Cape Town International Jazz Festival expands across the city for March 2027

Cape Town’s streets, gardens, galleries and community spaces will become part of the music programme when the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) (https://www.capetownjazzfest.com/) introduces its expanded Month of the Mother City (https://capetimes.co.za/thepost/features/2026-06-29-cape-towns-jazz-festival-will-evolve-into-month-long-cultural-celebration-in-2027/) from March 4 to 26, 2027.

Presented by espAfrika, the new format takes the festival beyond its traditional main weekend, bringing jazz and cultural events to venues across the city, including St George’s Cathedral, Greenmarket Square, the Company’s Garden, Artscape Theatre Centre, the Homecoming Centre, Texas Nightclub, Youngblood-Africa Gallery and Guga S’thebe in Langa.

The programme will build towards two major weekends, with performances by South African and international artists, special collaborations and a family day. Organisers say the expanded format aims to bring the festival closer to communities while creating more opportunities for audiences to experience Cape Town’s cultural spaces.

Jazz festival programme spreads across Cape Town

The first major programme weekend will be the Homecoming weekend on March 12 and 13, with events at the Homecoming Centre, associated with the District Six Museum, and Texas Nightclub.

The main festival weekend will follow from March 19 to 21, with celebrations at the Company’s Garden, Greenmarket Square and St George’s Cathedral.

Across the flagship weekends, audiences can expect performances by 22 South African artists and 16 international acts, alongside special collaborations featuring the CTIJF Jazz Orchestra and the CTIJF All-Star Youth Band.

The programme will conclude on Sunday, March 21, with a family day intended to welcome music lovers of all ages.

“For over two decades, the CTIJF has been the heartbeat of Cape Town's cultural calendar,” said Georgia Jones, co-director of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

“By expanding into the Month of the Mother City and decentralising our model, we are bringing the excitement and hope of jazz directly into the neighbourhoods, community and cultural spaces that make Cape Town so vibrant.”

Free community concerts and cultural events planned

The expanded programme will run beyond the headline festival weekends, with 10 intimate performances, 10 masterclasses, panel discussions, a conversation series, an art gallery exhibition and a fashion show planned throughout March.

Free community concerts are scheduled for Guga S’thebe on March 14 and Greenmarket Square on March 17, giving audiences additional opportunities to experience the festival.

Carolyn Sierra, co-director of the festival, said the new format was intended to strengthen the relationship between the event and the city.

“In 2027, Cape Town doesn’t simply host the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. The city becomes the festival,” she said.

“By taking the CTIJF into the cultural, community and public spaces of the Mother City, we are creating a richer connection between the music, our audiences and the place we call home.”

Sierra said the expanded programme would also create opportunities for partners, local businesses and artists to connect with audiences, while allowing the festival to evolve without losing the spirit that has defined it for more than two decades.

When do Cape Town International Jazz Festival tickets go on sale?

Organisers say ticket options will range from free entry to tiered pricing, with the aim of making the celebrations accessible to a wider audience.

Early Bird tickets (https://capetimes.co.za/capeargus/news/2026-06-25-ctijf-signals-major-announcement-ahead-of-2027-edition/) for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival are scheduled to go on sale through Quicket (https://www.quicket.co.za/) on October 30, 2026, according to the supplied announcement. All ticket types and pricing tiers are scheduled to become available from November 16.

Tickets for the wider Month of the Mother City programme are scheduled to go on sale through FIXR (https://fixr.co/?region=za) on November 30.

The expanded festival programme will run from March 4 to 26, 2027, with events planned across Cape Town’s cultural landmarks, public spaces and community venues.