South African music icon Kelly Khumalo has announced the cancellation of her long-awaited 20th anniversary celebration, which was set to take place on 15 November 2025 at the Meropa Outdoor Arena in Polokwane.
The event was meant to be a grand celebration of Kelly’s two-decade journey in the music industry — a journey marked by resilience, reinvention, and one of the most powerful voices in South African music.
However, in a statement released on Saturday, Kelly’s team confirmed that the celebration would no longer go ahead as planned.
> “We regret to announce the cancellation of Kelly Khumalo’s 20th anniversary event. We fully understand the disappointment this decision may cause and extend our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience. Refunds will be processed for all ticket holders, and we’ll share updates about a possible reschedule soon,” the statement read.
Kelly also reached out to her fans personally, expressing her gratitude and regret over the tough decision.
On her social media, she wrote:
> “My sincere apologies, tough decisions had to be made so this can be done right.”
While fans are understandably disappointed, there’s still a bright side — Kelly is gearing up to release her 11th studio album, titled Rebirth, later this month.
Reflecting on her 20-year career, Kelly said,
“To me, marking 20 years means carrying on with the work I’ve always done. I’m not quite sure how I feel about reaching this milestone yet.”
Her latest single, Nyamezela, already gave fans a taste of what’s to come — a song of endurance and hope that perfectly sets the tone for this new chapter.
Originally, the 20th Anniversary Tour was scheduled to span Limpopo, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal, showcasing Kelly’s musical evolution from Afro-soul to gospel and contemporary African sounds.
Although the celebration is on hold, Kelly Khumalo’s legacy remains unstoppable — her story continues to inspire, and her voice continues to define a generation.