The Grammy and multiple BRIT Awards-winning singer Olivia Dean will headline the third edition of the Milk + Cookies Festival in South Africa.
According to the announcement, Dean will perform at Sandringham Farm in Cape Town on January 29, 2027, before moving to the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on January 31.
Her appearance complements the previously announced lineup, which includes Elaine, Zee Nxumalo, Chelsea Sloan, and Jade T.
This announcement followed fan speculation regarding the festival's headliner, after which organizers confirmed that Dean is the latest international star to join the event.
Dean's selection aligns with the Milk + Cookies Festival's approach of attracting artists from various musical genres to South African audiences. The festival first took place in a local format in 2025 with electronic producer Kaytranada, who performed for an audience of 20,000 people. In 2026, American rapper Gunna was the headliner.
Bringing Dean, known for her soul sound, to the main role in 2027 once again demonstrates the diversity of the festival's musical direction. According to Chase Freeman, Marketing Director of Milk + Cookies, there was initially no intention of building the lineup around any single genre.
Freeman noted: 'People constantly ask how Kaytranada, Gunna, and Olivia Dean can end up on the same bill.' He added: 'Never the same sound, always the same feeling. That was the only brief we had. We book for the people in the room, not for the genre, and they come for the feeling the venue creates, just as much as for the name on the poster.'
Freeman also shared that the South African versions of the festival have influenced the brand's approach to events in other markets. He emphasized: 'In three years, South Africa has given us. We came here to put on a show, but ended up building something together with the people who live here, and that changed our approach everywhere.'
In addition to the main performances, the Milk + Cookies Festival integrates elements of culinary arts, fashion, art, and design into its program. Panel discussions, workshops, pop-up shops, and parties are planned to run parallel to the main festival stages.
Organizers point out that local South African artists, creatives, venues, and partners play a vital role in shaping the experience in each city. Additional performers and details about the broader program are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Dean's addition to the lineup allows the festival to continue experimenting with a roster that unites diverse sounds and audiences for its third edition in South Africa.