Cape Town hosts a wide range of local and international events – from concerts and community-based events to business conferences and international sports tournaments.
Described as an annual “do-tank” at the intersection of innovation, business, social impact, design and creative expression, Design Indaba is independently curated with a focus on case studies and ingenious problem solving. Despite its name, the conference’s scope has broadened since the inaugural event in 1995 to include all the creative sectors, and has in recent years been dubbed by some as The Conference on Creativity.
When: February
Visit WebsiteCape Town Pride is one of the most vibrant and exciting events on the Cape Town calendar. There are parades, parties, competitions, art, poetry, kareoke, book readings, and even a fun run. It’s also an important social movement for the LGBT+ community in Cape Town.
When: February/March
Visit WebsiteThe Cape Town International Jazz Festival is the continent’s biggest jazz event with around 35 000 people from across Africa and the world attending the event. The festival offers a blend of national and international jazz artists and takes place over two nights on five stages
When: March
Visit WebsiteThe event offers a variety of performances, musical shows, historical tours and art exhibitions which take place at three main venues: Cape Town City Hall, The Fugard Theatre, and the Artscape Theatre.
When: April
Visit WebsiteCape Town streets are set to explode with colour, floats and dancers when the Cape Town Carnival takes place in March. The carnival is a colourful expression of our diverse communities. It is a celebration of the way in which residents and the City can work and come together to experience and celebrate the cultural diversity of our city
When: March
Visit WebsiteCape Town’s best loved laugh-fest kicked off in 1997 as the country’s first comedy festival. Today it attracts the best comedic acts in the world. In the early years an unknown Jimmy Carr and Ross Noble graced the festival stages, and almost all of South Africa’s comedy icons have appeared at the festival at some point—Stuart Taylor, Kurt Schoonraad, Nik Rabinowitz, Marc Lottering, Riaad Moosa, and South Africa’s most famous export Trevor Noah, to name a few.
When: July
Visit WebsiteOpen Design Afrika includes workshops, talks, exhibitions, tours, networking events and parties. The festival aims to teach, inspire strong design thinking and encourage people from all walks of life with an interest in design to share their ideas or take part.
When: October
Visit WebsiteThe CTIFMF is a collaborative effort by the City of Cape Town, WESGRO and the festival board to create a world class event that not only celebrates the art of film, but also presents an active trading platform for local and international industry stakeholders to trade at. Key industry players gather together to revive old friendships, forge new partnerships and showcase their talent against the unique backdrop of this year’s venue, the scenic quaysides and wharfs of the iconic V&A Waterfront. The vision of the CTIFMF is to become the Cannes of Africa.
When: October
Visit WebsiteThe day traditionally sees entire communities taking part in the colourful celebrations. The iconic Grand Parade features a stage and screen in front of City Hall, grandstand seating, a food court, a prayer room and vendors. On¬stage entertainers, selected by the minstrels to represent Cape Town’s rich cultural diversity, entertain the crowds.
When: January
Open Streets Cape Town is a citizen-driven initiative hoping to change the way people see and use Cape Town’s public spaces. The idea is to close down a street temporarily so that it becomes car-free. It’s a chance for people to reclaim streets as a public space for walking, cycling, skating, playing, exploring, and socialising.
When: Year-round
Visit WebsiteOn the first Thursday of every month, arts and culture in Cape Town has a late night, with dozens of art galleries and cultural events showcasing the wealth of talent that the Mother City has on offer – hence the name First Thursdays. The event is completely free, with no structured tour, and no schedule to follow, you are free to absorb it all at your own leisure.
When: Year-round
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