet new people and strengthen friendships, reinforcing Girlfest’s broader emphasis on sisterhood.
The event is scheduled for September 19 at Old Hararians Sports Club, with gates opening at midday. Tickets are listed from US$15, while VIP tickets are currently listed between US$60 and US$80.
As Harare prepares for another major lifestyle weekend, the Rosa Riviera edition is positioning Girlfest as a celebration where music, fashion, food and feminine identity meet.
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