Warm summer air, good music and the mountain glowing above the lawns: a Sunday afternoon at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is hard to beat. As the light fades, Table Mountain slowly shifts colour, while picnic blankets fill the grass and crowds sing and dance together beneath the trees.
It is a Cape Town summer tradition, and the 2026/27 Summer Concerts season brings it back with 19 concerts between 22 November 2026 and 28 March 2027. The lineup mixes South African favourites, international guests, orchestral evenings and a New Year’s Eve celebration.
This guide lists the full lineup in date order, with gate and music times for each concert.
In this blog we cover…
- Before you go: What to bring, and the rules on alcohol and smoking.
- November 2026: The season opens with Mi Casa and Freshlyground.
- December 2026: Afro-soul, Billy Joel classics, Lira and a New Year’s Eve double bill.
- January 2027: Xhosa-inspired soul, Afrikaans party hits, pop and rock, plus a Broadway evening.
- February 2027: Children’s classics, Valentine’s Day pop and two South African legends.
- March 2027: Rachmaninoff, electronic dance music, folk looping and an international finale.
- FAQ: Quick answers on timings, rules and planning.
Before You Go: Picnic Rules and Practical Tips
Kirstenbosch concerts are relaxed, picnic-style events. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food, a blanket and drinks. No alcohol is sold on-site, and the venue is non-smoking, so plan refreshments in advance.
Parking at Kirstenbosch can fill up quickly on concert days, so using an e-hailing app or lift clubbing is recommended. Sharing a ride eases the pressure on the car parks and makes arrival and departure simpler.
Most concerts open the gates at 16:00, with music starting at 17:15 or 17:30 and finishing at 19:00. The New Year’s Eve concert follows a later schedule, which is covered below. Arriving early gives time to settle on the lawn before the first note.
Image:@kirstenboschsummerconcerts on Instagram
November 2026: The Season Begins
Mi Casa: Sunday 22 November 2026
The new season opens with Mi Casa, the Johannesburg house trio formed in 2011. The group consists of Dr Duda on production and piano, J’Something on vocals and guitar, and Mo-T on trumpet.
Their mix of soulful vocals, jazzy trumpet and warm grooves suits a sunny afternoon on the lawns. Well-known tracks include “Turn You On”, “Mamela”, “Jika”, “Heavenly Sent” and “Give Me Love”.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:30 to 19:00.
Image: @micasamusic on Instagram
Booshle G and Freshlyground: Sunday 29 November 2026
Freshlyground, the Afro-fusion band formed in Cape Town in 2002, returns with its signature rhythms. The group is internationally known for co-creating “Waka Waka” with Shakira.
Sharing the stage is Booshle G (Buhle Gayika), a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from Kariega in the Eastern Cape, known for raw, unpolished indie-pop and folk.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image:@freshlygroundsa on Instagram
December 2026: Soul, Nostalgia and a New Year’s Eve Celebration
Mandisi Dyantyis: Sunday 6 December 2026
Born in 1983, Mandisi Dyantyis is a composer, musician and trumpeter who blends jazz, gospel and African traditional music. His concerts are known for emotive storytelling and a smooth meeting of styles, with Afro-soul and jazz fusion at the centre of the programme.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @dmandisi on Instagram
The Billy Joel Experience: Sunday 13 December 2026
This tribute show is led by Alexander Broussard from the Netherlands, who has toured for more than three decades and returned to his first love, the music of Billy Joel, in 2020. Singalongs and nostalgia are the order of the day.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @
Lira: Sunday 27 December 2026
Lira, whose name means “love” in Sesotho, is an 11-time South African Music Award winner and a multi-platinum artist. Her sound combines soul, funk, jazz and African rhythms. Her catalogue includes the albums All My Love (2003), Feel Good (2006), Return to Love (2011) and Born Free (2016).
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @miss_lira on Instagram
Matthew Mole and Congo Cowboys: Thursday 31 December 2026
The year closes with a double bill. Matthew Mole plays indie folk with electronic touches, often called “folktronica”, and handles guitar, synth, kick drum and banjo at the same time during live shows.
His 2013 debut, The Home We Built, was the first debut album by a local artist to reach number one on the iTunes South Africa chart on release day. Congo Cowboys, a Cape Town “Afro-Country” band, combines bluegrass, country and blues with Congolese soukous, kwassa kwassa and Lingala soul.
This concert runs on a different schedule from the rest of the season: gates open at 19:00, with music from 20:30 until just after midnight.
Image: @matthewjmole on Instagram
January 2027: Heritage, Dance Floors and Broadway
Simphiwe Dana and Selaelo Selota: Sunday 3 January 2027
Simphiwe Dana is known for powerful vocals and a sound shaped by her Xhosa heritage, often featuring Xhosa lyrics and traditional rhythms.
She shares the stage with Selaelo Selota, whose music draws on the rhythms and spiritual traditions of his upbringing. The evening blends Afro-jazz, traditional African music and contemporary sounds.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @simphiwedana on Instagram
Kurt Darren and Me and Mr Green: Sunday 10 January 2027
Kurt Darren, a leading name in South African sokkie and dance-pop, began his career in 1995 with an English-language album before moving into Afrikaans pop.
His hits include “Kaptein”, “Kaalvoet Sokkie”, “Loslappie”, “Meisie Meisie” and “Hemel Op Tafelberg”. Party band Me and Mr Green joins him with songs from past and present.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image:@kurtdarren on Instagram
Lloyiso: Sunday 17 January 2027
Lloyiso first drew national attention at 16 as a top five finalist on Idols SA Season 11 in 2015. The singer, songwriter and producer is known for soulful vocals and emotional pop ballads.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @lloyiso_rsa on Instagram
Just Jinjer and GoodLuck: Sunday 24 January 2027
Just Jinjer is one of the best-selling rock bands in South African history. GoodLuck, a live-electronic act active since 2011, has built a reputation for radio hits and energetic shows, with a stated aim of spreading positivity through music.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @goodlucklive on Instagram
Broadway at Kirstenbosch with Jessica Vosk and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra: Sunday 31 January 2027
American performer Jessica Vosk, known for playing Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, joins the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra for a programme of musical theatre favourites and popular songs.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:30 to 19:00.
Image: @capetownphilharmonic on Instagram
February 2027: Family Classics, Valentine’s Day and Local Legends
Carnival of the Animals with Rob van Vuuren and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra: Sunday 7 February 2027
This children’s concert features Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, a humorous suite of 14 movements that includes “The Swan”. Rob van Vuuren joins the orchestra as host.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:30 to 19:00.
Image: @capetownphilharmonic on Instagram
Will Linley: Sunday 14 February 2027
The Valentine’s Day concert features Cape Town-born pop singer and songwriter Will Linley, aged 20, whose music centres on catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @willlinleyy on Instagram
Mango Groove: Sunday 21 February 2027
Mango Groove is an 11-piece Afropop band formed in Johannesburg in 1984 and fronted by Claire Johnston. Their sound combines pop with marabi and kwela, including pennywhistle melodies.
Formed during apartheid as a multiracial group, they performed at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration concert in 1994. They have recorded more than 12 number-one hits, including “Special Star” and “Dance Sum More”.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @kirstenboschsummerconcerts on Instagram
The Parlotones: Sunday 28 February 2027
The Parlotones, a multi-platinum indie rock band from Johannesburg formed in 1998, are known for melodic, story-driven songwriting that mixes alternative rock, post-Britpop and pop-rock.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15 to 19:00.
Image: @parlotones on Instagram
March 2027: A Grand Finish
Rachmaninoff’s Third: Sunday 7 March 2027
The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra teams up with the Cape Town International Piano Competition for a symphony concert. Pianist Emanuil Ivanov performs Rachmaninoff’s technically demanding Piano Concerto No. 3, with Arjan Tien conducting.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:30 to 19:00.
Image: @capetownphilharmonic on Instagram
Goldfish: Sunday 14 March 2027
The electronic duo Goldfish returns to Cape Town, known for combining live instruments with house beats. Saxophone lines and deep bass drive a dance-focused afternoon against the mountain backdrop.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:30 to 19:00.
Image: @goldfishlive on Instagram
Jeremy Loops: Sunday 21 March 2027
Born in 1984 and raised in Kommetjie, Cape Town, Jeremy Loops is a folk singer, songwriter and producer. He is known for building layered tracks live with a loop pedal, using his voice, guitar and harmonica. Expect a singalong atmosphere.
Gates open at 16:00, with Jeremy on stage at 17:15.
Image: @jeremyloops on Intagram
Chef’Special and Neon Dreams: Sunday 28 March 2027
The season closes with Chef’Special from the Netherlands, whose music moves between hip-pop, rock and pop. Canadian duo Neon Dreams joins them, combining pop, rock and electronic dance music. The duo is made up of vocalist Frank Kadillac and drummer Adrian Morris.
Gates open at 16:00, with music from 17:15.
Image: @chefspecialmusic on Instagram
Planning a Concert Season in Cape Town?
With 19 concerts across five months, the Kirstenbosch season suits visitors who plan a trip around a favourite artist as well as those who catch a few evenings during a longer stay. Dates fall mostly on Sundays, so a weekend or week in the city fits easily around a concert.
For guests visiting Cape Town for the season, Nox Cape Town offers holiday rentals along the Atlantic Seaboard, including Camps Bay, Clifton, Mouille Point and Sea Point, for all your holiday rental needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts season run in 2026/27?
The season starts on 22 November 2026 with Mi Casa and ends on 28 March 2027 with Chef’Special and Neon Dreams.
What time do the gates open and the music start?
Gates open at 16:00 for most concerts. Music usually starts at 17:15 or 17:30 and finishes at 19:00. The New Year’s Eve concert on 31 December 2026 opens its gates at 19:00, with music from 20:30 until just after midnight.
Can guests bring their own picnic and drinks?
Yes. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic, a blanket and drinks.
Is alcohol sold at the concerts?
No. Alcohol is not sold on-site, so any refreshments need to be brought along.
Is smoking allowed at Kirstenbosch concerts?
No. Kirstenbosch is a non-smoking venue.
Which concert is on New Year’s Eve?
Matthew Mole and Congo Cowboys perform on Thursday 31 December 2026, finishing just after midnight.
Is there a concert suitable for children?
The Carnival of the Animals concert on 7 February 2027 is designed for children, with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Rob van Vuuren performing Saint-Saëns’ suite.
Are there classical or orchestral concerts in the lineup?
Yes. The season includes Broadway at Kirstenbosch with Jessica Vosk (31 January 2027), Carnival of the Animals (7 February 2027) and Rachmaninoff’s Third (7 March 2027), all with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Which concert features international artists?
Jessica Vosk (USA), The Billy Joel Experience (Netherlands), Chef’Special (Netherlands) and Neon Dreams (Canada) are among the international acts, with Goldfish also returning to Cape Town.
Where can holiday accommodation be found for concert season?
Nox Cape Town manages holiday rentals across Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard, including Camps Bay, Clifton, Mouille Point and Sea Point.