What’s on in Cape Town this September!

September is a double whammy. Heritage Day lands on Thursday, 24, and the spring school holidays take us by surprise on the same day. How’s that for fun?

Have you noticed all the September birthdays? Ke Dezemba was nine months before. You do the math. Just saying…

Talking about Heritage Day, Groote Schuur High School kicks things off with its Heritage Music Festival featuring Emo Adams on Saturday, 19 September. And then the Norval Foundation hosts inspiring exhibitions and live performances celebrating the spirit of our beloved nation on Thursday, 24 September. 

Intaka Island is doing its part in relieving tired parents of bored kids. It’ll be hosting a school holiday programme from Tuesday, 29 September to Thursday, 1 October.

Also, don’t forget the Open Book Fest is happening at the beginning of the month; Trevor Noah returns for the Bafunny Bafunny South African Festival of Comedy at Grand Arena.

CBD

Open Book Festival 2026

• Friday, 4 September - Sunday, 6 September
• Venue: Homecoming Centre, 15 Buitenkant St, District Six 
• Cost: From R50, bookings via Webtickets

Open Book Festival stages 60 events over three days. It’s a celebration, an exploration, and a gathering with books at its centre. The Fest opens with Intentional Recalibrations, an informal talk with authors Sanah Ahsan, Siphokazi Jonas and Lebogang Matseke.

Doek On Fleek Pride Picnic Cape Town

• Saturday, 5 September, 10am
• Venue: Castle of Good Hope, Castle St, Foreshore 
• Cost: From R150, no under-18s, bookings via Fixr

A full-day celebration of love, diversity, and self-expression. The event brings together the LGBTQIA+ community and allies for a relaxed outdoor gathering with live performances, food stalls, workshops, and picnic spaces.

No Place Like Home

• Tuesday, 22 September - Sunday, 27 September, 8pm and 3:30pm
• Venue: Artscape Theatre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore 
• Cost: R190 - R225, bookings via Webtickets

No Place Like Home is an original Cape Town musical that brings together humour, music and compelling storytelling in a celebration of the people, neighbourhoods and connections that shape us. The show will resonate with Cape Town locals, and chances are, you’ll probably want to watch it again.

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

Fight Island 6: 3 Crowns

• Saturday, 5 September, 5pm - 11:50pm
• Venue: Makers Landing, 5 S Arm Rd, V&A Waterfront
• Cost: From R270, bookings via Quicket

The most unforgiving chapter in South African boxing history begins. No wasted rounds. No empty punches. Only consequences. The main event title fight kicks off with 10 rounds when Kaya Mlata comes to blow with Hassan Milanzi in the ring.

COME THRU, The Millennial Matinee - Cape Town’s Ultimate 90s & 2000s 12 Hour Party Experience

• Saturday, 26 September, 2pm - 2am
• Venue: Cabo Beach, 12 S Arm Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront 
• Cost: From R250, no under-23s, bookings via Quicket

Excuse my brain for taking me back to my teen years. COME THRU is giving Vibe 12-hour Mega Rave. If you know, you know. Although I’m not too excited at the prospect of partying for 12 hours straight, my 20-year-old is jumping with joy. Alexa, play Missy Elliott’s ‘4 My People’.

SOUTHERN SUBURBS

Velvet Feathers

• Saturday, 26 September - Sunday, 27 September, 12:30pm
• Venue: Norval Foundation, Steenberg Road, Tokai 
• Cost: R925, bookings via Webtickets

Yes, the cost is exponentially high, but the experience is priceless. Cape Town City Ballet and the Norval Foundation’s Velvet Feathers is an exquisite performance inspired by the timeless beauty of Swan Lake and other beloved classics. More than a performance, it’s a celebration of grace, fragility, and enduring artistry.

Think Camp | MakeCraft - 3D Modelling & Redstone Engineering in Minecraft

• Monday, 28 September, 8am - 3:30pm
• Venue: Rondebosch Sports Club, 52 Park Rd, Rondebosch 
• Cost: From R950, bookings via Quicket

In time for the September school holidays, Think Camp is particularly useful for Grades 2-5. The holiday camp centres on building in 3 dimensions and 15+ different structures and machines. 

CAPE FLATS

Club Thriller: The Experience

• Saturday, 5 September, 7pm
• Venue: Galaxy Disco Restaurant, 104 College Rd, Athlone 
• Cost: From R50, no under-18s, bookings via Quicket

Apparently, old-school discos are on-trend. The second listing for this month, the legendary Club Thriller from the 80s and 90s, features DJs and live performances with songs which resonate from that era.

Coppelia Youth Production

• Saturday, 19 September, noon
• Venue: Joseph Stone Auditorium, Protea St & Klipfontein Rd, Athlone 
• Cost: R50, bookings via Webtickets

A cheaper and more accessible alternative to Velvet Feathers, this inspiring youth development programme culminates in an abbreviated production of Coppélia, performed by talented young dancers from EOAN GROUP and Dance for All, alongside dancers from Cape Town City Ballet.

Time Out Tip: Coppélia, first performed in 1870, is a comic ballet originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes, with libretto by Charles-Louis-Étienne Nuitter. 

NORTHERN SUBURBS

Kenny Lattimore Live in SA

• Sunday, 20 September, 5pm
• Venue: Grand Arena at GrandWest, 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Acacia Park 
• Cost: R990 - R1,490, bookings via Webtickets

If you haven’t secured your ticket by now, you’ll have to beg, borrow or scrounge come 20 September. Kenny Lattimore is the king of timeless R&B. For the fortunate few, an evening of passion, romance, and unforgettable music awaits you.

Trevor Noah Live

• Saturday, 26 September, 6pm
• Venue: Grand Arena at GrandWest, 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Acacia Park 
• Cost: From R475, bookings via Quicket

Patricia’s son is back, and this time he’s bringing along friends. Trevor Noah joins the Bafunny Bafunny South African Festival of Comedy at Grand Arena this September. Expect an incredible evening of world-class stand-up led by Trevor alongside a stellar local lineup, including Eugene Khoza.

WEST COAST

Killarney Time Attack

• Friday, 25 September - Saturday, 26 September, 8am
• Venue: Killarney International Raceway, 6 Potsdam Rd, Table View 
• Cost: R60 - R140, bookings via Webtickets

Unlike traditional circuit racing, competitors in the Killarney Time Attack don’t race door-to-door. Each driver takes on a dedicated approximately 2.2 km point-to-point course, starting from a standing start and competing against the clock to record the fastest time. 

Swartland Olive Festival

• Friday, 25 September - Sunday, 27 September, 10am
• Venue: Riebeek Kasteel Town Square, Riebeek Kasteel 
• Cost: R150 - R500, bookings via Webtickets

Taking place at the Riebeek Kasteel Town Square, the Swartland Live Fest offers an immersive sensory journey where visitors can indulge in wine and olive tasting, Live music, chef demos, a product market, and a family-friendly kids’ zone on-site.

SA Bodyboarding Champs 2026

• Monday 28 September - Friday, 2 October, 7am - 5pm
• Venue: Melkbosstrand Beach 
• Cost: Free entry for spectators; visit the Facebook page for more info

South Africa’s top riders will battle it out along the Melkbos to Blouberg coastline in an epic showcase of talent, progression, and passion for the sport. From rising young talent to national champions, the SA Bodyboarding Champs is world-class action and a celebration of the South African bodyboarding community.

CAPE WINELANDS

Young Artists Concert: Art Song Duos

• Sunday, 13 September, 4pm - 6pm
• Venue: Old Nectar Gardens, 2WV8+PR Stellenbosch 
• Cost: From R50, bookings via Quicket

Bringing together six singer-pianist partnerships, audiences will experience the unique intimacy of the art song genre. Combining poetry and music in equal measure, the Songmakers’ Guild Protégé Programme invites listeners into a world of storytelling and reflection. 

Winelands Bridal Fair 2026

• Saturday, 5 September - Sunday, 6 September, 9am
• Venue: Klein Joostenberg Events Venue, Muldersvlei  
• Cost: R100, bookings via Webtickets

The Cape’s most exclusive and upmarket bridal show returns in 2026 at Klein Joostenberg. Whether you’re newly engaged or in the final stages of planning, the Winelands Bridal Fair is the ultimate event to inspire and connect you with everything you need for your special day.

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