Dave South Africa 2026 means two arena nights this week, Pretoria on Saturday and Cape Town on Tuesday, with tickets on sale.
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The British rapper Dave plays his first concerts in South Africa this week. He plays the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday 3 October 2026 and GrandWest in Cape Town on Tuesday 6 October.
Key Facts
- Dates and venues. Saturday 3 October 2026 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. Tuesday 6 October 2026 at the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town. Both shows start at 8 p.m. South African time.
- Who he is. Dave is a rapper from south London whose debut album, Psychodrama, won the Mercury Prize in 2019. These are his first concerts in South Africa, on The Boy Who Played the Harp Tour.
- Why it matters. The promoter, Big Concerts, bills him as the first UK rap artist to debut three consecutive studio albums at number one. For expats in Gauteng and the Western Cape, this week is the only chance to see him in the country.
- Tickets. Ticketmaster is the only official seller, and both dates were still listed for sale on 28 September 2026. The venues quote tickets from R855 (about US$52) in Pretoria and from R915 (about US$56) in Cape Town.
- What to know. Doors open at 6 p.m. in Pretoria and 7 p.m. in Cape Town. Standing is limited to fans over 12 and at least 1.2 metres tall. Tickets resold on Viagogo are refused at the door.
Dave South Africa 2026: Two Arena Nights This Week
The South African leg of The Boy Who Played the Harp Tour has two dates, both announced in March. Pretoria comes first, on Saturday 3 October, and Cape Town follows three days later, on Tuesday 6 October.
Big Concerts, the promoter, lists doors at 6 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m. in Pretoria. In Cape Town, doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m., the time GrandWest also gives.
Who Dave Is
Dave is the stage name of David Omoregie, a rapper, producer and songwriter from south London. His debut album, Psychodrama, won the Mercury Prize, one of Britain’s main album awards, in 2019.
His third album, The Boy Who Played the Harp, gives the tour its name. The tour opened in Munich, Germany, on 2 February 2026, and Big Concerts calls these his first shows in South Africa.
Tickets, Prices and Where to Buy
Ticketmaster South Africa is the only official seller for both nights. On 28 September 2026 the promoter’s pages for Pretoria and Cape Town still showed tickets available to buy.
The venue pages list tickets from R855 (about US$52) in Pretoria and R915 (about US$56) in Cape Town. Conversions use 16.32 rand to the dollar, the rate on 28 September.
The full list of ticket tiers could not be checked, because the Ticketmaster event pages were not accessible. Which sections are close to selling out is also not published.
Both venues warn against Viagogo and other resale sites. Tickets bought there are treated as fraudulent, and holders are refused entry with no refund.
Pretoria: The SunBet Arena at Time Square
The SunBet Arena stands inside the Time Square casino complex in Menlyn Maine, in the east of Pretoria. It opened in November 2017 and is run by the hotel and casino group Sun International.
The arena seats about 8,500 people, or holds about 10,000 for standing concerts. The venue says it is cashless, so bring a bank card or a phone that can pay by tap.
Weapons, cooler boxes and food may not be brought in. Secured paid parking costs R20 (about US$1), and Big Concerts also sells a Park and Ride option through Ticketmaster.
Cape Town: The Grand Arena at GrandWest
The Grand Arena is part of GrandWest, a casino and entertainment complex at 1 Jakes Gerwel Drive in Acacia Park, Cape Town. It holds up to about 7,000 people.
GrandWest has parking on site. The Cape Town show falls on a Tuesday, so allow for weekday evening traffic before doors open at 7 p.m.
Getting There and Staying Safe
Visitors to both venues usually arrive by car, taxi or ride-hailing app. Booking a ride home before the encore ends saves a long wait at the pick-up points.
Keep phones and cards out of sight when leaving, and walk to parking areas in a group. Plan the whole route home before the night, rather than improvising after midnight.
Standing tickets are only for fans over 12 who are at least 1.2 metres tall. Parents bringing younger teenagers should choose seated tickets.
What Has Not Been Announced
Big Concerts lists Dave as the only name on the line-up for both nights. SlikourOnLife reported on 23 September that Venom will open in Pretoria and Ziggy4x in Cape Town.
No set length or finishing time has been published for either show. The promoter has not said whether seats will be added or released closer to the dates.
More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Sources
Big Concerts: Dave, Pretoria, 3 October 2026 · Big Concerts: Dave, Cape Town, 6 October 2026 · Time Square (Sun International): Dave, The Boy Who Played the Harp Tour · GrandWest (Sun International): Dave, The Boy Who Played the Harp Tour · News24: Dave’s The Boy Who Played the Harp set for SA · IOL: Global rap star Dave to perform in Pretoria and Cape Town · SlikourOnLife: Ziggy4x secures opening slot for Dave’s Cape Town stop · Wikipedia: SunBet Arena · Time Out Cape Town: Grand Arena, GrandWest
FAQ
When and where does Dave play in South Africa?
He plays the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Saturday 3 October 2026. The second show is at the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town on Tuesday 6 October 2026, with both starting at 8 p.m.
How much are tickets?
The venues list tickets from R855 (about US$52) in Pretoria and from R915 (about US$56) in Cape Town. Both nights were still on sale through Ticketmaster on 28 September 2026.
What time do doors open?
Pretoria doors open at 6 p.m., according to the promoter Big Concerts. Cape Town doors open at 7 p.m., and no finishing time has been published for either show.
Who is opening for Dave?
The promoter lists only Dave on the line-up. SlikourOnLife reported that Venom will support in Pretoria and Ziggy4x in Cape Town.
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Sources: Big Concerts and Sun International venue pages (consulted 28 September 2026), News24 (25 March 2026), IOL (24 March 2026), SlikourOnLife (23 September 2026), Wikipedia and Time Out Cape Town (consulted 28 September 2026).
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