Dundee July comes of age as organisers hail successful 21st edition
Held under the theme 'Elegantly African — KuLit', the Dundee July combined traditional horse racing, fashion, heritage and entertainment.
The 2026 Dundee July drew thousands of spectators and more than 200 horses as organisers hailed the 21st edition of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier rural horse racing event as a “resounding success”.
The week-long event concluded on Saturday at the Endumeni Traditional Horse Racing Track, with a record prize purse of nearly R3 million — the largest in the history of the event.
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Held under the theme “Elegantly African — KuLit”, the Dundee July combined traditional horse racing, fashion, heritage and entertainment, while continuing to generate tourism and economic activity in rural communities.
The Dundee July Organising Committee said this year’s event delivered “unmatched thrills on track and runway with visible marked improvements all round”.
“Dundee July 2026 has cemented its place as one of KZN’s premier events,” the committee said.
The main race belonged to defending champion uMpendulo, ridden by Hlanganani Mtambo and owned by Z.B. Mtambo from the Amajuba District.
The winning combination claimed the R600 000 first prize from the R1 million stake in the flagship race.
Amajuba dominated the main event, securing four of the top five finishing positions and underlining the district’s strength in traditional horse racing.
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KZN Premier Thami Ntuli attended the event alongside Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Mntomuhle Khawula, and Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Musa Zondi, as well as other government leaders.
The organising committee credited the success of the event to a partnership between the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the KZN Rural Horse Riding and Breeding Association, Endumeni Local Municipality and uMzinyathi District Municipality.
The event was also supported by sponsors including Hollywoodbets, Amathole Funerals and Ithala.
Beyond the racing, fashion emerged as one of the event’s major attractions, with designers and models showcasing collections inspired by the “Elegantly African — KuLit” theme.
Organisers said the fashion programme demonstrated how African design could celebrate heritage while embracing contemporary style.
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“This wasn’t just fashion. It was culture, heritage and community stitched into the day and night,” the committee said.
The provincial government has consistently described the Dundee July as a catalyst for rural economic development, with the annual festival bringing visitors into the area and increasing spending at local businesses.
The event also creates opportunities for SMMEs and informal traders while supporting the growth of KZN’s equine industry.
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Organisers said the 21st edition had strengthened the Dundee July’s position as both a major sporting and cultural event and an important contributor to tourism and economic activity in rural KZN.
