South Africa's vibrant live event scene continues to offer a diverse range of experiences, from music festivals and concerts to community-driven initiatives. Here's a look at some of the latest happenings.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these exciting events:
- RY X and Msaki: On 12 December, experience RY X and Msaki beneath the open skies at Kirstenbosch Gardens. Expect an evening of quiet intensity and connection - a live performance that feels like a ritual: intentional, immersive, and deeply human.
- Calum Scott: Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Calum Scott has announced his biggest tour to date which includes a return to South Africa.
- Plett Rage: Nov 28 - Dec 4, 2025 in Plettenberg Bay, featuring Zakes Bantwini, Chunda Munki, Dwson, and more.
- WAV. Festival: Jan 2, 2026 in Cape Town, featuring Mariah the Scientist, Kelvin Momo, Shekhinah, and more.
- Origin Festival: Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2026 in Helderstroom, featuring Earthspace, Melting Point, Braincell, and more.
Ongoing Events
- Astronomy Exploration: A chance to explore the rich history of astronomy in South Africa on 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 25 & 27 Nov 2025.
- Kirstenbosch Gardens Concerts: Iconic picnic-style concerts at Kirstenbosch Gardens from 23 November 2025 - 29 March 2026.
- Wine and Food Evenings: Elegant evenings of delectable wine and food from 29 October 2025 to 25 March 2026.
- Franschhoek Gardens: Explore a diverse range of gardens in Franschhoek from 7 - 9 November 2025.
- Ceramics Market: A popular ceramics market held twice a year at Rondebosch Park on 22 November 2025.
- European Christmas Market: A Christmas market with a European twist on 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December 2025.
- Bubbly Celebration: Celebrate bubbly with style and elegance on 29 - 30 November 2025.
- Cederberg Nights: A magical evening under the Cederberg's beautiful night skies most Saturdays through to 27 Dec 2025.
- Innovation and Inspiration: Where innovation and inspiration converge to shape the future of Africa from 10 to 13 November 2025.
- Stage Race: A world-class 3-day stage race from 31 October - 9 November 2025.
- Memorable Market: Every Friday, enjoy a memorable market to end off the work week.
- Electronic Fusion and Camping: Two nights of electronic fusion and camping from 21 - 23 November 2025.
- Festive Season Lifestyle Event: A festive season lifestyle event full of inspirational gift ideas from 5 - 9 November 2025.
- Deep House, Jazz, and Soul: An infectious blend of deep house, jazz, and soul on 23 November 2025.
- Comedy Show: Dr. Riaad Moosa returns with a brand-new comedy show from 18 - 29 November 2025.
- Irish Superstars: The multi-million record selling Irish superstars perform in South Africa on 25 Nov 2025.
- Award-Winning Show: Ashley Dowds' award-winning one-man show on 12 November 2025.
- Cooking Experience: Turn up the heat with your partner with this fun cooking experience on 1, 15, 29 Nov & 13 Dec 2025.
- Musical Journey: VOX choir leads a musical journey that blends performance and exploration of the music on 22 November 2025.
Event Cancellations and Challenges
Two major music events that were meant to happen this year in South Africa were either outrightly cancelled or face uncertainty about their future. Hey Neighbour - which brought Kendrick Lamar as a headliner two years ago - fell short of its promise of staging a two-day extravaganza featuring Doja Cat, Central Cee, and Leon Thomas, among others. What began as a postponement ended in a full cancellation.
“The shift is to allow adequate time to secure the necessary artist lineup, funding, and to build an experience that truly captures the event’s signature spirit of community and connection,” read part of the press release published on the festival’s official Instagram account in late September. The second event, organized by the Monyake Group and slated to bring Kanye West to South Africa in December, now faces significant skepticism from an audience whose trust has already been strained.
At the core of both events’ troubles is a faltering post-pandemic economy that has weakened consumer confidence, coupled with an exchange rate that makes such productions prohibitively expensive.
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Community-Driven Initiatives
Despite the challenges, community-driven initiatives are thriving. This past weekend marked the second KLJ event of the year and the third since its debut in October 2024, which introduced a bold visual identity and a DIY attitude. According to founder Vuyo McGlad, the aim is to create a home for “live music lovers that have been excluded and made to feel like they don’t belong.” He’s referring to the often exclusive world of jazz appreciation, which, consciously or not, shuts out potential audiences - particularly younger ones.
“When they come to Kids Love Jazz, they feel like we belong here,” he tells OkayAfrica. KLJ is part of the broader Narowbi collective, which has brought a renewed energy to Johannesburg’s live music scene. At its core is an insistence that nothing is possible without the support of the jazz community - including the artists themselves.
McGlad says the last two editions cost upwards of R300,000 (about $17,000), a figure that would have been much higher were it not for the generosity of the musicians involved. “Everyone on the line-up gave us discounts,” he says, referencing artists such as Thandi Ntuli, Muneyi, and Vuyo Viwe. “They see the value of the platform. We’re so grateful, because they really think with us. Even our suppliers always do us favors.”
When Zukiswa White co-founded ULJ with friends and staged the first edition in 2021, she understood it as a necessary intervention, both in jazz and in the broader live music ecosystem. Four years on, the festival has grown into a two-day experience.
“We’ve benefitted from brand awareness this time around,” White says. “Last year was really great for us. It might not have looked like a massive success, but the 250 or so people who were there all had a story to tell. That builds trust; you don’t have to work as hard to convince new people to come on board, because the previous audience does that for you.”
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“A big milestone for us this year was selling out the first 150 tickets without even announcing a line-up. All we had was a date and a venue. When I look at who bought those tickets, many of them are ULJ fam already, and now they’re buying two, three tickets. People see this as a space meant to be shared with friends and family.”
Community is also what keeps people returning to KLJ. Says McGlad: “We see it all the time. People come to the show, and they have this feeling that [they are] gonna come back here because [they] feel so welcome, it was nice, and the atmosphere was great. These events are therapeutic to people.”
Accessibility is at the heart of KLJ’s organisational ethos, and the reason they have chosen the Braamfontein precinct is because of its centrality. “You can get to Braamfontein from the North, from the West. You can get a taxi, drive, or take the Gautrain, and you’ll get there. The city is alive,” says McGlad.
For White, the mission is more radical, and ties back to the history as a historically exclusive place that systematically kept Black people in the peripheries. “Consciously or unconsciously, Black people think they don’t have a legitimate claim to Gauteng as a place [they] can be a native of. The case we’re trying to make with ULJ is to make the point that Johannesburg has language, culture, and that there’s something unique about this city that has survived. Having people descend on the city when everyone else leaves in December is not coincidental,” she says.
Independent eventing is not easy. Both KLJ and ULJ are financed through collective labour, with family and friends filling gaps through in-kind support. White is vocal about the disparity in the use of language when discussing Black-run events versus white-owned ones.
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“We need to demystify the cost and implications of eventing,” she says. “Across the ecosystem, whether you’re a talent, consumer, or an organiser, we [need to] have the necessary conversations about what it takes to stage a production. It’s become too common to label a failed event as a ‘scam.’ It’s okay to say, ‘this event failed,’ instead of, ‘this organiser is a scammer.’ That nuance is critical if we’re serious about repairing rather than destroying. The space is still largely racist, patriarchal, and colonial. A lot of us are trying to push back against that.”
Resources and infrastructure remain the biggest barriers, from venue access to production equipment to marketing. The work continues anyway.
“We broke even on the Sunday show, [and made] no profit. Transport money came from ourselves, but if you look at the buzz, everyone was so happy. And to us, that’s enough. And it’s not even about popularity, just seeing people happy - I saw people cry. It’s such a great feeling to see that people love this platform,” concludes McGlad.
Thandi Ntuli’s set drew a crowd well before it began. Performing in a trio alongside Tlale Makhene on percussion and Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums, she paused mid-set to acknowledge KLJ and the work it’s doing for the community.
Johannesburg skyline
Tmusicman Spectacular Host Joy of Jazz Drive-In Festival
Additional News
- South Africa vs. Pakistan Test Series: South Africa thump Pakistan by eight wickets to draw Test series. Maharaj and Harmer star with the ball as hosts are bowled out for 138, setting South Africa 68 to win the second Test.
- Clean Air Cooperation: The G20’s first-ever focus on air quality marks a vital step towards protecting health, climate, and sustainable growth.
- ICJ Genocide Case: South African leaders say the case to hold Israeli leaders accountable will continue, despite the ceasefire in Gaza.
- Rebuilding Gaza: The United Nations estimates more than $70bn is needed to rebuild Gaza.
- FIFA World Cup 2026: The latest round of qualifiers around the globe for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has seen the number of entrants rise to 28.
- World Cup Qualification: South Africa book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Nigeria are pushed into CAF playoffs despite beating Benin.
- Bus Crash: Bus crash in South African mountains kills at least 42. The bus, travelling from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi, tumbled down a steep embankment.
- Ambassador Death: South African Ambassador to France found dead outside Paris hotel.
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| November 28 - December 4, 2025 | Plett Rage | Plettenberg Bay |
| January 2, 2026 | WAV. Festival | Cape Town |
| January 30 - February 1, 2026 | Origin Festival | Helderstroom |
Stay tuned for more updates on South Africa's dynamic live events scene.
