Johannesburg is lighting up for Christmas, with carols under the stars, glowing gardens and festive concerts across the city. Here’s where to see the lights and join the singalongs this festive season.
Christmas in Joburg means twinkling lights, carols under the stars and plenty of reasons to get the family together. Whether you’re after a big festive singalong or simply want to wander through the lights, these are some of the best Christmas events to add to your calendar.
This article will be updated as more 2026 Christmas carol and festive light dates are confirmed.
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram! While you're at it, sign up for our newsletter to receive even more of the best of your city.
TIME OUT JOHANNESBURG RECOMMENDS:
📍 The best things to do in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
📢 Latest news from Johannesburg
Few things say Christmas quite like thousands of voices singing together. SPAR Carols by Candlelight brings live performances, festive favourites and a charitable cause together for one of Gauteng’s biggest Christmas celebrations. It’s the kind of evening made for gathering the family, singing along and getting properly into the festive spirit.
Slow things down with an evening of beautiful choral music in Parkview. The Chanticleer Singers bring Christmas music from around the world to the atmospheric St Francis Anglican Church.
The music programme includes works by composers Gabrieli, Tchaikovsky and Poulenc. It’s an intimate alternative to the city’s bigger festive celebrations.
Bring along a picnic and settle onto the lawn for Christmas carols in one of Joburg’s prettiest outdoor settings. The open-air celebration pairs festive music with the Witpoortjie Waterfall as its backdrop. With live gospel and brass band music also part of the programme, this is one for families who like their carols under the open sky.
Start with a wander around the festive stalls before settling in for Christmas carols under the open sky. Hosted at George Hay Park, the Parkview celebration combines food, craft stalls and live acoustic music with an open-air Carols by Candlelight service.
Proceeds from the event support Nicarela Charity.
Melrose Arch is one of Joburg’s go-to spots for Christmas lights, with the precinct transformed by colourful festive installations during the season.
In its 10th year, Destination Christmas programmes have paired the lights with live festive music, markets and Christmas performances across the precinct. For this year’s carols expect magic from the renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir at the Noël Tour 2026.
For Christmas lights with a wild side, Joburg Zoo transforms into an illuminated night-time trail for its annual Festival of Lights.
Expect glowing animal sculptures, live performances and choir carollers as you make your way around the zoo. Food stalls along the route make it an easy festive family night out.
If your Christmas isn’t complete without traditional carols, add this one to the calendar.
The Symphonic Choir Johannesburg joins orchestral musicians at the Linder Auditorium for traditional carols, sacred pieces and festive singalongs. It’s a classic way to welcome December with some of the season’s most familiar music.
Christmas gets the big-band treatment at Montecasino. The Johannesburg Big Band and a line-up including Ross Learmonth, Monique Steyn, Tracey-Lee Oliver and Harry Sideropoulos for festive favourites, plenty of swing and a little nostalgia to the Teatro stage.
Expect plenty of music, humour and opportunities to sing along.
Celebrate Christmas with a distinctly African soundtrack as the Ndlovu Choir brings African Christmas to Emperors Palace.
The live show brings together contemporary gospel voices for an afternoon or evening of powerful performances, collaboration and community. It’s a joyful alternative to traditional Christmas carols, with the choir putting its own musical stamp on the festive season.
Discover Time Out original video