The City of Cape Town’s flagship Festive Lights Switch-On returns to the Grand Parade this November, promising another spectacular celebration to usher in the festive season. The City is already hard at work behind the scenes to showcase yet another memorable event.
Cape Town will kick off its festive holiday season and welcome summer with the Mother City’s largest free open-air concert on the Grand Parade on Sunday, 29 November 2026.
The Festive Lights Switch-On will once again transform the city centre into a vibrant celebration of music, culture and community.
Now in its 57th year, the event will feature a star-studded line-up of South African musicians, DJs and entertainers before culminating in the official switch-on of the festive lights along Adderley and Darling streets.
More than 100 000 people attended the 2025 Festive Lights Switch-On across the Grand Parade, Adderley Street and Darling Street, making it the biggest celebration in the event’s history.
The City expects another exceptional turnout this year, with the full entertainment programme set to be announced in the coming weeks.
‘The Festive Lights Switch-On is one of Cape Town’s most cherished traditions and a celebration that brings people together to mark the start of the festive season. For almost six decades, these lights have symbolised hope, joy, and togetherness for generations of residents and visitors, while showcasing the warmth and vibrancy that define our city.
‘After delivering our biggest-ever celebration in 2025, our teams are working behind the scenes to put together a vibrant event programme for another unforgettable evening of entertainment and celebration,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The six-hour celebration will once again feature the official illumination of Cape Town’s iconic festive lights along Adderley and Darling Streets, complemented by a spectacular video mapping projection on City Hall that will bring the city’s rich culture and heritage to life.
In the lead-up to the event, residents can once again look forward to a range of exciting activations, including the popular Festive Lights Switch-On Dance Challenge, designed to showcase the creativity, energy, and talent of Cape Town’s performers.
The City will also unveil the Mayor’s official festive wear during the event, continuing a tradition that has quickly become a favourite feature of the celebrations.
As part of the Wear the Hope Challenge, aimed at celebrating Cape Town’s creativity, diversity and local talent, residents and visitors will be invited to design a fun festive jersey, pullover or shirt which the mayor will don during the Festive Lights Switch-On event.
Further announcements, including the full entertainment line-up and programme details, will be made in the weeks leading up to the 2026 Festive Lights Switch-On.
Event Details
- Date: Sunday, 29 November 2026
- Time: 16:00 – 22:00
- Venue: The Grand Parade (in front of City Hall) and Adderley Street
- Cost: Free
