Tyla brings the A*Pop era home with the Gold Reef City A*POP Takeover in partnership with South African Tourism, powered by ABSA

GGLOBAL SUPERSTAR AND TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER TYLA TO BRING THE A*POP TAKEOVER TO JOHANNESBURG ON 16 AUGUST

South African global superstar and two-time GRAMMY Award winner Tyla is coming home.

On Sunday, 16 August 2026, the global pop star will take over Gold Reef City in Johannesburg for a special A*POP Takeover, in partnership with South African Tourism and powered by Absa. The event will bring the A*POP era back to the city where Tyla’s journey began, while celebrating the South African fans who have supported her rise from local breakout star to one of Africa’s biggest global music exports.

As part of the initiative, South African Tourism will provide transport for high school pupils studying Tourism from different parts of Gauteng to Gold Reef City, giving young South Africans the opportunity to experience the A*POP celebration and be part of Tyla’s homecoming. The initiative is about more than a day of entertainment, it is about inspiring the next generation to dream boldly, embrace their talents and see the possibilities that exist for them at home and on the global stage.

“Tyla has always been authentic in her work. A daughter of the African soil and an advocate for South Africa. I agree with her, that you must visit South Africa to understand its beauty and its people,” says Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille.

The homecoming arrives just weeks after the release of Tyla’s highly anticipated sophomore album, APOP*, which landed worldwide on 24 July. The 14-track project sees the Johannesburg-born star continue to redefine her signature “Popiano” sound, bringing together pop, R&B, amapiano-inspired rhythms, house influences and distinctly South African musical references with an increasingly global perspective. And the world is listening.

Since its release, APOP* has made its mark on international charts, debuting at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 with 16,966 first-week units and securing an even stronger No. 5 debut on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart. The album has also reached the top end of digital charts internationally, including a reported No. 1 peak on iTunes worldwide and No. 3 on Apple Music’s global album chart shortly after release.

Tyla continues to cement her position as a global African music powerhouse, with her latest project reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s World Albums chart. The achievement makes Tyla the only African artist to reach No. 1 on the chart with multiple projects, further highlighting her unprecedented global impact and the growing influence of African music on the international stage.

The album’s momentum has been powered by a growing collection of fan favourites, including “CHANEL,” “IS IT LOVE,” “SHE DID IT AGAIN” featuring Zara Larsson, “IS IT,” and other tracks that showcase the evolution of Tyla’s sound and creative identity.

At the heart of APOP* is an artist embracing the full breadth of her identity. The album brings together South African talent and international collaborators, including MaWhoo, Babalwa M and Liquideep, alongside Swedish pop star Zara Larsson. The result is a project that remains deeply connected to Tyla’s South African roots while confidently occupying the global pop landscape.

Reflecting on the significance of returning home and connecting with her supporters, Tyla says: “Whenever I’m home, I feel like myself again. I love being surrounded by my people and my fans - it reminds me where I come from.”

The achievements build on a run of milestones that has firmly established Tyla as a global force. She made history as the first artist to accumulate 100 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, while also holding the record for the most No. 1s on the chart. Her breakout global smash “Water” earned her first GRAMMY Award for Best African Music Performance in 2024, with Tyla securing the same award again in 2026 for “Push 2 Start.”

Now, with APOP* in the world and her first full headline global tour announced, Tyla is entering a new chapter — one that sees her take her distinctly South African sound and identity to audiences around the world while remaining connected to the home that shaped her.

On Sunday, 16 August, Gold Reef City will become the centre of the APOP* celebration as Tyla reconnects with the fans who watched her journey unfold in Johannesburg and cheered her on as the rest of the world discovered her.

Affectionately known as the Tygers, Tyla’s fans have been an important part of the artist’s remarkable rise. The Gold Reef City A*POP Takeover is designed as a celebration of the music, the milestones and the fans who have been there from the beginning.

From “Water” becoming a worldwide phenomenon, to making history at the GRAMMYs, commanding international stages and now releasing a sophomore album that is charting across major markets, Tyla’s story remains deeply rooted in South Africa.

APOP* may be taking Tyla to the world, but on 16 August, the world’s attention comes back to Johannesburg. And Gold Reef City is where the A*POP era meets the fans who have always known her star power.

To bring fans even closer to the APOP* celebration, Tyla is inviting Tygers to join the conversation on TikTok. Fans can create a TikTok video using any song from the APOP* album for a chance to win a ticket to Gold Reef City and be part of the Fan Appreciation Day on 16 August. The initiative gives fans an opportunity to show off their creativity, celebrate their favourite APOP* track and share their love for Tyla’s music.

Connect with Tyla: Website | Facebook |Instagram |YouTube | Tik Tok

For press enquiries contact: |Luzuko.moyikweni@sonymusic.com | Sibongile.Xaba@sonymusic.com

For enquiries with South African Tourism contact: mediaq@southafrica.net