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Feel like disconnecting from apps and reconnecting with people? Maybe with a little shopping and eats thrown in?
Great! Because The Social returns with a weekend of shopping, food, entertainment, and community from 25 to 27 September 2026.
And this time, the Durban lifestyle pop-up is moving indoors, taking over Hall 2 East & Central at the Durban Exhibition Centre.
Themed Country Club, the pop-up is bringing together tennis, padel, golf carts and old-money-inspired glamour for what organisers are billing as the biggest edition yet.
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The rise of The Social
At the heart of The Social is a simple idea: take the online shopping experience and make it something people can experience together.
Event organiser Zohaib Osman says the event was created to give online businesses a physical platform while creating a space for Durban's community to connect.
“In a world consumed by digital, The Social is where Durban logs off. We take the country's best online brands, the ones you've been double-tapping all year, and put them in one place, in person, for one weekend only.
“We've grown from humble beginnings to an event that sees over 20,000 attendees in under a year, and Season 4 is our biggest event yet: 120 exclusive, premium brands at the Durban Exhibition Centre, with food, entertainment and an atmosphere you can't get through a screen. It's our grand finale for 2026, and it's not to be missed.”
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Shop, eat and discover something new
The organisers say every stall is reviewed before being selected, with the focus on bringing a curated mix of businesses together rather than simply creating another market.
Expect fashion, lifestyle finds, food and more, alongside entertainment, big-screen sporting experiences and seasonal showcases designed to keep the event feeling like an experience rather than a quick shopping trip.
For families, there are also dedicated Salaah facilities and space designed to accommodate different generations.
The entire event will take place indoors at the Durban Exhibition Centre, so you can browse, eat and socialise without worrying about the weather.
And if you're looking for an excuse to dress up, this might be it.
What you need to know
- Dates: Friday 25 – Sunday 27 September 2026
- Times: Friday: 7pm–11pm (exclusive preview from 6pm) | Saturday: 11am–11pm | Sunday: 11am–8pm
- Location: Durban Exhibition Centre, Hall 2 East & Central
- Theme: Country Club
- Costs: Brands and vendors: 120 | Entry: R20, card only | Parking: R20, card only
- Information: Follow @thesocialdbn on Instagram and TikTok | Visit The Social website
And there's more to come
While Season 4 marks The Social's flagship pop-up finale for 2026, Osman says the event's plans extend beyond the September weekend.
The Social will close out the year with its first live comedy show, The Social Interrupted, at The White Boxx on 27 November, before Season 5 arrives on 30 and 31 January 2027.
For now, though, the focus is on bringing Durban's online shopping community into the real world.
As Osman puts it: “At its heart, The Social is about two things: giving online businesses a real platform, and giving Durban a community, a place to come together over great shopping, entertainment and good food.”
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