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If your idea of a good weekend involves a little less scrolling and a lot more doing, you're in luck.
You can head into the countryside for tractors, trail running and live music, catch contemporary dance from around the world, solve a murder at the theatre or settle in for an afternoon of live music at St Ives.
And, naturally, there’s plenty of food involved. Because what is a Durban weekend without it?
Here’s our pick of what’s happening from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August.
Weekend weather
Friday
- Min: 18°C
- Max: 24°C
- Mostly Clear
Saturday
- Min: 18°C
- Max: 24°C
- Clear Skies
Sunday
- Min: 19°C
- Max: 25°C
- Slight Rain
Durban
The Music Imbizo 2026
- Dates: Wednesday, 26 – Saturday, 29 August
- Venue: UNISA Durban Campus and various showcase venues
- Tickets: Up to R350 from Webtickets
- More information: themusicimbizo.co.za
Calling all music industry obsessives, aspiring artists, and people who simply want to know what happens behind the music.
The Music Imbizo returns to Durban with a music business conference, film festival, networking opportunities and an official showcase programme featuring 24 selected acts from more than 900 submissions.
The 2026 theme is Toward a Sacred Economy of Sound – Building the Systems for a Conscious Music Industry, so expect plenty of conversation around the future of the music industry alongside the performances.
The conference and film festival take place at UNISA Durban, while the official showcases run across venues including Hue Café and The Chairman.
READ: What's on in Durban this September!
JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience
- Dates: Wednesday, 26 August – Monday, 7 September
- Venues: Sneddon, Square Space, Stable Theatre and KZNSA Gallery
- Programme: jomba.ukzn.ac.za
- Tickets: From Webtickets
Dance is taking over Durban for 13 days as the 28th JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience brings together artists from South Africa and around the world.
Expect performances, workshops, artist residencies, public discussions, youth programmes and digital dance, with artists from Spain, France, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Uganda, Ireland, Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil and beyond joining the South African line-up.
Basically, if you think contemporary dance is just people dramatically waving their arms around, this is your opportunity to reconsider.
Special full-festival passes are also available.
READ: What happens when a Zulu grandmother’s recipes enter a Durban fine-dining kitchen?
TEEKS – Live in Durban
- Date: Friday, 28 August
- Time: Doors 7pm | Show 8pm–11pm
- Venue: The Station, 65 Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, Stamford Hill
- Tickets: From R495, excluding booking fee, from Webtickets
- More information: breakout.events
Prepare for some seriously smooth Friday-night energy.
Aotearoa New Zealand singer-songwriter TEEKS is bringing his soulful sound to Durban, following a career that has seen his debut album Something to Feel reach No. 1 in New Zealand, earn Platinum status and win multiple awards.
South African fans may know him particularly well for First Time, which went viral on local TikTok in 2022 and went Gold in South Africa.
With more than a billion short-form video views and multiple Platinum and Gold releases behind him, TEEKS is bringing his famously emotive live show to Durban.
READ: Planning your 2027 trail runs? Oxpecker entries open on 1 September
Africana Women Synergy Music Festival
- Date: Friday, 28 August
- Time: 3pm
- Venue: Playhouse Drama Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban
- Tickets: R100 from Webtickets
Women in music take to the stage at the Africana Women Synergy Music Festival, an annual celebration bringing together female artists of African descent for a collaborative afternoon of music.
Curated by Bukelwa Cakata, the festival features both disabled and able-bodied women from across KwaZulu-Natal, with the bigger ambition of eventually bringing artists from across South Africa and the continent together.
Expect a celebration of African creativity, diversity and unity, with the festival using music as a way to amplify women's voices.
READ: Dusi 2027 dates confirmed for South Africa’s iconic river race
Chal Naach – Let's Dance
- Dates: Friday, 28 August at 7pm | Saturday, 29 August at 2pm and 6pm
- Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban
- Tickets: R180 from Webtickets
If sitting still isn't really your thing, Chal Naach – or Let's Dance – should sort you out.
The showcase brings together some of Durban's leading Indian and African dance companies, including Rudra Dance Theatre, ParamAthman Dance Theatre, Kumari Shiksha Dance Institute, Vande Mataram Productions, Nehaal Productions and Isiko La Manje.
Expect a colourful, high-energy celebration of dance, with performances designed to entertain, inspire and showcase the city's extraordinary dance talent.
READ: Deadly Dozen Durban 2026: One of the toughest fitness races is coming back to the city
Heart of Freedom
- Dates: Friday, 28 August at 7pm | Saturday, 29 August at 6pm | Sunday, 30 August at 2pm
- Venue: The Milkwood Theatre, Danville Park Girls' High School, Durban North
- Tickets: R180 from Webtickets
- Parking: Field via Newport Avenue between astro and church
What happens when 36 women, five young dancers and a whole lot of dance dreams take over a stage?
You get Heart of Freedom.
Freedom Dance's annual studio showcase celebrates women from all walks of life – from first-time performers and former professionals to mothers, daughters, business owners and dancers finally chasing the dream they once thought was out of reach.
There'll be a mix of dance styles, live vocals and special guest performances from Durban dancer Sherwin Green and Johannesburg singer, dancer and MC Zahn-Reece Malgas.
READ: Durban Sunrise Run 2026 adds 42km Comrades Marathon qualifier
Soul Train Picnic 2026
- Date: Saturday, 29 August
- Time: From 10am
- Venue: 9 John Zikhali Road, Durban
- Tickets: R150-R300 from Webtickets
Dust off the picnic blanket and prepare for a little soul therapy.
The fourth annual Soul Train Picnic is bringing smooth soul and R&B classics to Durban, with resident Soul Train DJs and radio personalities providing the soundtrack.
This year's theme is Hawaiian, so expect plenty of bright shirts, colourful outfits, picnic baskets and good vibes.
Back to You: A Tribute to Bryan Adams
- Dates: Saturday, 29 August at 7.30pm | Sunday, 30 August at 2pm
- Venue: Rhumbelow Theatre, Cunningham Road, Durban
- Tickets: R180-R200 from Webtickets
- Contact: 082 499 8636
Summer of '69. Heaven. Run to You. You know the drill! The Black Lapels are bringing their Back to You Bryan Adams tribute to Rhumbelow Theatre for a nostalgia-packed evening of rock anthems and big singalongs.
Fronted by Rob Warren, the band will revisit some of Adams' biggest hits in the intimate Rhumbelow setting. Basically, if you've ever found yourself dramatically singing along to Everything I Do (I Do It for You), this one's for you.
READ: Comrades Marathon 2027 gets a new Kings Park finish and its biggest field yet
Eastern Bridal Fair: The Final Bow
- Dates: Saturday, 29 August at 7pm; Sunday, 30 August at 3pm
- Venue: Kendra Hall, 5 John Zikhali Road, Greyville
- Tickets: R100–R200 from Webtickets
After 25 years, the Eastern Bridal Fair is calling time on an era – but not without one final celebration.
The Gujarati Hindu Sanskruti Kendra's long-running Indian wedding and lifestyle exhibition will mark its 25th year with two commemorative fashion and dance showcases celebrating the culture, creativity and community that have shaped the event.
Violin Duo
- Date: Sunday, 30 August
- Time: 2.30pm
- Venue: Durban Jewish Centre
- Tickets: R150 at the door, cash only
- Contact: millark.millar@gmail.com | 071 505 1021
Classical music fans can spend Sunday afternoon with two of Durban’s leading violinists.
Moscow-born Evgeny Zhadanov and Refiloe Olifant, both first violinists with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform a programme of violin duos before being joined by pianist Andrew Warburton.
The programme moves from Bériot and Boccherini to Soviet-era composer Igor Frolov, with a little Joplin ragtime and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes thrown in for good measure.
UYENA Sessions
- Date: Sunday, 30 August
- Time: From 12pm
- Venue: Dropkick Murphy's, Florida Road
- Tickets: R100 from Webtickets
Sunday doesn't necessarily mean slowing down.
UYENA Sessions is bringing an afternoon of afro house, soulful house and afro tech to Florida Road, with the focus firmly on music, connection and good company.
KZN North Coast
Wozza Rhythm & Roots Umhlali Prep Music Festival
- Date: Saturday, 29 August
- Venue: Umhlali Prep
- Gates: 10am
- Tickets: R250 adults | R150 under 18s from Webtickets
The Dolphin Coast is getting its own soundtrack this weekend.
The Wozza Rhythm & Roots Umhlali Prep Music Festival is bringing a full day of live music to Umhlali, with Veranda Panda headlining alongside the Phillip Taylor Band, Jason Hartman, Grant Truter, and performances from the Umhlali Prep choir and marimbas.
It's the kind of event that requires sunscreen, good company and absolutely no plans afterwards.
KZN Upper Highway
Agatha Christie’s The Hollow
- Dates: Friday, 21 August – Saturday, 5 September
- Venue: Westville Theatre Club
- Time: Friday and Saturday at 7pm | Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2.30pm
- Tickets: R120 | R100 for students, pensioners and members
- Bookings: WhatsApp Dorothy on 083 776 1754 or email dorothyannoneill@gmail.com
Got a taste for murder, mystery and a suspiciously large number of people with motives?
Agatha Christie’s The Hollow is bringing classic whodunnit drama to Westville Theatre Club, where a country-house gathering takes a very dark turn.
Hercule Poirot is on hand, but even the famous Belgian detective has his work cut out for him when a staged murder turns out to be very real.
And it’s dinner-style theatre, so bring your own food and drinks.
The Eston Show
- Dates: Saturday, 29 & Sunday, 30 August
- Venue: Beaumont Eston Farmers' Club Showgrounds
- Gates: 9am
- Tickets: R70 adults | R50 teens aged 12–17 from Quicket (free for children U12)
The Eston Show returns for its 72nd edition with two days of agriculture, entertainment, food, markets and family fun. It's less than an hour from Durban, making it an easy excuse for a day trip.
Expect artisan markets, local businesses, gardening and outdoor-lifestyle displays, vintage tractors and plenty of food.
READ: You really need to escape to the countryside for the Eston Show this August
There’s also live music and rugby fans can catch the Springboks taking on New Zealand on the big screen in the Main Tent.
There’s the KZN Trail Run through nearby Tala Game Reserve, the legendary Roof of Eston off-road motorcycle ride and a Kids' Fun Zone. And don't miss the Art Zone, where Eston Outreach will host a live paint-off featuring South African artists.
READ: How two Eston women are turning recycled materials into art for 450 children
KZN Midlands and Drakensberg
André the Hilarious Hypnotist
- Dates: Friday, 28 August | Saturday, 29 August
- Time: 8pm
- Venue: Golden Horse Casino, New England Road, Pietermaritzburg
- Tickets: R150 from Webtickets
Ever wondered what you'd do if someone hypnotised you on stage? There's only one way to find out.
André the Hilarious Hypnotist is bringing his audience-participation comedy show to Pietermaritzburg, where willing volunteers can find themselves unexpectedly transformed into the star of the show.
Don't worry: participation is completely voluntary. But if you're trying to get rid of your husband, André might have some ideas...
The show is suitable for all ages, although stage volunteers need to be 16 or older.
Bubbles in the Sun at Highgate
- Date: Sunday, 30 August
- Times: 11am-3pm
- Venue: Highgate Wine Estate, Midlands Meander
- Cost: R275
- Bookings: 066 449 2620 | info@highgatewineestate.co.za
Highgate Wine Estate is serving up bottomless bubbles on Sunday, accompanied by floating canapés.
Bookings are reportedly coming in fast, so if your ideal Sunday involves sunshine, something sparkling and snacks that arrive by flotation device, this could be your moment.
Veranda Panda at The Boma
- Date: Sunday, 30 August
- Venue: St Ives, The Boma
- Times: Opens 2.30pm | Opening act 3pm | Headline act 4pm
- Tickets: R100 from Quicket
Veranda Panda, ooba Home Loans, The Boma, St Ives Lodge & Venue and Tate Nolan & Knight are hosting a fundraising afternoon in support of Tyler Moran, who has Turner Syndrome and faces ongoing medical expenses, including medication, MRI scans, specialist care and a major operation.
Food and drinks will be available to purchase throughout the afternoon, so bring your friends, settle in and enjoy the music while supporting a good cause.
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