Free Family Fun This Saturday as Cape Town Carnival Returns!

Photo Credit: Cape Town Carnival

Floats lighting up the sky. Firefighters doing push-ups. Harley-Davidsons vroom-vrooming. YoungstaCPT on the decks until midnight. Thousands of Capetonians cheering at something spectacular passing by. And not a single ticket is required to be part of it!

Cape Town, South Africa (19 March 2026) – The 16th Cape Town Carnival is happening this Saturday, 21 March! If you’re looking for something fun to do with the family, the event is free to all who wish to join, as it always has been.

This year’s theme is ‘Follow your heART’, and the carnival will be drawing on the artistic energy and vibes from the Mother City’s creative community of artists, musicians, performers and activists who’ve each contributed to make this year’s bash one for the books.

This year’s 12 Carnival Champions have been revealed as Zolani Mahola, Anslin Gysman, DJ Ready D, Suidooster star Natasha van der Merwe, graffiti artist Rizah Potgieter, the late hip-hop artist Bravo le Roux, designer Stephen van Eeden, make-up influencer Jemma Fourie, performance legend Terry Fortune, activist Nyaniso Tutu-Burris, make-up artist Qhayiya Tyali, and musician Dylan Majavie.

“These Champions have followed their heart in order to live their passion, and they’ll be providing inspiration as they share their stories,” said Cape Town Carnival CEO Jay Douwes.

The iconic floats were brought to life by several Champions who lovingly built them, and others like Zolani Mahola and the legendary DJ Ready D are bringing their good vibes to the stage.

Star guests, including Siv Ngesi, Miss Universe South Africa 2025 Melissa Nayimuli, Big Brother SA’s Ofentse Modise, Nate Setwaba and Naledi Mallela, and Kfm 94.5’s Carl Wastie and Cassidy Nicholson, are also on the bill to make it a proper night out.

What you won’t see on Saturday is all the work that made it possible. Community groups, designers, dancers and float builders have spent months perfecting every detail so that for one night, Green Point becomes the most joyful street in South Africa!

“There have been hours and hours of rehearsals so that we can put on a performance like no other. What we love best about the event is the sense of cross-cultural pollination that happens, not only between all the Carnival groups, but between the thousands of spectators who forget their worries for one night as they party safely in the streets together and enjoy the show we have created,” says Cape Town Carnival performance director Tracey Carter.

The main parade kicks off at 7 pm, but the day starts at 3 pm with food vendors and pre-entertainment while you grab your spot. At 4:30 pm, there’s an inaugural 1km Fun Run, and by 6 pm, the pre-parade is already rolling with the crowd-favourite acts doing what they do best. After the parade wraps, the after-party goes until midnight. That’s a full Saturday sorted.