Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2027: Dates, Line-Up, Venues and Tickets
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Quick answer: The 24th Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place as “Month of the Mother City” from 4 to 26 March 2027. There are two flagship weekends: Homecoming Weekend on 12 and 13 March at the Homecoming Centre in District Six, and the main festival weekend on 19 to 21 March at city-centre venues. Early Bird tickets are on sale via Quicket, other ticket types follow from 16 November, and tickets for the wider month go on sale via FIXR on 30 November.
What’s new (1 November): First artists announced Mahotella Queens, Yarwood, The Joy, Vuyo Viwe,
Internetathi, Emma Nissen, Simphiwe Dana, Mohini Dey, Thandeka Mfinyongo and more. Early Bird tickets are live. Full line-ups and the complete March calendar are still to come.
Key facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2027 — 24th edition, “Africa’s Grandest Gathering” |
| Programme | Month of the Mother City, 4–26 March 2027 |
| Homecoming Weekend | 12–13 March 2027, Homecoming Centre, District Six |
| Main festival weekend | 19–21 March 2027, city-centre venues |
| Presented by | espAfrika |
| Scale | Approximately 20 South African and 20 international artists across the month |
| Early Bird tickets | On sale via Quicket from 30 October 2026 |
| All ticket types and tiers | Available from 16 November 2026 |
| Month of the Mother City tickets | Available via FIXR from 30 November 2026 |
| Free events | Community concerts at Guga S’thebe on 14 March and Greenmarket Square on 17 March 2027 |
| Official website | capetownjazzfest.com |
| X / Instagram | @CTJazzFest · @monthofthemothercity |
Cape Town Jazz Festival 2027 calendar at a glance
| Dates | What |
|---|---|
| 4 to 26 March | Month of the Mother City: performances almost every day in venues across Cape Town |
| 12 to 13 March | Homecoming Weekend at the Homecoming Centre, District Six |
| 14 March | Free community concert, Guga S’thebe, Langa |
| 17 March | Free community concert, Greenmarket Square |
| 19 to 21 March | Main festival weekend across the city centre |
| 21 March | Family day to close the festival |
Cape Town Jazz Festival 2027 line-up so far
The organisers have released a first wave of artists. The Homecoming and main-weekend line-ups will be announced in the coming months.
| Artist | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Mahotella Queens (South Africa), six decades of mbaqanga | 19 March | Kippies, Company’s Garden |
| Yarwood (Ghana), alternative soul, R&B and groove | 19 March | Mannenberg, Greenmarket Square |
| Vuyo (South Africa), South African traditions with orchestral folk and electronic textures | 20 March | Kippies, Company’s Garden |
| Emma Nissen and Simphiwe Dana | To be confirmed | Named in the first-wave announcement; check capetownjazzfest.com for their dates |
| An act billed as “South African harmonies taking over the world” | 19 March | Rosies, St George’s Cathedral |
The last act’s name wasn’t clear from the sources I checked. Confirm it before publishing.
Also planned: special collaborations with the CTIJF Jazz Orchestra, CTIJF Icons programming, and about 40 artists in total across the month.
Where is the festival in 2027?
The 2027 festival moves away from the single-venue model and spreads across the city. Venues named so far:
- Company’s Garden (Kippies stage)
- Greenmarket Square (Mannenberg stage)
- St George’s Cathedral (Rosies)
- Homecoming Centre, District Six
- Artscape Theatre Centre
- Texas Nightclub
- Youngblood-Africa Gallery
- Guga S’thebe, Langa
Is it at the CTICC? The 2027 announcement doesn’t use the CTICC as the festival home. Some listing sites still show a CTICC date in late March or a May date. Those don’t match the organisers’ announcement, so use capetownjazzfest.com.
Cape Town Jazz Festival 2027 tickets
| What | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird tickets | On sale since 30 October | Quicket |
| All ticket types and pricing tiers | From 16 November | Official site |
| Month of the Mother City events | From 30 November | FIXR |
| Homecoming Weekend tickets | “Coming soon” | Quicket |
Reported Early Bird price: one report lists the Early Bird Two Day Pass (Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March) at R1,950. Check the Quicket listing for the live price, because early-bird tiers change and sell out.
Ticket range: the organisers say options will run from free entry to tiered pricing, to keep the festival accessible. Don’t assume one price for every event, and don’t buy from unofficial resellers.
What is the Month of the Mother City?
It is the festival’s new format. Instead of one weekend, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival becomes a month-long celebration that “decentralises” the festival and takes music into neighbourhoods, galleries, gardens and community spaces. The co-directors, Georgia Jones and Carolyn Sierra, describe it as making the city itself the festival.
The programme includes:
- Two flagship weekends (Homecoming and the main festival)
- Three community concerts, including two free ones at Guga S’thebe and Greenmarket Square
- Four national roadshow shows, including Johannesburg and Durban (dates and venues to be announced)
- Five panel discussions and a conversation series
- Ten intimate performances
- Ten masterclasses
- An art gallery exhibition and a fashion show
- CTIJF Icons and the CTIJF Jazz Orchestra
The festival’s history and past performers
The festival was first held in 2000 and is known as Africa’s Grandest Gathering. Past performers include Herbie Hancock, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masekela, Thandiswa Mazwai and Black Coffee. These artists are part of the festival’s history and aren’t confirmed for 2027.
Planning your March
- Decide what you want: a weekend pass for the main festival or a few individual shows. Entry options range from free to tiered.
- Book accommodation early if you’re coming from outside Cape Town, because the Month of the Mother City brings visitors across three weeks.
- Group venues by area: the Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square and St George’s Cathedral are all in the city centre, which makes walking between stages easier. Confirm timings once schedules are released.
- Watch for the roadshow if you live in Johannesburg or Durban.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2027?
The Month of the Mother City runs from 4 to 26 March 2027. The Homecoming Weekend is 12 and 13 March and the main festival weekend is 19 to 21 March.
Who is performing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2027?
The first wave includes Mahotella Queens, Yarwood, Vuyo, Emma Nissen and Simphiwe Dana. More artists will be announced.
Where is the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2027?
At venues across Cape Town, including the Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square, St George’s Cathedral and the Homecoming Centre in District Six.
How much are tickets?
Prices vary by event, from free to tiered. One report lists the Early Bird Two Day Pass at R1,950. Check Quicket and the official site.
Where do I buy tickets?
Early Bird tickets are on Quicket. Tickets for the wider Month of the Mother City go on sale through FIXR on 30 November.
When do all tickets go on sale?
All ticket types and tiers are due from 16 November 2026, with Month of the Mother City events from 30 November.
Is it still at the CTICC?
The 2027 announcement places the festival across city venues. Some third-party listings show different venues and dates, so rely on the organisers.
Are there free events?
Yes. Free community concerts take place at Guga S’thebe on 14 March and Greenmarket Square on 17 March.
What is different about the 2027 edition?
The festival becomes a month-long, city-wide programme with two flagship weekends, free events, masterclasses, panels and a national roadshow.
Will there be shows outside Cape Town?
Yes. The roadshow includes Johannesburg and Durban, with dates and venues to be announced.
Is the Cape Town International Jazz Festival still “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”?
Yes, that remains its tagline.
