What's On When: Cape Town Events Calendar 2026

Cape Town & surrounds — a full calendar of sporting, social & cultural events for 2026

Combine your preferred season of visiting with what's going on in Cape Town. You might see an event you're willing to change dates for to attend, or to avoid fully-booked or over-priced hotels accept that you might have to change your dates. There are 2 events in particular that fil the hotels: The CT Cycle tour in March and the Two Oceans Marathon in April. Work with or around what's on when in Cape Town this coming year.

January 2026

1 January New Year's Day on the Waterfront & City Celebrations — The V&A Waterfront buzzes with festive energy as the city comes alive after a night of fireworks over the harbour. Camps Bay and Sea Point beaches fill early with those chasing the first swim of the year.

2 January - Culture - Cape Town Minstrel Carnival (Kaapse Klopse) — One of the most joyful spectacles in the Cape Town calendar. Tens of thousands of costumed minstrels in dazzling satin suits parade through the city streets with banjos, drums and song, in a tradition rooted in the Cape Malay and Coloured community. An unmissable piece of living Cape culture. (Parade date may vary; usually 2 January or close to it.)

Every Sunday, Nov–March - Music - Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts — The beloved Sunday afternoon concert series continues through summer at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Pack a picnic blanket and a hamper, and settle onto the lawns beneath Table Mountain as South Africa's best-loved artists perform in one of the world's most beautiful garden settings. The 2025/26 season opened in November with Mi Casa and runs through to late March.

15–19 January - Music - Wolfkop Weekender — Citrusdal, Cederberg. A boutique electronic music and wellness festival tucked into the mountains, combining nature, yoga, art installations and dancing under the stars. A cult favourite for those seeking something more intimate than the big city festivals.

30 Jan – 1 February - Food & Wine - Delheim Harvest Festival — Stellenbosch. Grape stomping, tractor rides, live music and a proper harvest feast at one of the Winelands' most celebrated estates. Perfect for families and wine lovers alike.

February 2026

Throughout February Cape Town Pride Month — The Mother City's Pride celebrations unfold across the entire month of February, with parties, film screenings, drag shows, art exhibitions and community events taking place at venues across the city. Cape Town has long been regarded as one of Africa's most LGBTQ+-welcoming destinations.

11 February - Music - Ultra South Africa – Cape Town — DHL Stadium, Green Point. One of South Africa's biggest international electronic music festivals descends on the stadium with a world-class lineup of DJs and producers across multiple stages.

12–15 February - Music - Cape Town International Jazz Festival – Preview Season — Ten concerts over four days at various intimate venues around the city ahead of the main festival in March. A wonderful warm-up for jazz lovers.

14 February - Sport - Gravel & Trail Valentine's Race — Where the worlds of gravel cycling and trail running meet for a Valentine's weekend race experience. Scenic routes and a festive atmosphere for those who prefer to celebrate with their legs.

20–22 February - Art - Investec Cape Town Art Fair — CTICC. Africa's largest and most prestigious contemporary art fair brings together over 120 galleries from more than 30 cities worldwide. A must for collectors, curators and the design-curious.

21 February - Sport - Cape Peninsula Ultra Run — A challenging long-distance running experience along the dramatic coastline and mountain trails of the Cape Peninsula.

28 February Cape Town Pride Mardi Gras — The spectacular finale of Pride month, described as the biggest Pride event the City has ever seen. An all-night celebration of identity, community and colour at the Green Point Fan Walk.

28 February - Music - Black Coffee Weekender — The Ostrich Cape Town Ranch, Philadelphia. Grammy-winning South African DJ and producer Black Coffee hosts a three-day culture and music festival with international headliners including Peggy Gou making her South African debut. Includes a Friday charity dinner and Sunday brunch afterparty. One of the hottest tickets of the summer season.

March 2026

6 March – 6 April - Art - Spier Light Art — Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch. The eighth edition of this beloved free event transforms the farm after dark with glowing, immersive art installations. Bring a jacket, wander the grounds and experience the landscape in an entirely new way.

8 March - Sport - Cape Town Cycle Tour — The world's largest individually timed cycle race. Around 30,000 cyclists take on the iconic 109km loop around the Cape Peninsula, from the Grand Parade through the Southern Suburbs, past the Cape Point Nature Reserve, up and over Chapman's Peak and Suikerbossie, finishing in Green Point. A bucket-list event for riders of all abilities, with shorter 42km and 78km options. Now part of the prestigious UCI Gran Fondo World Series.

15–22 March - Sport - Absa Cape Epic — Western Cape. The world's most prestigious mountain bike stage race. Teams of two tackle eight days of gruelling terrain across the mountains and valleys of the Western Cape, covering up to 700km with 20,000m of climbing. Elite international and amateur categories. Spectating at any stage finish is an experience in itself.

19 March onwards - Culture - Pretty Woman: The Musical — Artscape Theatre. The South African debut of the Broadway smash hit, based on the iconic 1990 film. A glamorous, feel-good production making its long-awaited arrival in the Mother City.

21 March Cape Town Carnival — Green Point Fan Walk. The 16th edition of this spectacular free street parade draws nearly 50,000 spectators. Over 1,500 performers in extraordinary costumes bring the city alive in a dazzling celebration of Cape Town's culture, creativity and community. Free to attend; arrive early for a good spot.

27–28 March - Music - Cape Town International Jazz Festival — CTICC. Africa's Grandest Gathering returns for another landmark edition. The 2026 lineup includes international stars Jacob Collier (UK) and Yellowjackets (USA), alongside South African jazz legends Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse and Nduduzo Makhathini. Multiple indoor and outdoor stages, workshops and masterclasses across two unforgettable nights.

27–29 March - Music - Montreux Jazz Festival – Franschhoek Edition — Franschhoek Wine Valley. History in the making: Franschhoek becomes the first African destination of the legendary Swiss festival, born in 1967. A world-class musical weekend set among vineyards and mountain passes. Lineup to be announced.

April 2026

11–12 April - Sport - Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon — Dubbed "the world's most beautiful marathon," the 56th edition of this iconic ultra-marathon takes runners on a spectacular 56km route around the Cape Peninsula (Saturday), passing between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans with views at Chapman's Peak, the Cape Point Nature Reserve and beyond. The half marathon (21.1km) follows on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands of runners globally. Sells out every year. Book accommodation months in advance.

13–15 April WTM Africa – World Travel Market Africa — CTICC. Africa's leading travel trade show, bringing together tourism professionals, travel buyers and destination representatives from across the continent and world.

21–22 April - Music - Bryan Adams – Roll With The Punches World Tour — Grand Arena, GrandWest. Two nights with the rock legend. Expect classic hits spanning five decades from one of the world's best-loved performers.

27 Apr – 3 May AfrikaBurn — Tankwa Town, Tankwa Karoo. South Africa's radical self-expression and community arts festival. Thousands gather in the remote Karoo to build a temporary city of art installations, themed camps, music and performance — and then burn it all down. Transformative, dusty and utterly unlike anything else.

May 2026

30 April – 3 May - Culture - Comic Con Cape Town — CTICC. Pop culture, gaming, cosplay and fandom collide in a weekend of panels, exhibitions, artist alleys and celebrity guests. A growing highlight on the city's events calendar.

24 May - Sport - Sanlam Cape Town Marathon — Africa's only IAAF Gold Label marathon, now a candidate for Abbott World Marathon Majors status. The 2026 edition also hosts the Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships, drawing elite and recreational runners from around the globe. The course takes in Table Mountain, the Atlantic seaboard and the city's most iconic streetscapes. Start and finish: Cape Town Stadium.

June 2026

4–14 June - Culture - Encounters Documentary Festival — Various cinemas across Cape Town. South Africa's premier documentary film festival screens the best of local and international non-fiction filmmaking, with panel discussions, filmmaker Q&As and special events.

Mid-June - Food & Wine- Good Food & Wine Show – Cape Town — CTICC. One of the country's favourite foodie events, with celebrity chef demos, local and international wine and spirit tastings, artisan producers and a buzzing floor of culinary inspiration. (Exact dates TBC — check the official website.)

25–28 June - Art - Decorex Cape Town — CTICC. Africa's leading interior design and décor trade show, featuring over 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest in furniture, lighting, textiles, kitchens, bathrooms and beyond. Open to both trade and public. Essential viewing for anyone renovating, building or simply in love with beautiful spaces.

July 2026

3–12 July - Food, sport & culture - Knysna Oyster Festival — Knysna, Garden Route (3 hours from Cape Town). The 43rd edition of South Africa's beloved winter festival. Ten days of oyster eating, oyster shucking contests, the Knysna Forest Marathon, the Knysna Cycle Tour, kayaking, paddling races, wine festivals, live music and an infectious community spirit. The festival draws over 70,000 visitors and slurps through more than 200,000 oysters. Book accommodation well in advance.

Throughout July - Culture - Cape Town Comedy Festival — Various venues. South Africa's best stand-up comedians take to stages across the city for a month of late-night laughter, with local headliners and visiting international acts. (Exact dates TBC — typically mid-to-late July.)

School Holidays Kirstenbosch Winter School Holiday Programme — Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Guided trails, nature workshops, creature craft activities and family-friendly programming throughout the July school holidays.

August 2026

Throughout August Women's Month Celebrations — 9 August is National Women's Day, and the entire month sees events, exhibitions and conversations celebrating South African women's history, achievement and heritage, at venues and institutions across the city.

August onwards West Coast Wildflower Season Begins — The West Coast National Park and surrounds burst into their annual carpet of spring wildflowers naartjie-orange daisies, purple vygies, yellow bulbines — creating one of nature's most breathtaking spectacles, just 90 minutes from Cape Town. The display peaks in September.

August - Sport - Premier Soccer League Season in Full Swing — Cape Town City FC and Cape Town Spurs fixtures at DHL Stadium and Athlone Stadium. Cape Town's growing football culture makes match day a passionate affair.

September 2026

September West Coast Wildflowers – Peak Season — The Namaqualand and West Coast wildflower season reaches its magnificent peak. Day trips to Darling, Langebaan and the West Coast National Park are a rite of passage for Capetonians and visitors alike.

Mid-September - Food & Nature - Hermanus Whale Festival — Hermanus, Overberg (90 mins from Cape Town). The Southern Right whales arrive in Walker Bay to calve, and Hermanus — the world's best land-based whale watching destination — marks the occasion with a week-long arts, food, music and whale-watching festival. Street performers, craft markets, local cuisine and some of the most spectacular marine mammal viewing on earth. (Exact 2026 dates TBC — typically last week of September.)

Late September - Art & Design - Cape Town Design Week — Various venues. A city-wide celebration of South African design across architecture, fashion, product design, typography and the applied arts, with talks, installations, studio open days and curated walks. (Dates TBC.)

September onwards - Music - Kirstenbosch Spring Concert Season Begins — Weekend concerts resume at Kirstenbosch as spring warms the gardens and the proteas begin to bloom. A gentler, more contemplative version of the summer series — perfect afternoon listening amid indigenous flora.

October 2026

Throughout October - Food & Wine - Cape Winemakers Guild Auction — Stellenbosch. One of the most prestigious wine events in the Southern Hemisphere. Guild members release limited-edition, barrel-aged wines exclusively at auction, with serious collectors flying in from across the globe. (Exact 2026 date TBC.)

October - Music - Kirstenbosch Spring Concerts – Peak Season — The most spectacular time to enjoy a Kirstenbosch concert, with the gardens in full spring bloom, longer evenings and the mountain glowing gold in the late-afternoon light.

Mid-October - Sport - Cape Town 10s Rugby & Lifestyle Festival — South Africa's biggest social, sport and lifestyle event, featuring men's and women's rugby tens, netball, padel, dodgeball and water polo alongside live music and food. A raucous, colourful weekend event beloved by players and spectators alike. (Exact 2026 dates TBC.)

School Holidays Spring School Holiday Programmes — Kirstenbosch, Two Oceans Aquarium, Iziko Museums and venues across the city offer curated children's activities, guided walks and educational events throughout the October school holidays.

November 2026

Late October / November - Music - Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts 2026/27 Series Opens — The beloved Sunday concerts return for another summer season as the heat builds and the gardens fill with picnickers. The new season's lineup is typically announced in October — watch the Kirstenbosch website and snap up tickets early, as popular dates sell out fast.

November - Food & Wine - Stellenbosch Wine Festival & Winelands Harvest Events — The Winelands come alive again as summer heat ripens vines and estates throw open their doors for tastings, cellar tours and harvest celebrations throughout the month.

November - Art - Open Studios Cape Town — Artists across the city open their studios to the public for a weekend of behind-the-scenes access, original work sales and conversations about the creative process. A wonderful way to discover Cape Town's thriving visual arts scene. (Dates TBC.)

December 2026

Early December - Sport - HSBC SVNS Cape Town – Rugby Sevens — DHL Stadium, Green Point. The world's elite men's and women's rugby sevens teams descend on Cape Town for a weekend of breathtaking speed, skill and spectacular tries. More than just a sporting event — a full festival atmosphere with live music and world-class entertainment between matches. One of the city's most popular annual spectacles. (Exact 2026/27 dates TBC — typically first or second weekend of December.)

Throughout December Festive Season on the Atlantic Seaboard — Cape Town's long summer festive season begins in earnest. Clifton and Camps Bay beaches fill daily; the V&A Waterfront hosts outdoor concerts, markets and installations; Long Street and the food and drink scene hum until the early hours. The city at its most vibrant and most alive.

Every Sunday, Dec–March - Music - Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts – High Season — The Sunday concert series reaches its zenith as the new year approaches. Headline acts, packed lawns and long warm evenings make this the most sought-after outdoor music experience in South Africa.

31 December New Year's Eve — Fireworks over the harbour, beach parties on Clifton, rooftop soirées across the city and the iconic Kirstenbosch NYE Concert see Cape Town ring in 2027 in true Mother City style. One of the great New Year's celebrations on earth.

Please note: Event dates are confirmed where available and indicative for recurring annual events. Always check with official event organisers before making travel plans. Dates marked TBC are based on previous years' schedules and will be confirmed as 2026 progresses.

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