What’s On in Cape Town?

The Mother City is abuzz with places to go, people to meet and things to do! Here are just some of the exciting things happening in and around Cape Town this coming weekend.

What’s on this month
What’s coming up

What’s on this month

Nights at Norval

Get ready for Cape Town summer nights to get a whole lot more vibey – The Norval Foundation is launching its very first evening series: Nights at Norval. This festive season, soak up the magic of the intricate sculpture garden (where children are encouraged to explore and climb) with food, drinks, and art under the stars. The series will feature a rotating lineup of food trucks, with Jack Rabbit Food Truck serving burgers and chips on debut night, refreshments from Norval Bar, and background tunes to set the mood right. It’s a night of food, art, and music the whole family can dive into.
Good to know Bring your own blanket to relax on the lawns.
Cost Free (kids under 4 years don’t require tickets)
Next event 16 May 2026
Time 5pm – 8pm
Where 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town
Book Now

Franschhoek Literary Festival

It’s that time of the year – when the Franschhoek valley transforms into Mzani’s literary capital for a weekend of bold conversation and exquisite storytelling. Authors (local and international), poets, literary figures, creatives, publishers and bookworms converge on this Winelands town for an inspiring exchange of ideas and creativity. From debates and discussions of current trends and affairs, to book readings, writing workshops, music concerts, film screenings, gourmet food and fine wines, this is brain food of the most nutritious kind.

Headlining the 2026 programme are internationally renowned historian Peter Frankopan; artist, illustrator and author of the global bestseller The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Charlie Mackesy; and prominent local voices such as celebrated crime writer Deon Meyer; South Africa’s first Michelin-starred chef and author Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen; and Justice Malala, one of the country’s most respected commentators on democracy and governance. This year, the programme also introduces Family Day on the Saturday, featuring a dynamic lineup of events curated for young readers and their parents. Inspired by the festival’s mission to nurture a love for reading from an early age, the day will include vibrant storytelling sessions from celebrated children’ s authors, engaging conversations on modern parenting and live drawing demos. With venues in close proximity, it’s a literary takeover of the town’s streets and a weekend for devoted bibliophiles and first-timers to share in the magic of stories.
When 15 – 17 May 2026
Where Franschhoek (various venues in town)
Book Now

Cape Town Opera: Carmen

A fiery heroine, a story told with intense passion and Georges Bizet’s unforgettable melodies make Carmen an opera that appeals to all audiences… And it’s one that simply has to be seen live on stage. This brand-new production from Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilling, staging a full ensemble of some of South Africa’s finest singers, dancers and musicians in a dramatic production. Director Steven Stead has set the story (based on Prosper Mérimée’s 1845 novella) against the turbulent backdrop of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), intensifying the opera’s themes of power, desire and defiance. In this rendering, Carmen, a fiercely independent factory worker upends the life of soldier Don José, drawing him into crime after he helps her escape arrest. When she falls for the bullfighter Escamillo, José’s jealousy spirals toward a tragic end – after all, ‘love is a rebellious bird that no one can tame’. With powerful set design by Greg King and striking costumes by Maritha Visagie, the production is as visually mesmerising as it is musically charged, with conductor Tim Murray driving the score with electrifying momentum. A not-to-be-missed run of stirring music and thrilling theatre!
Cost R180 – R950
When 19 – 31 May 2026
Time 2pm + 7pm
Where Artscape Opera House, Foreshore, Cape Town
Book Now

The Royal Countess Zingara: La Dolce Royal

Cape Town, prepare to be enchanted! After a decade of slumber, the legendary Royal Countess Madame Zingara is making a return with La Dolce Royal for a glittering dinner cirque in the iconic mirrored tent. It promises to be a feast for the senses: gravity-defying acrobats, spine-tingling music, and wonderful cuisine. This bold new chapter is both a love letter to the past and a symbol of what she has become – a homecoming where reality shifts and every night is a celebration of the extraordinary.
Cost From R1 150 (includes welcome drink + 5-course dinner)
Good to know Bookings open on 5 September 2025
When 11 October 2025 – 17 May 2026
Time Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm
Contact 021 891 0448, boxoffice@zingara.co.za
Where Century City, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Graham Beck: The Artist’s Retreat

In an exciting new venture, Graham Beck has unveiled their inaugural Artist’s Retreat; a rare fusion between art and viticultural craftsmanship. This marks a residency where acclaimed creatives are invited to interpret the estate’s terroir and innovation, positioning Graham Beck as the intersection between luxury, culture and pioneering. To launch the programme, celebrated artist, Michael Chandler, has focused on geology, craft and imagination, echoing the patience and precision of the estate’s cap classique itself.
His canvas: a wine egg – a fermentation vessel prized for refining texture with natural circulation and gentle aeration. Using pigments from chalky limestone and decomposed granite sourced from the estate’s vineyards, Chandler has created an authentic translation between land and imagination, a feat Graham Beck itself has long mastered.
With the egg nestled in the estate’s Innovation Cellar, it marks the first of many reinterpretations of the precision, patience and pursuit of beauty that defines the House.
When Pop in to see it during opening hours.
Monday – Thursday, 9am – 5pm
Saturday + Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Where Graham Beck Estate, Scenic Cape Route, R60, Robertson

Inner City Saturdays

Inspired by the spirit of First Thursdays, Inner City Saturdays is a curated daytime programme inviting attendees to rediscover Cape Town through a walkable, vibrant experience. With a CBD as welcoming and dynamic as ours, it’s a chance to celebrate creativity, culture and community in the heart of it all. Each edition will focus on a concentrated, pedestrian-friendly district, encouraging locals and visitors to explore the Mother City’s businesses, institutions and attractions in a fresh, engaging way. It’s about bringing new energy into the streets, supporting local, and making the city centre a place to gather, connect, and be inspired.
Good to know Keep an eye on their Instagram for each month’s location
Cost Free
When Last Saturday of every month
Where Cape Town CBD

Songwriters’ Showcase at The House of Machines

For seven years, THoM (as it’s affectionately known) has owned Tuesdays with their no-frills, all-heart Songwriters’ Showcase. It’s the kind of night where anything goes, and anyone is welcome to rock up, sign up, and show the audience what they’ve got. From original songs and unsuspected covers to spoken word, stand-up, or that guitar solo you’ve been nailing in your bedroom… the stage is open and the crowd’s listening with an open heart. Sign-ups happen at the bar, the vibe is laidback but electric, and the regulars know: even if performing isn’t your thing, it’s still the best place to be on a Tuesday night.
Cost Free
When Every Tuesday
Time 7pm (sign-ups), 8pm (showcase)
Contact 021 426 1400, cpt@thehouseofmachines.com
Where 84 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

Silent Book Club

Dubbed the “introvert happy hour”, Silent Book Club is a global community of readers who gather to enjoy books – together, quietly. And what better setting than the Mother City? It’s not your typical book club: no assigned reading, no pressure to talk. Just BYOB (bring your own book), enjoy some light mingling, then settle in for an hour of uninterrupted reading. Participation is free and locations change weekly, from cosy cafés and breezy parks to Bree Street (yes, literally in the middle of the street). Everyone’s welcome, whether you’re deep into a novel or cracking open your first chapter, and you just might leave with some new friends or a fresh book recommendation.
Good to know Keep an eye on their social media for dates and locations.
Cost Free
When Weekly
Contact cptsilentbookclub@gmail.com
Where Cape Town

What’s coming up

Bistro Sixteen82: Red-Wine Dinner Series at Steenberg

When the blustery weather hits the Cape, full-bodied red wine and heart-warming food is the answer. Steenberg’s annual Red Wine Rendezvous dinner series is back at Bistro Sixteen82, where executive chef Kerry Kilpin has designed sumptuous three-course dinners to suit the season, accompanied by the farm’s notable reds. With different menus for each event, you can expect comforting winter classics such as slow-braised beef with mushroom and caramelised onion risotto, and decadent desserts such as a brown butter and white chocolate cheesecake with roast quince. Cellar master, Elunda Basson, sends in a selection of three Steenberg Vineyards reds which are guaranteed to go beautifully with the menu and leave you warmed right through from head to toes. Taking an Uber is highly recommended!
Cost R825 (three courses + red wine)
When 4 June 2026
2 July 2026
Time 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 205 3866, reservations@bistro1682.co.za
Where Steenberg Farm, Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Cape Town Opera: A Little Night Music

A sophisticated musical farce and modern American operetta, Stephen Sondheim’s beloved A Little Night Music gets fresh insight in this new production from Cape Town Opera. Elegant and bittersweet, it explores love, longing and second chances, with a score that features some of Sondheim’s most memorable music. The production boasts an award-winning cast led by Aviva Pelham and Samantha Peo. With Fred Abrahamse as both director and set designer, the creative team is completed by José Dias as musical director and Marcel Meyer as costume designer. Described as “whipped cream with knives” by the original director and boasting six Tony Awards, this two-week run at Theatre on The Bay is one that music-lovers and theatre buffs will want to catch this winter.
Good to know There is a youth discount of 25% for theatre-goers younger than 25. The show has a PG13 rating. No children under 5 years allowed.
A collaboration between Cape Town Opera and Abrahamse & Meyer Productions CC, by arrangement with Dalro (Pty) Limited, made possible through invaluable support from Judith Neilson and the National Lotteries Commission.
Cost R275 – R475
When 30 June – 12 July 2026
Time 2pm + 7.30pm
Where Theatre on The Bay, Camps Bay Cape Town
Book Now

Mamma Mia at the Artscape

Guaranteed to have you singing along before you’ve even booked your tickets, Mamma Mia is the feel-good musical that keeps on giving. Abba’s fabulously catchy music, a superb South African cast, led by international star Amra-Faye Wright as Donna, and a whole lot of talent make this new production one to bookmark, however many times you’ve seen it before.
Cost R280 – R580
When 3 September – 11 October 2026
Time 7.30pm (3pm matinee on Saturday)
Sundays, 2pm + 6pm
Where Artscape, Foreshore, Cape Town
Book Now

The Proteas v England at Newlands

Cricket fans can start planning ahead for January 2027 as England prepares to face South Africa in Mzansi. Part of the Proteas’ international summer fixtures, the season reaches its peak with a three-match Test series between these two cricketing heavyweights. Newlands, second only to the historic Lords Cricket Ground as one of the most scenic and iconic venues in the sport, will host the third Test in the series. The action continues with a trio of ODI matches to conclude the tour, the first of which will take place at Boland Park in Paarl. With the Table Mountain range looming over Newlands and the Drankenstein Mountains framing Boland Park, this clash will serve up world-class cricket with some of the country’s most stunning scenery – and of course our signature Dezemba vibe. A real straight six in every sense!
Good to know Tickets have not yet gone on sale; sign up for our newsletter and be first in line to book.
When 3rd Test match: 3 – 7 January 2027
1st ODI match: 10 January 2027
Time 10.30am (3rd Test match)
10am (1st ODI match)
Where 3rd Test match: World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground, 146 Campground Road, Newlands, Cape Town
1st ODI match: Boland Park, Langenhoven Avenue, Boland Agricultural Show Grounds, Paarl

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