City of Cape Town Link

Signature Cape Town events

<h2 class="sectHeading">Culture and creativity</h2> Cape Town International Jazz Festival Africa’s biggest jazz event with a blend of national and international artists entertains around 35 000 people over two nights on five stages. When: March Official website: <a href="https://www.capetownjazzfest.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town International Jazz Festival</a> Suidoosterfees The event offers a variety of performances, musical shows, historical tours and art exhibitions that take place at three main venues: <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/See-all-city-facilities/our-signature-venues/cape-town-city-hall">Cape Town City Hall</a> and the <a href="https://www.artscape.co.za/" target="_blank">Artscape Theatre</a>. When: April/May Official website: <a href="https://suidoosterfees.com/" target="_blank">Suidoosterfees</a> Tweede Nuwejaar (Minstrels, Malay Choirs and Christmas Bands) Communities take part in colourful celebrations, representing Cape Town’s rich cultural diversity and entertaining the crowds on the streets of the Mother City, with the Grand Parade and City Hall as a backdrop. When: January Cape Town Carnival The city’s streets explode with colour, floats and dancers when the Cape Town Carnival takes place. It is a colourful expression of the Mother City’s diverse communities. When: March Official website: <a href="https://capetowncarnival.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town Carnival</a> Encounters South African International Documentary Festival The premier documentary festival in Africa and one of the oldest film festivals on the continent, Encounters remains one of only a few documentary festivals on the continent that is solely dedicated to the genre. When: June Official website: <a href="https://www.encounters.co.za/" target="_blank">Encounters South African International Documentary Festival </a> Jive Cape Town Funny Festival If you’re looking for belly laughs that will have your stomach hurting, then Cape Town’s premier funny festival is for you. When: June and July Official website: <a href="https://funnyfestival.co.za/" target="_blank">Jive Cape Town Funny Festival</a> <h2 class="sectHeading"> Sport</h2> ABSA Cape Epic Known as the “Tour de France” of mountain biking, the eight-day event includes approximately 698 km of biking and takes riders along Cape Town and the Western Cape’s breathtaking mountain passes. When: March Official website: <a href="https://www.cape-epic.com/" target="_blank">ABSA Cape Epic</a> Cape Town Cycle Tour In the world’s largest timed cycle race, around 30 000 riders set out on a route of close to 109 km winding around the Cape Peninsula. When: March Official website: <a href="https://www.capetowncycletour.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town Cycle Tour</a> Discovery Triathlon World Cup Cape Town The Cape Town leg of the eight-city tour takes place at the V&A Waterfront, against the backdrop of Table Mountain. When: February Official website: <a href="https://www.triathlonsa.co.za/" target="_blank">Triathlon South Africa</a> <div>Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open</div><div>Big-time professional golf takes place annually at one of the Mother City’s lushest golf courses.</div><div>When: February</div><div>Official website: <a href="https://www.sunshinetour.com/" target="_blank">Sunshine Tour</a> </div><div> </div>Two Oceans Marathon The world’s most beautiful marathon takes runners on a scenic route for the 56 km ultra-marathon, the popular 21 km half marathon and the 5 km or 2.5 km fun runs. When: April Official website: <a href="https://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/" target="_blank">Two Oceans Marathon</a> South African Women’s Masters The South African Women’s Masters is an International Ladies European Tour and Women’s Professional Golf Association professional women’s golf tournament. When: February Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Africa’s only IAAF Gold label status marathon, sees some 20 000 athletes from 67 countries take on the three distances. When: September Official website: <a href="https://www.capetownmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Sanlam Cape Town Marathon</a> <div>World RX of South Africa</div><div>The Cape Town leg of the FIA Rallycross championship offers two days of adrenaline-pumping action on the Killarney Motor Racing Complex tracks and screaming fans in the stands.</div><div>When: October </div><div>Official website: <a href="https://www.fiaworldrallycross.com/world-rx/" target="_blank">Fia World RallyCross Championship</a> </div><div> </div> HSBC Cape Town Sevens The best live sports experience in South Africa offers two days of thrilling rugby at the DHL Stadium and exciting entertainment and gees on the Mother City's streets. When: December Official website: <a href="https://www.springboks.rugby/" target="_blank">Springboks Rugby</a> Cape Town 10s South Africa's biggest social sport and lifestyle event features rugby, netball, beach volleyball, football and live music. When: February Official website: <a href="https://10s.co.za/play-co-za-cape-town-10s/" target="_blank">Cape Town 10s</a> Volvo Ocean Race The world's premier offshore yacht race has called Cape Town a home for more than a decade for its South African leg of the international competition. When: November Official website: <a href="https://www.theoceanrace.com/" target="_blank">The Ocean Race</a> <h2 class="sectHeading"> Business and innovation</h2> Africa Travel Week This is Africa’s leading tourism trade show. When: April Official website: <a href="https://atwconnect.com/" target="_blank">Africa Travel Week</a> Design Indaba Design Indaba is driven by a passion for innovative work with a strong local flavour. When: February/March Official website: <a href="https://www.designindaba.com/" target="_blank">Design Indaba</a> Mining Indaba Africa’s leading mining investment event with roughly 7 800 professionals, including top economists, mining analysts and financiers, representing more than 1 500 international companies from over 100 countries. When: February Official website: <a href="https://www.miningindaba.com/" target="_blank">Mining Indaba</a> SA Innovation Summit The SA Innovation summit presents a thought leader conference that bridges all players in the innovation system including business, academics and government. When: September Official website: <a href="https://innovationsummit.co.za/" target="_blank">SA Innovation Summit</a> <h2 class="sectHeading"> Community driven events</h2> DSTV Mitchells Plain Festival Cape Town’s largest community festival features some exciting local musical talent and other entertainers, while also providing a platform for SMMEs to exhibit their products. When: November/December Official website: <a href="https://www.mitchellsplainfestival.com/" target="_blank">Mitchells Plain Festival</a> Jazzathon Affectionately known as The People’s Festival, Jazzathon hosts a variety of integrated projects throughout the year leading up to the annual, much-anticipated music festival called the Cape Town Jazzathon at GrandWest Casino. When: January Official website: <a href="https://jazzathon.co.za/" target="_blank">Jazzathon</a> Cape Town Summer Markets The five-day Cape Town Summer Market in the Company’s Garden is a family event with free live entertainment and delicious food. You can also buy a variety of crafts and clothing made by local entrepreneurs. When: December Open Streets Leave your car at home, get on a bicycle, skateboard or dust off those rollerblades and join hundreds of people for a day of fun on the road without any motorised transport. Official website: <a href="https://www.openstreets.org.za/" target="_blank">Open Streets</a> Free Jazz Concert A precursor to the three-day Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Community Concert at Greenmarket Square provides an opportunity to enjoy access to some of the best local and international artists on one stage. When: March Official website: <a href="https://www.capetownjazzfest.com/" target="_blank">Cape Town International Jazz Festival</a> Festive Lights Switch-on The City’s flagship event ushers in the festive season with some of the biggest local musical acts performing on one stage. With a history spanning five decades, the Festive Lights Switch-on event draws in thousands of locals and visitors for a celebration on the Grand Parade in front of the iconic City Hall. When: December

The City supports and hosts a wide range of events, which showcases its unique culture and diversity.