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June is essentially celebrated as Youth Month, with Tuesday, 16 June commemorating the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The day marked a critical point in the fight against the apartheid government. Yes, it’s a public holiday, but it’s a chance to volunteer with your local NPO for a few hours this month.
Artscape is hosting a fundraising event on Youth Day. Funds raised go directly to the Cape Town City Ballet to support its work as one of the world’s oldest ballet companies. The week after Father’s Day (Sunday, 21 June), they will also hosts Innovative Poets Spoken Word: Lessons from My Father (Father’s Day Edition). It’s an unconventional alternative to the typical Father’s Day gifts.
The big hitters on this month’s event calendar are Decorex Cape Town (25 - 28 June) and Encounters South African International Documentary Festival (4 - 14 June) - set to open with a powerful look at Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's life.
CBD
The Great Mass: Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, K. 427/417, and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore KV 339 (Vespers for the Saints)
- Saturday, 6 June - Sunday, 7 June, 7pm and 5:30pm
- Location: Cape Town City Hall, Darling St
- Cost: From R136, bookings via Quicket
The Symphony Choir is bringing something special to South African audiences. Performed here for the very first time, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore (1780) is a stunning six-part choral piece written for Salzburg Cathedral. Think soaring solos, rich choir moments, and the iconic Laudate Dominum, all woven together with five psalms and a Magnificat.
A little musical full circle: This was Mozart’s last major sacred work before leaving Salzburg. The Great Mass marked his return.
Orpheus in the Underworld
- From Friday, 12 June, 7pm
- Location: Artscape Arena, Cape Town CBD
- Cost: R250 - R650, bookings via Webtickets
Inspired by Jacques Offenbach’s cheeky operetta, Orpheus in the Underworld is set in the 1920s. It serves up flapper girls, Mafia muscle, high-kicking Can-Can dancers, and yes… even a swanky penthouse pool for the gods. With music slickly arranged by Michael Tuffin, choreography by Veronica Paeper, and eye-catching designs from Peter Cazalet, this isn’t your typical mythological tale; it’s a full-blown party.
Decorex Cape Town
- Thursday, 25 June to Sunday, 28 June, 10am - 6pm
- Location: CTICC, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long St
- Cost: From R120, bookings via website
Africa’s leading decor and design platform brings together more than 230 of the Global South’s most creative and forward-thinking brands. It’s a one-stop playground for industry insiders and design lovers to spot trends, discover fresh ideas, and see what’s next in interiors.
Please, don't call me moffie
- Tuesday, 2 – Saturday, 6 June | Various times
- Location: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore
- Cost: R150, bookings via Webtickets
Written and directed by Zubayr Charles, the production follows five Cape Coloured men in their late 20s as they navigate questions of identity, masculinity, and belonging in Cape Town. When a viral video depicting a brutal homophobic attack in an unnamed country shocks their community, they are forced to confront the tensions between their past and present, and the realities shaping their sense of self.
ATLANTIC SEABOARD
Mojo Salsa Sundays
- Sunday, 1 June - Sunday, 27 December, 7pm to 11pm
- Location: Mojo Market, 30 Regent Rd, Sea Point
- Cost: Free options, no under-18s allowed, bookings via Quicket
Every Sunday, Mojo Market turns into a full-on fiesta, thanks to Salsa Cape Town and Corona. Kick things off at 7pm with a free beginner salsa class, then hit the floor when the party starts at 8pm. Two left feet? No problem. Ready to spin like a pro? Even better.
Killer Queen - A LAMTA Dance Production
- From Thursday, 4 June, 8pm
- Location: Theatre On The Bay, Camps Bay
- Cost: R200 - R320, bookings via Webtickets
This year, LAMTA is cranking things up with Killer Queen, a high-energy tribute to the one and only Queen. Big music. Bigger personalities. And a backstage look at how four dreamers became rock legends, fuelled by Freddie Mercury’s unforgettable flair.
SOUTHERN SUBURBS
Wilbur Smith Museum
- Tuesday, 19 May - Thursday, 31 December, 10am - 2pm
- Location: Wilbur Smith Museum, Bishopscourt
- Cost: From R150, bookings via Quicket
The Wilbur Smith Museum pays homage to the life and legacy of one of the world’s greatest storytellers. Born in 1933 in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Smith drew inspiration from childhood bush adventures and his mother’s bedtime stories, creating hits like When the Lion Feeds, The Burning Shore, and River God. For fans, the Wilbur Smith Museum is an ever-evolving space celebrating his life and legacy.
Also read: A Night at the (best art) Museum (in Africa)
Puss in Boots
- Friday, 26 June - Saturday, 18 July, 2:30pm and 6pm
- Location: The Pam Golding Theatre, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch
- Cost: R250 - R300, bookings via Webtickets
This fresh take on the classic tale whisks you off to a magical Caribbean island, packed with big laughs, bold characters, dazzling sets, and toe-tapping tunes. Expect plenty of audience participation and a whole lot of mischief from everyone’s favourite feline in fancy footwear.
CAPE FLATS
Encounters South African International Documentary Festival
- Thursday, 4 June - Sunday, 14 June, 10am to 11pm
- Various locations: The Labia Theatre, Bertha House, Isivivana Centre, Khayelitsha
- Cost: From R90, bookings via website
Africa’s leading documentary film festival is still going strong. Every year, Encounters pulls in around 10,000 film lovers across the country for 10 days of powerful, eye-opening documentaries from South Africa and around the world. The film festival dives straight into the issues that matter, shining a light on global stories, shared struggles, and the occasional glimpse of hope.
NORTHERN SUBURBS
UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell
- Tuesday, 2 June, 8pm - 11pm
- Location: Grand Arena, GrandWest, 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Acacia Park
- Cost: From R1025, bookings via Big Concerts
Calling all Vintage Millennials. Now’s the time to bring out the badly-strung guitar and those friends who sing Red Red Wine off-key while holding a brandy. UB40 is heading back to South Africa!
Time Out Tip: Fans are strongly advised against purchasing tickets from Viagogo and other secondary sites.
Don Vino Saxy Vibes 8
- Saturday, 13 June, 7pm
- Location: Grand Arena, GrandWest, 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Acacia Park
- Cost: R190 - R350, bookings via Webtickets
Celebrated saxophonist Don Vino is back in Cape Town, and he’s not coming quietly. Saxy Vibes 8 is set to crank things up even higher than before, with signature energy, musical guests, and a few surprise moments you definitely won’t see coming.
WEST COAST
Robin Auld live at Reload
- Saturday, 6 June, 6pm - 9:30pm
- Location: Reload Flamingo Square, Shop 10 Flamingo Square Centre Corner of Blaauwberg Road, Study St, Table View
- Cost: From R220, bookings via Quicket
Robin Auld doesn’t do one sound. He blends them. Think slide guitar, bluesy riffs, harmonica, and soul-soaked vocals, all wrapped in a style that’s equal parts African roots and gritty blues. His latest album, The Everlovin’ Wind, is hitting all the right notes, with singles Underground and Country Mile climbing the charts.
CAPE WINELANDS
Fynarts Festival 2026
- Saturday, 6 June - Sunday, 14 June, 2:30pm
- Various venues across Hermanus
- Cost: From R120, bookings via Webtickets
Clear your calendar because 6 to 14 June is officially booked. This is creativity turned all the way up. Theatre that pulls you in. Live music in every mood. Exhibitions worth lingering over. Food-and-wine moments that double as main characters. It’s bold. It’s busy. And basically a week-long excuse to indulge your cultural side.
Sinatra in the Cellars
- Saturday, 27 June, 6:30pm - 8pm
- Location: Lourensford Wine Estate, Lourensford Rd, Somerset West
- Cost: From R250, bookings via Quicket
How about a little Sinatra swagger? Sinatra in the Cellars is landing at Lourensford Wine Estate, and it’s bringing the charm. The Kruger & Tutu Ensemble strips things back for an intimate, unplugged tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes, served up in the moody magic of the wine cellars.
A Sensory Experience on the Horizon
- Friday, 5 June | 5:30pm
- Location: La Motte Wine Farm, R45, Franschhoek
- Cost: R1,350, bookings via their website
Inspired by its current exhibition, Van Horison tot Horison, La Motte invites guests to an exclusive evening celebrating art in all its forms. The sensory experience includes a horizontal Chardonnay tasting hosted by Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche, and a five-course dinner at L’Ami Family Brasserie inspired by the surrounding landscape, the artworks in the La Motte Ateljee, and La Motte’s world-renowned wines.
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