‘Cape Town has kicked off the new year with a lively mix of events, from the iconic minstrel parade to thrilling rugby and cricket action, as well as open-air theatre. The coming week continues this strong start to 2026, and the excitement grows as the year unfolds and several standout showpieces take centre stage in the months ahead. This is welcome news, not only for event lovers, but also for the thousands of people who rely on events to earn a living,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The City is partnering with Counder for the Counder Conference 2026 on 26 and 27 January.
It brings together around 500 of the world’s most influential industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from diverse sectors.
The Counder Conference is by invite or application only.
Cape Town City FC
Cape Town City will play their first home game of the year against the University of Pretoria at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday, 27 January.
The Citizens, who have won six of their last eight matches in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, will be looking to continue their climb up the league table.
The home team won 3 – 0 against AmaTuks the last time the two teams met in Pretoria in November.
The matchday 16 showdown is scheduled for a 15:30 kick-off, with gates set to open at 13:30.
Entry to watch the game is free. Spectators can get free tickets through Webtickets.
SPAR Cape Town Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo
The Cape Town Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo takes place at the Green Point A-Track from Friday, 30 January until Sunday, 1 February 2026.
The three-day event showcases a mix of culture, lifestyle, gourmet delights, and SMME development.
With over 100 exhibitors, an interactive cooking theatre, couture emporium, entertainment and prizes galore, the Ramadan and Lifestyle Expo takes place ahead of the start of Ramadan next month.
On Friday, the expo will run from 15:00 until 21:00. On Saturday, it will start at 09:00 and end at 21:00 before coming to a close at 19:00 on Sunday.
Tickets for the expo start from R35 for adults, R20 for pensioners and children under 10 enter for free.
Patrons are advised that there will be no parking at the Green Point A-Track for the public.
Parking will be made available at P12, P13 and P14 on Green Point Main Road as well as P4, P6 on Vlei Road and P9 on Bill Peters Drive.
World Sports Betting Cape Town Met
To close off an exciting month of events, the City is partnering with Race Coast for the Cape Town Met, the Mother City’s premier horse racing and lifestyle event.
The 164th running of the Cape Town Met heads to Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday, 31 January 2026 for a day where elite horse racing meets style.
The year’s official theme, Symphony of Style, is a beautifully rich and imaginative experience where horse racing, fashion, music, and movement harmonise like instruments in a magnificent orchestra.
Tickets for the event are available through Computicket.
Residents and motorists are advised of possible traffic interruptions in the Kenilworth and Lansdowne areas due to the event.
There will be no stopping allowed on the following roads from 05:00 until midnight:
| Street |
Between |
|
| Doncaster Road |
Rosemead Ave |
Loch Rd |
| Rosemead Ave |
Doncaster Rd |
Wetton Rd |
| Wetton Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
Goldbourne Rd |
| Kenilworth Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Sherwood Ave |
Kenilworth Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Ritchie Ave |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Pearson Ave |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Ascot Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Bray Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Wargrave Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Putney Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Bathurst Rd |
Goldbourne Rd |
Rosemead Ave |
| Country Club Rd |
Wetton Rd |
Bathurst Rd
|
There will be lane restrictions on:
| Street |
Lane |
Road Restrictions |
| Wetton Road (Wetton Gate Entrance) |
Left Lane |
Left lane to merge with right lane. The merge will be an 80m taper with a 100m run off |
| Wetton Road (East Parking Entrance) |
Left Lane |
Left lane to merge with right lane. The merge will be a 50m taper with a 50m run off
|
To mitigate the impact on traffic, the event organiser has made available parking for event attendees at the Chukker Road Sports Ground.
A dedicated shuttle will transport attendees from Chukker Road to the racetrack and back post the event.
Maynardville Open-Air Festival
The Maynardville Open Air Festival, which kicked off its two-month run two weeks ago, continues this week at the Maynardville Theatre in Wynberg.
The festival, one of Cape Town’s oldest theatre traditions, is celebrating its 70th anniversary for its run until 8 March 2026.
Its programme also includes the soul-stirring melodies of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Tour de Tchaikovsky, a Chamber Music Concert, a powerful performance by Cape Town Opera, and a delightful musical experience celebrating the 95th anniversary of one of the Musical Theatre’s most prolific writers, Sunday in the Park with Sondheim.
Tickets for the festival are available through Quicket.
For more information on these events hosted in Cape Town, visit www.eventsincapetown.com.
