The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) announces a large-scale event that will last for a whole month, transforming Cape Town into a main venue. After more than two decades, the festival is moving beyond a single location, becoming a decentralized, globally oriented event that will take place in various cultural, public, and civic spaces across the city against the backdrop of Table Mountain.
Events will be held in locations such as St George’s Cathedral, Greenmarket Square, Company’s Garden, the Artscape theatre centre, the Homecoming Centre, Texas Nightclub, the Youngblood-Africa gallery, and Guga S’thebe in Lange.
The month includes two main weekends. The 'Homecoming' weekend will take place from March 12 to 13, 2027, at the Homecoming Centre (at District Six Museum) and Texas Nightclub. The grand closing weekend of CTIJF is scheduled for March 19 to 21, 2027, and will cover Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square, and St George’s Cathedral.
It is expected that 20 local and 20 international artists will participate, along with special collaborations with the CTIJF Jazz Orchestra. The CTIJF weekend will conclude on Sunday, March 21, with a special family day.
In addition to the main weekends, performances and culturally rich events will take place almost daily throughout March. These include free public concerts at Guga S’thebe on March 14 and at Greenmarket Square on March 17, ten chamber performances, ten masterclasses, panel discussions, a series of talks, an exhibition at an art gallery, and a fashion show.
Tickets will be available in various price categories, including free entry, to ensure maximum accessibility and community engagement. Georgia Jones, co-director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, noted that the expansion of the format will bring the energy and hope of jazz directly into neighborhoods, communities, and cultural spaces, making the city even more vibrant.
She emphasized that this is more than just a festival weekend, as the economic and social impact will be significant, providing opportunities for local businesses, venues, and local arts. She expressed delight that CTIJF will span four incredible weeks, transforming every corner of the city into a stage for connection and celebration.
Addition from Caroline Sierra
Caroline Sierra, co-director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, added that in 2027, the city itself becomes the festival. By moving CTIJF into the cultural, civic, and public zones of Mother City, they are creating a deeper connection between music, audience, and the place they call home. This gives partners new opportunities to participate in these connections and help create experiences that go far beyond the stage. The festival evolves with its city: it is broader in scope, bolder in ambition, but retains the same pulse that has defined the festival for over two decades.
Advance tickets for CTIJF will go on sale via Quicket on October 30, and all ticket types will be available on November 16. Tickets for the 'Mother City Month' events will be sold through FIXR starting November 30. Participant lists for the Homecoming Centre weekend (March 12–13) and CTIJF (March 19–21) will be announced in the coming months, along with the full Mother City Month calendar. Further information can be found at www.capetownjazzfest.com.