Thousands of walkers will head into central Johannesburg on Sunday, 26 July 2026, for the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk, with three routes starting and finishing at Ellis Park. For participants travelling from elsewhere in Gauteng or planning to spend the weekend in the city, the event can also become an opportunity to stay, eat and explore some of Johannesburg’s best known cultural and tourism precincts.
The 5 km, 8 km and 15 km routes pass through or near areas including Victoria Yards, Maboneng, the Johannesburg CBD, Newtown and Braamfontein. Visitors can use the Visit Gauteng platform to plan accommodation, attractions and other experiences around their Walk the Talk weekend.
According to published event information, the 15 km walk starts at 07:00, followed by the 8 km at 09:00 and the 5 km at 10:00. All three routes start and finish at Ellis Park.
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Where to Stay for the 702 Walk the Talk Weekend
Staying overnight may be useful for participants with an early start, particularly those registered for the 15 km route at 07:00.
Johannesburg offers accommodation across different budgets within the inner city and surrounding areas. Participants should compare current rates and availability before booking because prices can change according to demand.
Troyeville and the inner city
Staying around Troyeville places visitors relatively close to Ellis Park and the eastern side of the Johannesburg CBD. The area can be practical for participants who want to minimise their travel distance on event morning.
The Troyeville Hotel is one established accommodation option in this part of Johannesburg and is also known for its Portuguese influenced restaurant.
Maboneng
Maboneng is another option for visitors who want accommodation near restaurants, cafés, galleries and regenerated inner city spaces.
Curiocity Johannesburg offers accommodation in the precinct, while Hallmark House provides another option on the eastern edge of the inner city.
Braamfontein
Braamfontein places visitors closer to attractions such as Constitution Hill, Wits Art Museum and the Nelson Mandela Bridge.
Accommodation options include the Bannister Hotel and other hotels and short stay properties around the precinct.
Rosebank
Visitors who prefer to stay outside the CBD can consider Rosebank. The area has hotels, restaurants and access to Gautrain services.
Radisson RED Johannesburg Rosebank is among the accommodation options in the precinct.
Participants staying farther from Ellis Park should plan their event day transport before Sunday morning rather than relying on last minute travel arrangements.
The accommodation suggestions supplied for the guide cover a mix of inner city, Maboneng, Braamfontein and Rosebank options, allowing visitors to choose according to budget and preferred location.
Where to Eat Before and After the Walk
Johannesburg’s inner city and surrounding neighbourhoods offer several places where walkers can stop for breakfast, coffee or a post walk meal.
Opening hours can differ on Sundays, particularly early in the morning, so participants should confirm operating times directly before planning a pre walk breakfast.
Home of the Bean, Maboneng
Coffee drinkers can explore Home of the Bean in Maboneng for coffee and lighter options while spending time in the precinct.
Its location makes it suitable for visitors combining a meal or coffee stop with exploring Maboneng.
Pata Pata, Maboneng
Pata Pata on Fox Street is another established Maboneng restaurant, with a menu influenced by South African cuisine.
It can form part of a post walk visit to the precinct for participants who want to remain in the inner city after completing their route.
Salvation Café, 44 Stanley
Those travelling west of the CBD can consider Salvation Café at 44 Stanley, a mixed use precinct known for restaurants, independent shops and creative businesses.
The venue is better suited to a leisurely meal after the walk than a rushed stop immediately before an early route.
The Troyeville Restaurant
The Troyeville Restaurant is known for Portuguese influenced dishes and has long been part of Johannesburg’s dining landscape.
Its location near the eastern inner city makes it one option for a post event meal after leaving Ellis Park.
Visitors should check current menus, prices, booking requirements and Sunday trading hours before travelling. Prices found through third party listings can change and should be treated as estimates rather than fixed event weekend rates.
What to Do After Crossing the Finish Line
Walkers do not necessarily have to leave Johannesburg immediately after completing their route.
According to event information, food and drinks will be available at the finish village alongside activations and entertainment. Water points, refreshment zones and medical support will also operate as part of the event infrastructure.
Every participant who completes their route is expected to receive a commemorative medal.
Those who still have time and energy can extend their day by visiting attractions encountered along or near the routes.
The 15 km route, for example, takes participants towards Newtown and Nelson Mandela Bridge, while the 8 km route includes parts of the Johannesburg CBD and Maboneng. The shorter 5 km route focuses on the Victoria Yards area.
Discover Johannesburg Beyond the Walk
One of the defining features of the 2026 event is its route through central Johannesburg rather than an isolated road circuit.
That creates opportunities for walkers to return to places they noticed along the route and explore them at a slower pace.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct in Braamfontein is a national heritage site that documents South Africa’s journey from apartheid to constitutional democracy.
The precinct includes the former Old Fort prison complex, Number Four, the Women’s Jail and the Constitutional Court.
Published visitor information lists operating hours from 09:00 to 17:00, including Sundays, although visitors should confirm tour schedules before arriving.
Nelson Mandela Bridge and Newtown
The Nelson Mandela Bridge connects Braamfontein with the Newtown precinct and forms part of the wider landscape explored by the longer Walk the Talk route.
Newtown is home to several important Johannesburg cultural landmarks and provides an opportunity to explore the city’s arts and heritage landscape after the walk.
The area can be combined with a visit to nearby cultural attractions rather than treated simply as a route between two parts of the city.
Braamfontein
Participants can also explore Braamfontein after the event.
The neighbourhood is home to restaurants, cafés, cultural spaces and university institutions and provides access to attractions including Constitution Hill and Wits Art Museum.
Visitors planning to explore on foot should map their destinations beforehand and use established transport options when moving between precincts.
Five Johannesburg Hidden Gems Worth Adding to the Weekend
The event route brings walkers close to several places that are sometimes overlooked during a conventional Johannesburg visit.
Victoria Yards in Lorentzville transforms an industrial site into a creative precinct containing artist studios, makers, gardens and small businesses. It is particularly relevant to the event because the 5 km Walk the Talk route is built around the Victoria Yards circuit.
The Wilds Nature Reserve in Houghton offers indigenous vegetation, walking paths, city views and distinctive animal sculptures. Visitors should confirm access arrangements and opening hours before visiting.
Jewel City forms part of Johannesburg’s changing inner city landscape and is known for public spaces, retail activity and urban art. It also sits within the broader inner city environment explored by the Walk the Talk routes.
Wits Art Museum in Braamfontein houses African art collections and changing exhibitions. Anyone planning a visit should check Sunday opening hours and current exhibitions in advance.
44 Stanley offers a different side of Johannesburg, combining restaurants, cafés, independent retailers and creative businesses in a converted industrial setting west of the CBD.
The original research prepared for this guide also identified these precincts as options for extending the event into a broader Johannesburg day out.
Use Visit Gauteng to Plan More Than the Walk
Visitors travelling into Johannesburg for the weekend can use Visit Gauteng as a starting point for planning accommodation, attractions and events across the province.
The platform can help visitors explore what is available around Johannesburg and build a wider itinerary rather than travelling into the city only for the walk.
For someone arriving on Saturday, this could mean checking into accommodation, exploring a nearby precinct and having dinner before an early night.
Sunday can then centre on the walk, followed by lunch and one nearby attraction, depending on route distance, finishing time and energy levels.
Visitors staying until Monday can use the additional day to explore attractions farther from Ellis Park without having to fit everything around event road activity.
Plan Transport Before Event Day
Transport planning will be important because large numbers of participants will be travelling towards Ellis Park at different times.
Gautrain and PRASA are official transport partners for the event.
Published transport information states that participants can use Gautrain to reach Park Station before connecting with PRASA services towards Ellis Park. Official park and shuttle arrangements have also been listed from selected locations including Clearwater Mall, Montecasino, Greenstone Mall and Gold Reef City.
Participants should check the latest event transport instructions before leaving home because services, collection points and access arrangements can change.
Those staying overnight should also consider transport access when choosing accommodation rather than selecting a hotel based only on its distance from Ellis Park.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk gives Gauteng residents an opportunity to experience central Johannesburg differently.
Instead of travelling directly to Ellis Park and leaving immediately after the event, participants can use the weekend to explore neighbourhoods that form part of Johannesburg’s cultural, historical and creative identity.
For visitors from Pretoria, the West Rand, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and other parts of the province, staying overnight can turn an early Sunday start into a short city break.
The three routes themselves also introduce participants to different parts of Johannesburg. The 5 km route centres on Victoria Yards, the 8 km route moves through the inner city and Maboneng, while the 15 km route extends through Newtown, Nelson Mandela Bridge and surrounding landmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk 2026?
The event takes place on Sunday, 26 July 2026, starting and finishing at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
What time do the Walk the Talk routes start?
The 15 km route starts at 07:00, the 8 km route at 09:00 and the 5 km route at 10:00. Participants should arrive according to the official instructions for their selected distance.
Where should I stay for Walk the Talk?
Participants can consider accommodation around Troyeville, Maboneng and Braamfontein for proximity to the inner city. Rosebank offers another option for visitors who prefer to stay outside the CBD while retaining access to major transport connections.
What can I do in Johannesburg after Walk the Talk?
Options include exploring Victoria Yards, Constitution Hill, Newtown, Braamfontein, Jewel City and nearby Maboneng. Participants can also remain at the event finish village for food, activations and entertainment.
How can I plan accommodation and things to do in Gauteng?
Visitors can use the Visit Gauteng platform to research events, attractions and destinations and build a wider itinerary around their Johannesburg stay.
Turn Walk the Talk Into a Johannesburg Weekend
The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk on 26 July is more than a journey along one of three walking routes. Its location gives participants direct access to some of central Johannesburg’s most significant cultural, creative and historical precincts.
Whether staying near the inner city, stopping for a meal in Maboneng, visiting Constitution Hill or returning to Victoria Yards after seeing it along the route, participants can build a broader Johannesburg experience around event day.
Planning accommodation, transport and activities before the weekend will make it easier to manage the different route start times and explore the city without rushing. Visitors can also use the Visit Gauteng platform to discover additional places to stay, eat and visit across Johannesburg and the wider province.
