Cape Town Pride Parade and Mardi Gras on 27 February 2027
SOUTH AFRICA · PRIDE FESTIVAL
Key Facts
- —What is happening Cape Town Pride runs from Friday, 5 February 2027 to Sunday, 28 February 2027. The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras fall on Saturday, 27 February 2027.
- —Why it matters Cape Town hosts WorldPride in 2028, the first in Africa, so this festival gets extra attention.
- —The numbers Mardi Gras tickets open at the end of November 2026. In 2026 early bird entry cost R65 (about US$4) and general entry R100 (about US$6).
- —Who is who Cape Town Pride is the organiser, and dancer and MC Nkosinathi Sangweni waka Mtshali is the 2027 brand ambassador.
- —What to watch The ticket seller, price, parade start time and Mardi Gras line up for 2027 have not been published yet.
- —What it means for you US citizens need no visa for 90 days or less, the Home Affairs department says. Keep valuables hidden and avoid walking alone after dark.
Cape Town Pride 2027 fills most of February with events across the city. The big day is the Pride Parade and Mardi Gras on Saturday, 27 February 2027.
Cape Town Pride 2027 runs from Friday, 5 February 2027 to Sunday, 28 February 2027, the organiser says. The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras fall on Saturday, 27 February 2027 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mardi Gras tickets go on sale at the end of November, Time Out Cape Town reports. No ticket seller or price has been published for 2027 yet.
What Cape Town Pride Is
Cape Town Pride is a festival for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other LGBTQIA+ people and their allies. Its calendar for 2027 runs for most of February and ends with the parade and a daylong party.
The organiser lists the 2027 theme as “Loud in Every Colour”. Brand ambassador Nkosinathi Sangweni waka Mtshali, a dancer, choreographer and MC, says it names the whole spectrum, not only the rainbow flag.
The organiser says the festival includes book readings, film screenings, workshops, mountain hikes, drag shows, quiz nights and comedy. The full event schedule has not been published, and the organiser’s events page showed no listings on Saturday, 24 October 2026.
The Festival Dates and Theme
The organiser lists the 2027 festival as Friday, 5 February 2027 to Sunday, 28 February 2027. Time Out Cape Town gives the same dates.
Those dates make the festival 24 days long, although the organiser and Time Out also call it three weeks long. One travel listing puts the parade on 28 February, but the organiser says 27 February, a Saturday.
Cape Town Pride posted its dates and themes for the 2027 festival on 14 October 2026. The post appears in the announcements list on its website.
Parade Day on 27 February 2027
The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras are on Saturday, 27 February 2027, the organiser says. The organiser says the parade starts on Alfred Street in De Waterkant and ends at the Green Point Track.
The Green Point Track is also the Mardi Gras venue, so the parade flows into the party. No parade start time has been published for 2027.
In 2025 the City of Cape Town said the parade began at 11:00 on Alfred Street and ran along Somerset Road. Entry was free, and rolling road closures ran from 10:30 to 13:00.
Last year’s Mardi Gras ran from 11:00 to 21:00 on Saturday, 28 February 2026, according to the organiser’s 2026 event page. The 2027 hours and exact site are not yet confirmed, so check the organiser before you go.
Tickets and Prices for Mardi Gras
Time Out Cape Town reports that Pride Mardi Gras tickets will go on sale at the end of November 2026. It names no seller and no price.
The organiser’s 2026 Mardi Gras page listed an early bird ticket at R65 (about US$4) until 19 December 2025. General entry was R100 (about US$6) and VIP R550 (about US$33), sold online through Quicket.
Those are 2026 prices and a 2026 seller, and none is confirmed for 2027. Conversions use open.er-api.com rates of Saturday, 24 October 2026, when US$1 bought R16.58.
The parade was free to join in 2025, and Mardi Gras tickets were online only in 2026. Buy only from the link on cptpride.org once sales open.
In Plain English
- Pride is a celebration and rights campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other LGBTQIA+ people.
- Pride Parade is the street procession, from De Waterkant to Green Point.
- Mardi Gras is the all day party with music, stalls, food and drink that follows the parade.
- WorldPride is an international Pride event that moves to a new host city each time.
Where to Stay and How to Get Around
The parade starts in De Waterkant and ends in Green Point, two neighbouring districts near the city centre and the Atlantic coast. Staying in either lets you walk to the start on parade morning.
The State Department advises avoiding walking alone, especially after dark. Book a ride home from the Mardi Gras before the evening and travel in groups.
The State Department says violent crime is common, especially downtown after dark. Keep phones and bags out of sight, especially around crowds.
February is high summer in Cape Town, so book rooms early for Pride weekend. No hotel or transport partner has been announced by the organiser.
Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors
The Department of Home Affairs lists the United States among countries whose citizens need no visa for 90 days. The State Department says passports need two consecutive completely blank visa pages on every arrival.
The State Department rates South Africa Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory last issued on 27 May 2025. It cites crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.
It warns of smash and grab attacks on vehicles and advises avoiding driving outside metropolitan areas at night. Kidnappers target US citizens and other foreign travellers, typically for money, it says.
Minors face special entry requirements, and the State Department country page is partly dated. Check the Department of Home Affairs and the embassy for current rules before you fly.
Rights and Legal Protections for LGBTQIA+ Visitors
South Africa’s constitution lists sexual orientation among the grounds on which the state may not unfairly discriminate. Section 9(3) of the Bill of Rights says so.
The Civil Union Act of 2006 provides for civil unions, by way of either a marriage or a civil partnership. The State Department’s country page, last updated in 2022, says there are no legal restrictions on same sex relations or LGBTI events.
The State Department advisory contains no LGBTQI+ specific guidance. The organiser says event details are subject to change and points to its Facebook and Instagram pages.
WorldPride 2028 Puts Cape Town in the Spotlight
Cape Town will host WorldPride in 2028, ending on 14 October, the organiser says. It will be the first WorldPride in Africa.
A South African delegation received the host role in Amsterdam on Saturday, 8 August 2026, the organiser says. Its own pages give the WorldPride start as 28 and as 30 September, so check the start date.
What It Means for You
A US visitor can plan a February trip around Saturday, 27 February 2027 now, because the dates are confirmed. Tickets open only in late November, so book flights and rooms with flexible terms.
Last year’s Mardi Gras tickets ran from R65 (about US$4) to R100 (about US$6), but 2027 prices are not confirmed. Budget separately for rides, food and any ticketed festival events.
What Is Not Known
The Mardi Gras ticket seller, ticket price and on sale date have not been confirmed for 2027. Only the end of November has been given as the timing.
The parade start time, Mardi Gras hours and line up have not been published. The full festival programme and venues for events other than the parade are also not yet public.
The organiser and Time Out call the festival both month long and three weeks long, and one listing gives another parade date. This guide follows the organiser’s dates of 5 to 28 February and 27 February.
What Comes Next
Mardi Gras tickets are due at the end of November 2026, and the organiser says its website and social channels carry updates. Check cptpride.org before you buy, as details can change.
Connected Coverage
The Rio Times Cape Town city guide and What to Do in Cape Town in October 2026 cover the host city. The South Africa hub collects Rio Times country coverage.
Other Cape Town events are in WAV Festival Cape Town on 2 January 2027 and Brandy Plays Cape Town on 14 December. For holidays, read South Africa Holidays and Closures in December 2026.
For safety and the country, read Is South Africa Safe for Expats as Crime Drops and South Africa Explained. Both are in depth guides to the host country.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Cape Town Pride 2027?
The festival runs from Friday, 5 February 2027 to Sunday, 28 February 2027, the organiser says. The Pride Parade and Mardi Gras are on Saturday, 27 February 2027.
How much are Cape Town Pride Mardi Gras tickets?
The 2027 price has not been published, and tickets go on sale at the end of November. In 2026 early bird tickets cost R65 (about US$4) and general R100 (about US$6).
Is it safe for LGBTQIA+ Americans to attend Cape Town Pride?
South Africa has no legal restrictions on same sex relations or LGBTI events, the State Department says. It rates the country Level 2 for crime, so avoid walking alone after dark.
Sources: Cape Town Pride, official website; Cape Town Pride, Pride 2027; Cape Town Pride, events; Cape Town Pride, dates and themes announcement (14 October 2026); Cape Town Pride, Mardi Gras 2026; Cape Town Pride, WorldPride handover; Department of Home Affairs, visa exempt countries; Time Out Cape Town, Cape Town Pride announces month long jol for 2027; City of Cape Town, Cape Town readies for the Mother City’s biggest Pride festival (2025); US State Department, South Africa travel advisory; US State Department, South Africa country information; South African Government, Bill of Rights; South African Government, Civil Union Act; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 24 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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