A strong mid-May weekend across both cities, with live music, theatre, a coastal festival and family events on offer from Thursday 15 to Sunday 17 May 2026. Durban’s formal events calendar is quiet this weekend, so we are focusing on Joburg and Cape Town.
Johannesburg
The most significant Joburg music event this weekend is the Papa Wemba tribute concert on Saturday, 16 May, which takes the stage in Johannesburg to celebrate the legendary Congolese superstar’s legacy. Papa Wemba, who died in 2016, remains one of the most influential figures in African popular music, and this tribute promises an emotionally charged evening for fans of the genre. Check Computicket for tickets and venue details.
Also running on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May is the Youth Russian Ballet Company’s staging of selections from Le Corsaire. Performed by young SA dancers, the production offers an accessible opportunity to see classical ballet and supports emerging talent in the local arts scene.
Pretty Woman: The Musical continues its successful run at Teatro at Montecasino, with performances on Saturday 16 May at 15h00 and 19h30, and Sunday 17 May at 14h00 and 18h00. If you have not caught it yet, this is a popular and well-reviewed production. Tickets via Ticketmaster or Computicket.
For families or those who enjoy science and innovation, Joburg is hosting a week-long science exhibition that runs through the weekend, with interactive displays and activities across the city. Check whatsoninjoburg.com for the full weekend listing, including markets, tasting events and workshops running across Saturday and Sunday.
Cape Town
Cape Town’s standout event this weekend is the Simon’s Town Festival, running across all three days from Thursday 15 to Sunday 17 May. The annual festival celebrates the seaside village with sunrise swims, live jazz, the famous Bertha’s Beersprint on Saturday, and the SprintSplash at Long Beach on Sunday, which features a 1.2km course alternating between beach runs and ocean swims. The event is open to all fitness levels and has a junior category for under-12s. Simon’s Town is accessible from Cape Town by road or by train along the False Bay coast, and the journey is scenic enough to be part of the occasion.
On Friday 15 May, Indie Dog, BCOM, and Dierbaar perform at The District in Cape Town, followed by a second night at The Daisy Jones Bar on Saturday 16 May. This is a strong local live music bill for anyone who follows the SA indie and alternative scene. Also on Saturday 16 May, Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer takes place at Star Theatre from 18h30, and Candlelight: Ed Sheeran and Coldplay at the same venue from 20h30 for two separate evening experiences. Both Candlelight concerts are available via Fever.
Mark Haze presents Masters of Rock at Noordhoek Farm Village on Friday, 15 May from 18h00, and Chris Steyn performs at Kapstadt Brauhaus in Durbanville on the same evening. On Saturday, 16 May, an acrobatic airshow takes place above the Cape Winelands. The Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa continues its run at the Baxter Theatre through 23 May, with nightly performances at 19h00. Tickets via Webtickets.
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