From sold-out festivals to polished production and a policy shake-up that changed nightlife behaviour, Botswana’s festive season signalled an entertainment industry stepping confidently into its next chapter “We had a variety of events over the festive season,” Mojakgomo said in an interview. “Lifestyle events such as the Day Club and Piano Sunsets in Maun, your usual music festivals like Born and Raised, Gaabo Motho and Home Coming, and then new entrants in the market like Pacers and others that supported and sustained restaurants and venues.” Hotels including Avani, Hilton and Hotel 430 also joined the festive economy with curated experiences, some deliberately designed as family-friendly alternatives to open-air music festivals. The result was a layered offering that appealed to different demographics, music tastes and spending habits.
Yet, not all the pressure came from ticket sales. The Liquor Amendment Regulations of 2025, which allowed liquor outlets to operate until 6am during the festive period, shifted consumer behaviour overnight. “Some people who ordinarily would have gotten to our shows decided to go to pubs instead,” Mojakgomo said. “Everybody wanted not to miss this first experience.”
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