Jazz In The City, Cape Town’s first walkabout jazz festival, is set to host 14 acts at 12 venues; an affiliate mini jazz festival called What Is Jazz?; and an inter-generational dialogue with a theme brimming with brilliant wordplay called Dyer-logue. These exhilarating festivities brought to you by Heineken, powered by FNB Speed Point and supported by the City of Cape Town will take place on 22, 25 and 26 March 2026. KEANETSE FOTHOANE caught up with organizers Josh Georigou and Athos Euripidou to catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes.
What inspired the idea of hosting the city’s first walkabout jazz festival?
The idea was inspired by international festivals like San Sebastian Jazz Festival in Spain and Brick Lane Jazz Festival in London where entire neighbourhoods of the city become the actual festival grounds and venues and communities co-operate to effectively bring jazz “to the streets” and allow people to curate their own festival experience.
Tell us about the What Is Jazz? mini jazz festival?
It’s a variation on a theme – hence the title, a sly dig at what jazz actually means. In this case a state of mind or freedom of expression as opposed to a strict music genre. All the artists on the lineup identify as LGBTQIA+ and are pushing boundaries in their own particular ways – which is what the essence of jazz actually is – pushing boundaries and being innovative. This festival is also a collaborative partnership with Other Village People – a queer collective from Johannesburg who create safe party spaces for the queer community.
What are the future aspirations for the festivals?
To build them into annual events and keep growing the jazz community in Cape Town and give opportunities to up and coming acts. We also want to present smaller curated events throughout the year so that Jazz In The City becomes a living, breathing part of Cape Town’s cultural scene.
Please comment on the line-up.
The selection of artists was to mix some established names featuring in the lineup, Herbie Tsoaeli, Bheki Khoza, Yonela Mnana and Sisonke Xonti with rising stars like Vuyo Viwe, Muneeb Hermans and Kujenga, allowing festival goers to experience new acts and musicians that they may have never heard of before and to move freely through the CBD.
What do you as the organizers hope to achieve after the festivities?
To have a break and switch off our phones for a week!
What’s the aim of the events?
We want to inspire, innovate and bring arts and music back to the streets – instead of stuffy convention centers and out of town locations.
What can festinos look forward to?
Walking from venue to venue on Bree Street on the evening of Thursday 26 March and taking in all the sights and sounds – a mixture of paid, ticketed, free shows and engaging with the music and interacting with other festinos.
See the Jazz in the City lineup here.
WHAT IS JAZZ?
Desire Marea, Muneyi, Sky Dladla, Mishy Kope
Sunday, 22 March 2026, from 2pm
Standard: R400, Early bird: R300
Texas
11 Albertus Street, District Six, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
DYER-LOGUE:
Steve & Bokani Dyer
Wednesday, 25 March 2026, from 8.30pm
R350
Youngblood-Africa
70, 72 Bree Street, Cape Town CBD
Tickets: Fixer
JAZZ IN THE CITY
THURSDAY, 26 MARCH 2026
Ticketed shows
Herbie Tsoaeli
8pm & 9.45pm
From R200
107 on Castle Room
107 Castle Street, Cape Town CBD
Tickets: Fixer
Sisonke Xonti
8pm & 10.30pm
From R250
The Castle Room, SunSquare Hotel
23 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
Yonela Mnana
7pm & 9.30pm
From R250
Grub & Vine: Blue Room
103 Bree Street, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
Kujenga
9.30pm & 11pm
From R250
Room 91 (above Chef’s Warehouse)
91 Bree Street, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
Mfazwe ya Mwezi
8pm & 9.30pm
From R250
Trade Bar & Social
55 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
Vuyo Viwe
7.30pm & 9pm
From R200
The Athletic Club & Social
35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town
Tickets: Fixer
Free shows
Bheki Khoza
8pm
Secret Gin Bar
64A Wale Street, Cape Town
Cape Correspondence
7pm
Openwine
72 Wale Street, Cape Town
Umuthiomkhulu Ensemble
8pm onwards
Shortmarket Street
Muneeb Hermans Trio
7.30pm
Shortmarket Street
Josh Nemaire Experiment
9pm & 10.15pm
Story Horse
104 Bree Street, Cape Town
Soana Nqe
7.45pm & 9.15pm
Grub & Vine: Blue Room
103 Bree Street, Cape Town
DJ Bob’s Jazz Club (4 DJs)
6pm
Vault on Bree
71 Bree Street, Cape Town
See the Jazz in the City lineup here.
What: Jazz In The City Cape Town
Info: www.jazzinthecity.co.za
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