Johannesburg will once again become a city wide art destination when Contra.Joburg returns on Saturday, 29 August and Sunday, 30 August 2026. The fifth edition of the festival will feature more than 170 artists across 16 creative spaces in Braamfontein, the Johannesburg inner city and Rosebank. Visitors can expect open studios, exhibitions, performances, workshops and family activities throughout the weekend.
Browsing: Upcoming Events in Gauteng
The Vaal River Carnival 2026 will bring more than two months of entertainment, sport, arts and cultural experiences to the Vaal from 28 August to 4 October 2026. Hosted across multiple venues in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, the programme includes comedy, theatre, music festivals, sporting events, fashion showcases, cycling, marathon races and family friendly experiences. Organisers say the carnival aims to promote tourism, celebrate local talent and showcase the Vaal as one of Gauteng’s leading leisure and lifestyle destinations. The official media launch has not yet been confirmed and has therefore not been included in this guide.
The Delicious International Food and Music Festival will move from its traditional September slot to 10 and 11 April 2027 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand, Gauteng, organisers have confirmed. The change follows the end of the Delicious festival’s long standing sponsorship relationship with DStv and comes with the announcement of the South African Broadcasting Corporation as the official broadcast partner. The shift matters for Gauteng festival goers because one of the province’s biggest annual food and music events will no longer take place over its familiar Heritage Weekend period.
Nonnie Kubeka, Executive Director of the Gauteng Convention and Events Bureau, will speak at the SAACI National Annual Conference 2026, taking Gauteng’s business events perspective to one of Southern Africa’s key industry gatherings. The conference takes place from Sunday, 26 July to Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at The Capital Zimbali in KwaZulu-Natal.
Football fans across Gauteng are preparing for one of the biggest nights in international sport as the FIFA World Cup Final takes place on Sunday, 19 July 2026. Whether you’re looking for the electric atmosphere of an official fan park, an open-air public viewing or a lively sports bar, venues across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Midrand and Soweto will be screening the match live.
Thousands of people are expected to take to the streets of Johannesburg when the 702 Walk the Talk returns on Sunday, 26 July 2026. This year, the event will feature a new partnership with Jozi My Jozi, introducing interactive experiences that encourage participants to discover the city’s people, neighbourhoods and creative spaces while completing their chosen route. The initiative transforms the annual walk into an opportunity to experience Johannesburg beyond the finish line, with storytelling, public art, local markets and community activities planned along the way.
The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk will return to Johannesburg on Sunday, 26 July 2026, taking thousands of participants through the inner city on three routes starting and finishing at Ellis Park. The event, hosted by Radio 702 in partnership with Jozi My Jozi and supported by the City of Johannesburg, will use the annual walk to highlight Joburg’s heritage, architecture, urban renewal and the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. Participants can choose a 5 km, 8 km or 15 km route through several well known Johannesburg precincts.
South Africa is commemorating Nelson Mandela Month throughout July 2026, with residents, organisations and communities encouraged to dedicate time to tackling poverty and inequity ahead of Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July.
Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill will host the 14th annual Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival from 24 to 27 June 2026, bringing together music, film, entrepreneurship, poetry, heritage and youth-focused dialogue as South Africa commemorates 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Gauteng residents are spoiled for choice this weekend, with international music legends, major festivals, food experiences and live performances taking place across Johannesburg and Pretoria from 29 to 31 May.
Leading the lineup is the highly anticipated return of Boyz II Men, who will perform at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena, while festival lovers can choose between the Portuguese Festival, The People’s Picnic, the Benoni Beer & Gin Fest and the Johannesburg Cap Classique, Champagne & Bubbles Festival.