Cotton Fest, the youth-focused music and culture festival founded by the late rapper Riky Rick, has been officially cancelled after disputes between its current shareholders.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, organisers said “differences among the current shareholders have led to disputes between them” following the earlier announcement of a 2026 edition.
They said an internal review showed the parties “no longer share the same long-term vision”, making it difficult to continue the event in line with the standards set by its founder.
Shareholder disputes end flagship youth festival
The statement notes that the strain created by the diverging plans for Cotton Fest’s future had begun to affect operations and long-term planning.
Organisers concluded that the festival could no longer be staged “in a manner that upholds the standards and vision set out by its sole founder, Riky Rick”.
“The most realistic path forward.” Bianca Naidoo.
Festival owner and organiser Bianca Naidoo said the event was always meant to be a platform for emerging creatives.
“CottonFest has always been rooted in creativity, community and cultural celebration focused on creating a platform for the youth to shine,” she said.
Naidoo added that, while the team remains proud of what the festival achieved, the split in vision between the two shareholder groupings made it clear “that concluding this chapter is the most realistic path forward”.
The Makhado family and Naidoo expressed appreciation to fans, partners, artists and staff who helped grow the festival over more than seven years and keep Riky Rick’s legacy alive.
Creative Programme to carry Riky Rick’s legacy
Although the main festival is ending, organisers confirmed that the Cotton Fest Creative Programme, launched in 2025, will continue.
The initiative focuses on year-round projects that create opportunities for young talent, from workshops and collaborations to smaller events.
The team said it remains “optimistic about future plans with a deeper support for creative expression in new and meaningful ways for the youth to be celebrated”, signalling a shift from a once-a-year festival model to ongoing creative support.
What ticket holders must do now
Cotton Fest had already opened ticket sales for its next edition before the cancellation.
Organisers say current ticket holders can obtain full refunds through Webtickets using the platform’s self-help process from today.
For fans, the announcement marks the end of one of South Africa’s most recognisable youth culture brands.
For the organisers and Riky Rick’s family, the focus now moves to keeping his influence alive through the Creative Programme and other projects that carry the Cotton Fest name beyond the festival era.
