Thousands of South Africans get behind the braai on Heritage Day for a Guinness World Record attempt!
Pretoria, South Africa (10 September 2026) – Nou gaan ons BRAAI!
We’re gunning for a world record again! On Heritage Day (24 September 2026), thousands of South Africans will gather at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to make history with an official Guinness World Record attempt for the most people braaiing at the same time.
The current title is held by Japan, which broke the record in 2023 with 2220 people grilling/barbecuing simultaneously. The World’s Biggest Braai aims to bring 3000 South Africans together to completely obliterate that record!
This isn’t South Africa’s first rodeo with the record attempt. Last year, we got close, with over 2412 people officially counted inside the event’s braai area. We had more than enough participants to beat the existing record.
Unfortunately, having the numbers is only one part of a Guinness World Records attempt.
“There are incredibly strict rules and processes that need to be followed for the record to be certified. One of those is that during the record attempt no one is allowed to leave their braai station for any reason.” says Dylan Jardim, organiser at World’s Biggest Braai.
Turns out, we vibed a little too hard!
“Now as you can imagine, South Africans being the incredible social creatures we are, danced, greeted friends, met strangers and roamed around that braai area like it was their backyard. The only way we know how.”
So, we had the numbers, but the attempt couldn’t officially be certified.
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Thousands of Litres of Fertiliser are Set to Change Lives Across SAOrganisers of the event have since adjusted the setup and process to accommodate those requirements. This year, South Africa’s world record attempt is coming back bigger and better!
“A total of 500 custom braai stands have been built specifically for the day and every single one will be pre-lit and ready for action by the time everyone arrives. There will be six people sharing each braai station, giving us the 3000 participants we need for the record.” says Dylan.
And that is where you – the braai-tong-wielding South African – come in.
The World’s Biggest Braai is looking for participants to help it smash the record. The event is open to anyone who wants to participate. A ticket secures your spot and covers access to a braai that’s already lit and ready to go, a piece of wors to braai, a bread roll or portion of pap to enjoy with it, an official Guinness World Records-branded apron, and a pair of tongs to use on the day.
The event kicks off at 9:00 on 24 September. South Africans will need to have their tongs at the ready by 10 AM, when the braai gets underway. That’s the moment we’re going for history…
The world record attempt will only take around 10 minutes. After that, it’s a party!
The festival kicks off promptly afterwards with loads of food trucks, massive activations with games and giveaways, a beer tent, silent disco, chill areas and a main stage featuring some of South Africa’s best artists, including Shekhinah, Matthew Mole, Mafikizolo and more.
“How often does an opportunity come along where you can say you are a world record holder. This isn’t something we want people to watch from the sidelines. We want 3000 South Africans standing around those braais together, making history together. So get your ticket, bring the gees and come help us bring the World Record home!” says Jardim.
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