With the return of the Tweede Nuwe Jaar street parade kicking the year off with a bang, Cape Town is gearing up for a busy year of events, including several major international showpieces.
This calendar of events spans the spectrum from athletics to the arts and everything in between, guaranteeing there is something for everyone.
Also read: A guide to which galleries are exhibiting this First Thursday
The return of the popular Tweede Nuwe Jaar street parade kicked off the year with a bang, drawing over 80,000 spectators, and was followed by the extremely successful Netball Quad Series.
The City’s Events Department has also confirmed support for a host of exciting events still to come this year.
Anchored by Africa’s first-ever Netball World Cup in July 2023, a number of international women’s sports events will head to Cape Town.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup takes place from 10 to 26 February 2023, and Cape Town will be one of three host cities.
The tournament will feature 12 of the best international cricket nations battling to be crowned T20 champions.
Newlands Cricket Ground will host 12 of the 23 matches, including two semi-finals and the final. Tickets are available here for as little as R30 each.
From 20 to 26 February, Grand West’s Ice Station will play host to the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship Division II Group B tournament, featuring South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Australia, Belgium and Croatia.
The City will also sponsor the Cape Town Ladies Open and the Investec SA Women’s Open, maintaining its long-standing relationship with the Sunshine Ladies Tour, a prestigious professional golf tour.
“Supporting these events forms part of the City’s contribution to efforts aimed at elevating the status of women’s sports and providing as many platforms for athletes to showcase their skills,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
He continued, “In this regard, our Events Department is defining 2023 as the year of women by doing more to support women-driven events, in particular women’s sports. These events have the potential to raise the status of women’s sports in the country, and the City of Cape Town is thrilled to be part of those efforts.”
He added that events have long been proven to be a great catalyst for growth, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors, because people drawn to these events will spend money on accommodation, restaurants, transportation and other attractions in Cape Town.
They also significantly contribute to our efforts to stimulate the local economy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cape Town will also host the following events over the course of 2023:
- International Public Art Festival (March)
- African Youth Kung Fu & Martial Arts (March)
- Cape Town Ramadan Festival (March)
- Cape Town Cycle Tour (March)
- Cape Town Carnival (March)
- Drift City (March)
- Africa Travel Week (March)
- Monster Jam (March)
- SA Christmas Band Board Competition (March)
- Comic-Con Cape Town (March)
- U18 Ice Hockey World Championships (March)
- Two Oceans Marathon (April)
- Encounters Film Festival (June)
- Jive Cape Town Funny Festival (June)
- Totalsports Women’s Race (August)
- Cape Town Festival of Speed (September)
- WOMAD Cape Town (September)
- Open Book Festival (September)
Cape Town will join 11 other cities around the world as hosts of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
On 25 February 2023, Cape Town will host Africa’s first-ever E-Prix event in the Green Point precinct. Tickets for the event are available here.
Also read:
Picture: Unsplash