The best cultural events in South Africa to mark on your calendar

Month: January

Province: Western Cape

Just as you’re recovering from the festivities of New Year’s Eve, the Klopse gear up for a big bang in the streets of the Mother City. Also known as ‘Tweede Nuwejaar’ (Second New Year’s), the event hails from South Africa’s colonial days when slaves were allowed some freedom to celebrate the new year, and the tradition almost died out during Apartheid. Today, the festival is stronger than ever as the city’s minstrel troupes come together for a flashy parade and celebration of their triumph over struggle.

Also read: The best things to do in Cape Town right now

Month: February/March

Province: Limpopo

Once a year, communities in Limpopo come together to harvest the fruits of the marula tree, an important icon in local Venda culture. Venerated for its many uses in medicine and rituals, the Marula Festival celebrates the province’s heritage with cultural performances, music, markets, and culinary experiences - and don’t forget to take a bite of the fruit itself!

Month: September

Province: Free State

The cultural event returned after a short hiatus, bigger than ever, with multiple stages spread out across Bloemfontein over five days. It comprises of film, dance, theatre, comedy, poetry, and arts festivals, as well as a musical focus on hip-hop, amapiano, and gospel. The best part is that most of the festivals are free, only needing to buy tickets for the bigger events.

Month: March

Province: Western Cape

At first glance, you might think that you’ve been transported across the ocean to Rio de Janeiro with the Cape Town Carnival. But if you look closer, you’ll see the glamorous sparkle is infused with classic South African flair, a celebration of ubuntu as various cultural communities come together to create the giant floats. The core aim of the carnival is not just to celebrate creative communities, but also to sustain set-building and costume industries as part of a job creation programme. Time Out Tip: Get there early to find a good viewing spot.

Months: March/September

Provinces: Western Cape/Gauteng

South Africa has a rich jazz history, its roots stemming from townships and multicultural districts in the 50s and 60s, birthing legends like Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim. This legacy continues in two premier jazz festivals in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Joy of Jazz Festival invite musicians not just from South Africa but from across the globe, especially fellow African artists, bringing them together to create beautiful music.

Month: March/April

Province: Western Cape

The biggest annual event for Afrikaans-speakers, the Oudsthoorn festival brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors, ready to explore music, arts, and markets that celebrate not just the language but also the heritage of the Karoo. It’s a major source of income for the region, and offers various community programmes to support the arts industry across the country. They also have spin-off events taking place in other parts of the year, so check out their full programme for more.

Month: September

Province: KwaZulu-Natal

One of South Africa’s oldest cultural events, the Zulu Reed Dance is a coming-of-age tradition for young girls who are taught about their traditions from older generations. It’s held at the eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma, and is led by the Zulu royal family. Part of the ceremony includes the cutting of reeds to be gifted to the king.

Months: March/June/July/August/October/December/

Provinces: KwaZulu-Natal/Western Cape/Gauteng

While South Africa is a major film destination for many a Hollywood production, it’s also home to a budding local cinema culture, which has slowly built itself back up post-pandemic. We have various film festivals to choose from, the biggest of which is the Durban International Film Festival, an important launchpad for South African and African films. For Afrikaans films, Cape Town’s Silwerskermfees is another popular event hosted in Camps Bay, while Gauteng plays host to the iconic Joburg Film Festival. Then we also have more niche festivals, like the important documentary festival Encounters, the spooky South African Horrorfest, and the genre-driven South African Indie Film Festival, which also offers film master classes and panel discussions.

Also read: The best things to do in Durban

Month: April/May

Province: Northern Cape/Western Cape

While the festival originated from Burning Man in the US, it has transformed into its own unique anti-corporate celebration of creative freedom in the Tankwa Karoo. They promote a barter system between participants instead of having vendors, and the vast desert landscape provides ample space to create giant transient structures. Attending requires quite a bit of planning in advance, and it’s recommended to go with someone who knows the festival.

Also read: The best summer festivals in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban

Month: April/September

Province: Gauteng 

What we wear forms an important part of expressing our cultures, and the bi-annual South African Fashion Week is as much a cultural event as any other. It’s an important launchpad for up-and-coming local designers, and can set the trends for winter and summer, as well as showcase the country’s cultural roots. Not only does it support local, SAFW also promotes ethical slow fashion as a standard for the industry.

Also read: The best things to do in Johannesburg

Month: June/July

Province: Eastern Cape

From stage plays to music, the Makhanda-based festival celebrates all cultures and freedoms of expression, transforming the quiet rural town into a hub of creativity. The event has been running since 1976, platforming activism through art, and today is focused on promoting young artists from various disciplines. It’s advised to book accommodation far in advance as space is limited.

Month: October (subject to change)

Province: Western Cape

Once a year, the literary festival takes over the whole of the oak-lined historic town of Stellenbosch. You can stroll the streets and stop over at pop-up cafes and talks, browse art exhibitions and book tickets for stage productions and music acts - all with a local wine in hand. While it’s predominantly focused on Afrikaans creativity, the event has also started to include other language events in the programming.

Month: December (subject to change)

Province: Gauteng

The streets of Soweto light up with the Makhelwane Festival as it aims to honour the heritage and community spirit of one of South Africa’s most famous townships. With markets, street food, and music, the festival aims to open up Soweto to visitors while also promoting community cohesion through job opportunities.

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