Welcome to Johannesburg, a vibrant city bursting with energy. Joburg offers an array of exciting activities and experiences for everyone, whether you're new to the city (check out our list of best Joburg tours and experiences), a nature lover (visit Joburg's most beautiful parks), or you love to shop for unusual items, see our round-up of Joburg's best markets.
Joburg's galleries are always active, with new shows opening weekly. You can read our exhibitions guide here. If you're a jazz lover, check out our list of places to listen to jazz in Joburg. For movie lovers, there are many cinemas in the city, plus stage productions including ballet, theatre or opera, if that's your style. And if you have kids or want to find family-friendly activities (check out our fun Gauteng attractions for families guide), there are plenty of options to choose from.
For a full guide to what’s on in Joburg, explore our events calendar and subscribe to our weekly newsletter published every Thursday morning. Follow us on Instagram, where we publish daily updates on events in our Instagram stories.
It’s kickoff time as the FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives with its biggest edition yet, featuring 48 teams across stadiums in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Here's our guide to where to catch the matches in Joburg.
We’ve rounded up ways to mark June 16 in 2026, in what promises to be a landmark 50th anniversary, Youth Day in Joburg - Where to commemorate Soweto's 1976 uprising.
Note: While we update this information regularly, Johannesburg is an ever-changing city, so make sure to click on links, follow our booking advice, and if in doubt, call ahead, as venues do not always communicate changes.
Our top picks for the week ahead (Thu, Jun 11 – Wed, Jun 17, 2026)
Thu, Jun 11 – Join fellow football fans for a thrilling yet private World Cup Watch Party at Wits Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, Braamfontein.Thu, Jun 4 – Thu, Jun 25 – Swap your playlist for a full orchestra as Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra’s Winter Symphony Season opens at Linder Auditorium, Parktown, with Beethoven, Dvořák and Brahms performed live.
Thu, Jun 11 – Cheer on Bafana Bafana as they kick off their World Cup campaign against Mexico and soak up the electric atmosphere at the S.W.A.N.K World Cup Watch Party at The Nest, New Doornfontein.
Fri, Jun 12 – Dance the night away at Beats by Her Spaces Africa edition, a femme-led sonic celebration of women selectors, DJs, and irresistible dancefloor energy at Untitled Basement, Braamfontein.
Fri, Jun 12 – Sat, Jun 13 – Experience the extraordinary story of Nkoli: A Fierce and Fabulous Life, a vogue ball told through music, song, video, lip syncing, rap, archive and dance as a tribute to queer activist Simon Nkoli at UJ Arts Centre Theatre, Auckland Park.
Fri, Jun 12 – Friends & Familia's winter season residency party shifts towards the warm and intimate with soulful selections in Mamakashaka and Friends, Braamfontein.
Fri, Jun 12 – Sun, Jul 12 – Step into the mystery and romance of Midnight in Parys, a theatrical journey filled with absurdist intrigue and charm at Studio Theatre at Montecasino in Fourways.
Sat, Jun 13 – Browse local crafts, food and live music at the ever-popular family-friendly Field Market at Field and Study Park, Sandton.
Sat, Jun 13 – Explore Soweto's rich and important history and culture on the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation Soweto June 16 Tour, starting at Sunnyside Park Hotel.
Sat, Jun 13 – Sip, socialise and get creative at a relaxed printmaking session with a curated wine selection at 27 Boxes, Melville.
Sun, Jun 14 – Swap your Sunday lie-in for a checkmate as Chess with The Pony Club at The Bioscope brings players of all levels together for a morning of strategy, coffee and friendly competition at 44 Stanley, Milpark.
Sun, Jun 14 – Wind down your weekend with live performances at the Sunset Music Series with South African talents Matthew Mole and Will Linley against the serene backdrop of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Roodepoort.
Sun, Jun 14 – Shop, eat and discover local makers at the lively Soweto-based Locrate Market at Lebo's Soweto Backpackers, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising.
Until Sun, Jun 14 – A dazzling blend of couture and aerial performance as Behind the Crimson Door by Gert-Johan Coetzee and The Cirk takes you on an adventure of dreams and courage at Cresta Shopping Centre.
Until Sun, Jun 14 – Experience 58 powerful documentaries from 33 countries at Encounters 2026, Africa’s leading documentary film festival, where stories of love, memory, resistance and joy come alive on screens across Johannesburg.
Mon, Jun 15 – Turn up the volume as Boiler Room joins Soweto Punk at Native Rebels, Soweto, for a night of alternative artists across punk, rock, afro-folk, experimental and beyond featuring Internet Girl, Ganja Jaji, Not One But Two, Zondo Commission Band, Morena Leraba and Shameless.
Tue, Jun 16 – Let jazz take the lead as Kids Love Jazz by NarowBi brings an afternoon of bold, boundary-pushing sounds to The Playground in Braamfontein.
Tue, Jun 16 – Mark Youth Day with performances, reflections, and community celebrations at the Youth Day Commemoration at Soweto Theatre.
Until Sun, Jun 28 – Mark 50 years since the Soweto Uprising with Rise '76: The Story of June 16th at Market Theatre, Newtown, a powerful new production that brings one of South Africa’s defining moments to life through deeply personal stories.
Ongoing – It's cinema on a whole new scale: next-level picture, sound and spectacle via IMAX with Laser at Ster-Kinekor at The Zone @ Rosebank.
Hot tickets
Sat, Jun 20 – Groove to jazz, pop, rock, soul, indie, funk and slam poetry at Fête de la Musique Joburg at Victoria Yards, the city’s free festival in Lorenztville giving emerging artists the spotlight and everyone a reason to move.
Sun, Jun 21 – Step into a car-free Main Street, Marshalltown, for art, music, skateboarding, urban gardening, kids’ zones and plenty of city surprises at the second edition of Main Street Sundays with Jozi My Jozi.
Thu, Jun 25 – Sat, Jun 27 – It's all about art, music, fashion and film at the Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival, celebrating South African youth, creativity and culture across three action-packed days at Constitution Hill.
