The Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Best Dressed Competition 2026 is calling the bold, the imaginative, and the impeccably styled.
Inspired by this year’s theme, Kwasukasukela (“Once Upon a Time”), the competition celebrates fashion as a portal to storytelling, where heritage meets contemporary expression, and every look carries meaning. From ancestral silhouettes to modern African design, festivalgoers are invited to interpret the past, present, and future through their personal style.
Throughout the festival, the Best Dressed Fashion Police will be scouting standout looks across the grounds. Selected participants will be invited to take part in the official judging process, with their details and looks captured and submitted for consideration.
Finalists will be evaluated by an independent panel of fashion industry judges, with one Best Dressed Woman and one Best Dressed Man crowned as Luju’s 2026 Style Icons.
Winners will be announced live on the Luju Main Stage at 18:00, in a moment that celebrates individuality, craftsmanship, and the power of African storytelling through fashion.
Luju Best Dressed Competition T’s & C’s
- The Luju Best Dressed Competition is open to all ticketed attendees of the Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival 2026.
- Style scouting will take place throughout the festival on Saturday, 1 August and Sunday, 2 August 2026.
- Festivalgoers may be invited by the official Best Dressed Fashion Police to participate in the Luju Best Dressed competition.
- Participants must provide their name, an active contact number, and the name of a local outfit designer at the time of photography.
- Finalists and winners will be selected by an independent panel of invited fashion industry judges.
- One Luju Best Dressed Style Icon (Woman) and one Luju Best Dressed Style Icon (Man) will be crowned.
- Winners must be present at the festival to receive their awards. Winner announcement will be at 6 PM on the Luju Main Stage. Should a selected winner be unavailable, the judges reserve the right to award the title to another finalist.
- By participating, entrants grant Luju Food & Lifestyle Festival permission to photograph, film, and publish their images across Luju’s marketing, media, and promotional platforms without additional compensation.
- The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be considered.
