The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) will present an expanded Mother City Month, running from March 4 to March 26, 2027, transforming Cape Town's streets, gardens, galleries, and public spaces into part of the musical program.
The program, organized by espAfrika, extends beyond traditional main weekends, bringing jazz and cultural events to various locations across the city. These venues include St George’s Cathedral, Greenmarket Square, Company’s Garden, the Artscape Theatre Centre, the Homecoming Centre, Texas Nightclub, Youngblood-Africa Gallery, and Guga S’thebe in Langa.
The expanded format aims to make the festival more accessible to local communities and provide the audience with more opportunities to engage with Cape Town's cultural landmarks. The program will culminate in two major weekends featuring performances by South African and international artists, special collaborations, and a family day.
The first major weekend, 'Homecoming Weekend,' will take place on March 12 and 13, with events at the Homecoming Centre, associated with the District Six Museum, and at Texas Nightclub. The main festival weekends are scheduled for March 19 to 21, when celebrations will be held at Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square, and St George’s Cathedral.
During these main weekends, attendees can see performances by 22 South African performers and 16 international artists, as well as special joint performances with the CTIJF Jazz Orchestra and the CTIJF All-Star Youth Group.
The program will conclude on Sunday, March 21, with a family day designed to welcome music lovers of all ages.
Georgia Jones, Co-Director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, noted that 'for over two decades, CTIJF has been the heart of Cape Town's cultural calendar.' She added that by expanding into Mother City Month and decentralizing the model, they 'are bringing the excitement and hope of jazz directly into the neighborhoods, communities, and cultural spaces that make Cape Town so vibrant.'
The extended program will continue outside the main festival weekends, including 10 intimate performances, 10 workshops, panel discussions, a series of talks, an art gallery exhibition, and a fashion show throughout March.
Free public concerts are scheduled for March 14 at Guga S’thebe and March 17 at Greenmarket Square, offering the public additional opportunities to participate in the festival. Carolyn Sierra, Co-Director of the festival, emphasized that the new format is intended to strengthen the connection between the event and the city.
She stated: 'In 2027, Cape Town is not just hosting the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. The city is becoming the festival.' Sierra clarified that by integrating CTIJF into the cultural, social, and public spaces of Mother City, they are creating a deeper connection between music, the audience, and the place they call home.
Sierra also reported that the expanded program will allow partners, local businesses, and artists to interact with the public, enabling the festival to evolve while maintaining the spirit that has defined it for over two decades.
Organizers announced that ticket options will range from free entry to multi-tiered pricing to make the celebration accessible to a wide audience. Early bird tickets for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival are planned to go on sale via Quicket starting October 30, 2026. All ticket types and price categories will be available from November 16.
Tickets for the broader Mother City Month program will be sold through FIXR starting November 30. Thus, the expanded festival program will run from March 4 to March 26, 2027, covering Cape Town's cultural attractions, public spaces, and community venues.
