On the Occasion of Heritage Day Celebration more than 2,200 South Africans participated in a Braai Festival at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria yesterday Thursday September 24, 2026. The festival was organized by the Big Save. The festival celebrates South African food and culture and brings together thousands of participants who will grill or barbecue at the same time, creating a Guinness world record.
The existing record was previously set by Japan in Ishigaki City in November 2023 in which there were 2,220 participants .The organisers of the Braai Featival attempted this record last year and 2,412 people were counted by the organizers but the attempt was not certified because according to the rules during the officials attempt participants should be there but last time some participants left their designated stations.
Moreover, no public confirmation has been released by the Guinness World Record that South Africa’s 2026 Braai attempt has set the record.
Additionally, this year’s National Heritage Day celebration was held at Bongolethu Sport Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. This year the theme of the celebration was “Celebrating Our Living Heritage Strengthening the Ties that Bind Us”. The President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address. During the address, the President shared the importance of preserving and living heritage and focusing on passing cultural knowledge between generations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was accompanied by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, Minister in the Presidency, Maropene Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khosan Leaders, Mayor of Oudtshoorm Local Municipality, Jam Van der Roos and Speaker of Oudtshoorn Local Municipality Suzane Jansen.
Notably, Every year the Heritage Day is celebrated on September 24 and the main purpose of the celebration is to celebrate South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage including music, languages, food, clothing, traditions, customs, indigenous knowledge and community histories.