[category]
[title]
The Heritage Day public holiday falls on Thursday (24 September), which – in South African terms – means it’s pretty much a long weekend!
This is the perfect excuse to get out of your comfort zone and try something fun!
We’ve found it all for you. From a massive lifestyle pop-up to Heritage Month celebrations, music, painting, music and more, there’s plenty happening around Durban and beyond from Thursday through Sunday.
Here’s what to do around Durban and KZN this Heritage Day ‘long weekend’.
Weekend weather
Friday
- Min: 20°C
- Max: 23°C
- Partly Cloudy
Saturday
- Min: 20°C
- Max: 25°C
- Showers and thunderstorms
Sunday
-
Min: 20°C
-
Max: 25°C
-
Rain showers
Durban
Australia vs South Africa: 1st ODI
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Time: 10 am
- Location: Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
- Tickets: From R200 via TicketPro
Heritage Day is getting a cricketing twist as South Africa takes on Australia in the first ODI of the Australia Tour to South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium.
Expect a big match-day atmosphere as thousands of cricket fans head to Kingsmead to watch some of the world’s top players go head-to-head. With a full day of one-day international cricket on the cards, it’s a great way to spend the public holiday if you’re looking for a little sporting excitement.
Grab your tickets, round up your cricket-loving crew and settle in for a day at the stadium.
Heritage Day Concert: Sjava, Simmy & Q Twins
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Location: Durban Botanic Gardens, Lake Area
- Gates: 1 pm
- Tickets: Available via Webtickets
- More info: Durban Botanic Gardens Info Centre on 068 598 1396
Celebrate Heritage Day with an afternoon of live music at one of Durban's most scenic outdoor venues. Sjava, Simmy and the Q Twins bring three distinctive KZN voices to the stage, with music spanning contemporary African sounds, Afro-house and isiZulu storytelling.
Bring your picnic blanket and camping chairs, settle in beside the lake and make a day of it. Food and drinks are welcome too.
Dynamic Soul Sessions: Heritage Get-Together
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Location: The Pier, South Beach, Durban
- Time:12 pm10 pmpm
- Tickets: R100 via Quicket | R150 at the door
- Age: 23+
Get ready to dress to impress. The Dynamic Soul Sessions' Heritage Get-Together promises a day of culture, music, unity, style, and good vibes at The Pier.
Themed Heritage. Soul. Music. Unity. It's an opportunity to celebrate where we come from while enjoying a soundtrack designed to bring people together.
Glenwood Book Fair
- Date: Thursday, 24 – Sunday, 27 September 2026
- Locations: Umbilo Library at Bulwer Park; Mazisi Kunene Museum; KZNSA; Phansi Museum
- Cost: Free
- Information: Glenwood Book Fair
If your idea of a good Heritage Weekend involves getting lost in a book rather than lost in traffic, head to the Glenwood Book Fair, taking place across four venues from 24 to 27 September.
The not-for-profit community event is organised by MYGLENWOOD and the Durban Book Club in celebration of Durban’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature. The programme brings together close to 60 authors, writers, poets, historians, sociologists, artists and performers, with a particular focus on reading, writing, publishing and indigenous-language literature.
The fair kicks off on Thursday with a programme for children and young people at Bulwer Park, in partnership with Umbilo Library and the Glenwood Urban Improvement Precinct, featuring children’s authors, dancers, musicians and storytelling.
Friday moves to the Mazisi Kunene Museum, where discussions will explore the work of South Africa’s first Poet Laureate and the importance of indigenous languages, followed by an afternoon at KZNSA looking at the intersection of art and storytelling. The day finishes with a panel celebrating local authors and The Durban Voice.
The weekend programme heads to the Phansi Museum on Saturday and Sunday, where dozens of authors will take part in conversations covering everything from fiction and poetry to history and sociology.
The Social Season 4
- Dates: Friday, 25 – Sunday, 27 September
- Times: Friday 7 pm11 pmm (exclusive preview fro6 pmpm) | Saturd11 am1am–11pm | Sunday 11am–8pm
- Location: Durban Exhibition Centre, Hall 2 East & Central
- Theme: Country Club
- Cost: Entry is R20, card only |Parking is R20, card only
- Information: The Social website | @thesocialdbn on Instagram
The Social is back for its fourth season, bringing online brands into the real world for a weekend of shopping, food, entertainment and community.
This edition has a Country Club theme, with tennis, padel, golf carts and old-money-inspired glamour adding to the atmosphere. More than 120 premium brands will be represented, spanning fashion, lifestyle, food and more.
There will also be entertainment, big-screen sporting experiences and seasonal showcases, with dedicated Salaah facilities and spaces designed to accommodate different generations.
READ: Time to unplug and get social, Durban!
Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing: Braai, Beats and Gallops
- Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
- Time: Gates open at 3 pm
- Location: Hollywoodbets Greyville, Durban
- Entry: Free
Start the weekend with racing, braai smoke and a proudly South African soundtrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Lucky Fish Friday Night Racing returns with a Heritage Month edition featuring live horse racing, a food market, music and a KidZone for younger racegoers.
There will also be beer, cider and whisky specials, with happy hour running from 5pm to 6pm.
Entry is free, making this an easy Friday outing for families, racing fans and anyone who would rather begin the weekend trackside than sit in traffic.
13th European Film Festival South Africa
- Dates: Friday, 25 – Sunday, 27 September
- Location: New Noise Courtyard, 5 Southampton Street, Point, Durban
- Tickets: Limited to 40 tickets per screening via Quicket
European cinema comes to the Durban Point as the 13th European Film Festival South Africa brings eight award-winning films to New Noise Courtyard. Expect an eclectic selection of contemporary European cinema exploring family, relationships, identity, history and survival.
Screening times:
- Friday, 25 September,7 pmm: The Last Viking
- Saturday, 26 September5 pmpm: Porcelain War
- Saturday, 26 Septembe7.30 pm0pm: A Family
- Sunday, 27 Septemb5 pm 5pm: La Grazia
Shisanyama Heritage Festival
- Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
- Location: Berea Rovers, 73 Jacko Jackson Drive, Durban
- Time: 12 pm 12pm
- Tickets: From R180 through Howler
The Shisanyama Heritage Festival brings some of KZN's top shisanyama vendors together for a celebration of township food culture and the entrepreneurs behind it. Expect flame-grilled favourites, regional specialities, live entertainment and a festival atmosphere, with Kelvin Momo heading up the music.
The event was inspired by the legacy of the late Jabulani ‘Mjay’ Zama, founder of Eyadini Lounge, and aims to celebrate the businesses and communities that have helped make shisanyama an important part of Durban's food and tourism culture.
KZN South Coast
Jhumka-Inspired Paint Night
- Date: Friday, 25 September
- Time: 6 pm7.30 pmm
- Location: Circus Circus, Galleria Mall, Amanzimtoti
- Cost: R370, all-inclusive
- Age: Adults and ages 10+
- Dress code: Indian glam
- Bookings: WhatsApp 069 297 8618
Celebrate the intricate beauty of traditional Jhumkas while creating your own colourful masterpiece at this creative evening in Amanzimtoti.
Tickets include a pre-drawn themed canvas, with eight designs to choose from, decorative embellishments, and all painting materials. Your ticket also includes a burger or pasta meal from the Circus Circus menu.
Ugu Maskandi Festival
- Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
- Location: Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre, Margate
- Gates: 12 pm | Performances from 2 pm
- Tickets: Early Bird General R80 | VIP R1 200 | Cooler Box R150 from Webtickets
- More info: Ugu Maskandi Festival on Facebook
Head south for a celebration of one of South Africa's most distinctive musical traditions at the 6th Annual Ugu Maskandi Festival.
Expect a full day of Maskandi music, storytelling, and live performances celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. With general and VIP tickets available, it's for anyone who wants to experience the energy of live Maskandi in a festival setting.
Scottburgh Mall Family Trail Run
- Date: Sunday, 27 September
- Registration: From 7 am
- Location: Scottburgh Mall, Gold Rush parking lot
- Entry: R80–R120 via Webtickets
- Race times: 11km at8 amm | 6km a8.30 amam
- Prize-givin10 am0am, Scottburgh Mall centre court
The event offers 11km and 6km routes, making it possible to choose your challenge before settling in for the post-race prize-giving.
Every runner receives a goodie bag and automatically enters the lucky draw, and the top three finishers receive prizes. The event also has a community focus, with proceeds going towards Keep Scottburgh Beautiful and S.N.A.P.
KZN North Coast and Zululand
Ilembe Heritage Experience
- Dates: 25–27 September 2026
- Location: KwaDukuza
- Tickets: From R100 via TicketPro
- Age: 18+
The Ilembe Heritage Experience turns Heritage Month into a three-day journey through the Zulu Kingdom, combining culture, music, dance, food, sport, and the outdoors.
Hosted by Ilembe Heritage Foundation, the programme includes:
- Day 1: A cultural experience at the King Shaka Memorial and King's Gala Dinner in KwaDukuza.
- Day 2: Ultimatum Tree breakfast and music festival at Mandeni's Ngcedomhlophe Stadium.
- Day 3: A Ballito Beach Experience featuring live music, beach sports, hiking and sunset viewing.
It's a chance to explore the region beyond the usual Heritage Day celebrations, and experience different sides of Ilembe along the way.
Dolosfees
- Dates: Thursday, 24 – Saturday, 26 September
- Location: Open veld near Alkantstrand, Richards Bay
- Tickets: From R100 per day | R350 full weekend | Children 6–12 R50 | U6 free via iTickets
- Information: Dolosfees website | elize@dolosfees.com
Richards Bay is turning up the volume for Heritage Day weekend with three days of live music, entertainment and family activities at Dolosfees. The line-up includes Prime Circle, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Fatman, Tino, ANGUS Band and the Saxby Twins.
There’s more than music on the programme, with a Heritage Day fun run, Miss Dolosfees pageant, art classes, a Plankie braai and food tasting, a skateboarding competition, stalls and activities for children.
Local school groups, cultural dancers, the Richards Bay Dance Company and Zululand's Got Talent contenders will also take to the stage.
KZN Upper Highway
Botho Heritage International Festival
- Dates: Wednesday, 23 – Sunday, 27 September
- Location: Wushwini Pan African Centre, KwaNgcolosi, Valley of 1000 Hills
- What to expect: Theatre, music, dance, fashion, film, literature, poetry, food, visual art, workshops and cultural experiences
- Entry: R50 at the door for productions, events and shows
- Information: Wushwini Pan African Centre website | @wushini_arts on Instagram
Heritage Month gets a five-day celebration in the Valley of 1000 Hills with the 12th edition of the Botho Heritage International Festival.
The festival brings together established and emerging artists, elders, young people and cultural practitioners for a programme that moves between ancestral rituals, storytelling, fashion, theatre, food, dance and live music.
Over the long weekend, visitors can experience the Heritage Fashion Showcase, cultural performances, the Ubuntu Walk, traditional and contemporary music, a Heritage Food Festival and more.
If you're looking for a Heritage Day experience that goes beyond a braai, Botho offers five days of African creativity and cultural celebration.
READ: Botho Heritage International Festival returns to the Valley of 1000 Hills
KZN Midlands and Drakensberg
Indoda Must Smile
- Date: Thursday, 24 September
- Location: St Joseph Catholic Church, Howick
- Written and directed by: Makhubalo Ikaneng
- Tickets and information: 064 095 9013 | makhubaloza@gmail.com
The story follows two cousins, Vusi and Sihle, who inherit their uncle's beloved fashion shop but have very different ideas about its future.
One wants quick success and change, while the other believes in craftsmanship, loyal customers, and doing things properly. Their clash becomes a larger conversation about money, happiness, family and what it means to carry on a legacy.
The production is written and directed by award-winning storyteller, writer, director and producer Makhubalo Ikaneng, whose work spans theatre, television, film and youth arts.
Heritage Friday at Coffeeberry Café
- Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
- Location: Coffeeberry Café, The Avenues, Hilton
- Time: Dinner from 6 pm | Show at7 pmm
- Tickets: R150 via Quicket
- Bookings: WhatsApp 082 331 7271
Take a musical trip through South Africa's past and present with Heritage Friday, featuring Charles Webster, Grace Botha, Rudi Engelbrecht and Tanya Nicolson.
Expect a soundtrack inspired by the likes of Johnny Clegg, Freshlyground, Mango Groove, Bright Blue and Paul Simon's Graceland era, alongside dinner and plenty of local flavour.
It's Heritage Month with a distinctly lekker soundtrack – and possibly the perfect excuse to bring along the friend who always insists on making the braai playlist.
Zulu Cultural Experience Guided Tour
- Date: Saturday, 26 September
- Time: 9 am3 pmm
- Location: Mpophomeni Township
- Cost: R600 per person
- Bookings: 076 359 6227
- Information: info@amangonyamaguidedtours.co.za | www.amangonyamaguidedtours.co.za
Spend Heritage Day weekend getting to know the culture and history of Mpophomeni with a guided Zulu cultural experience.
The tour offers visitors the opportunity to explore the township with local guides and gain insight into the area's heritage and community.
Mpophomeni Craft Exhibition and Craft Fair
- Date: Saturday, 26 September
- Time: 10 am–3.30 pm
- Location: Mpophomeni Tourism & Craft Centre
- Information: Zulu Mpophomeni Tourism Experience: 033 238 0288 | info@zmte.co.za
Browse the local artisan market, support small businesse,s and see the Best Stallholder Business Improvement Award, while live music and traditional Zulu dancing provide the entertainment. There will also be local cuisine, interactive craft demonstrations and a jungle gym for children.
The event forms part of Mpophomeni's participation in the UNESCO Creative City initiative and provides local entrepreneurs with an opportunity to connect with the community and grow their businesses.
Music and Magic Under the Oak Tree
- Date: Sunday, 27 September 2026
- Time: 12 noon for 12.30 pm
- Location: 59 Karkloof Road
- Tickets: Picnic boxes R95 per adult; donations to Ha!Man after the show
- Bookings: Essential – Shereen on 083 647 5350
Pack your picnic blanket, camp chair and basket and settle in for an afternoon of music and magic under the old oak tree at Dignified Simplicity.
Order your meat-eater's box includes a baguette, chicken and meatball sosaties, skinny wors, mini crustless quiche, cheddar and Camembert, hummus and crudités, a pickled onion, olive and stuffed peppadew sosatie, and strawberries.
Vegetarians can tuck into a box featuring a baguette, mini crustless quiche, pickled onion, olive and stuffed peppadew sosatie, crumbed cauliflower sosatie, cheddar and Camembert, hummus and crudités, and strawberries.
There'll also be chocolate and walnut torte available for dessert.
Bring your own wine, beer, or other drinks, and settle in for an easy-going afternoon beneath the oak tree. Donations to Ha! Man will be welcomed after the show.
TIME OUT DURBAN RECOMMENDS:
📍 The best things to do in Durban
🍽 The best restaurants in Durban
🏨 The best hotels in Durban
🛏️ Where to stay in Durban
📢 Latest news from Durban
Follow Time Out Durban on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok! To get the coolest news, features, and things to do straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.