Jill Scott Plays Pretoria and Cape Town in November, First Album in a Decade
SOUTH AFRICA · LIVE MUSIC
Key Facts
- —The country South Africa, a country of about 63 million people, has a large and devoted audience for American soul and R&B.
- —Why it matters Jill Scott, a three-time Grammy winner from Philadelphia, released her first album in more than a decade in 2026.
- —What happened Her tour plays SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday 7 November and GrandWest in Cape Town on Wednesday 11 November.
- —What it means for you Tiers announced in March run from R800 to R2,500 (US$49–153) before fees; shows start at 20:00.
- —Still open Support acts had not been announced by 24 September 2026, and booking fees raise the final price.
The Jill Scott South Africa tour marks her fourth visit, with a new album and two arena shows in November.
Jill Scott, the Philadelphia soul singer and poet, returns to South Africa in November. The Jill Scott South Africa tour plays Pretoria on Saturday 7 November 2026 and Cape Town on Wednesday 11 November.
Both concerts start at 20:00, with doors at 19:00. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster and Showtime, the promoter’s own site.
Jill Scott South Africa Tour: Dates, Venues and Tickets
Pretoria comes first, on Saturday 7 November at SunBet Arena, part of the Time Square complex at Menlyn Maine. Cape Town follows on Wednesday 11 November at the Grand Arena in GrandWest.
Face-value tiers run from R800 to R2,500 (US$49–153) in both cities, according to the March tour announcement. Booking fees are added at checkout.
Current Ticketmaster listings for Cape Town show a wider range, R860–5,158 (US$53–315), according to Time Out. Check the listing before you buy.
The promoters are Showtime Management and GRIZA Enterprises. They warn that tickets bought through unauthorised websites will not be honoured.
Doors open at 19:00 and the shows start at 20:00, local time. Support acts had not been announced by 24 September 2026.
Who Jill Scott Is
Jill Scott grew up in Philadelphia and came to music through spoken-word poetry. Her 2000 debut album made her a leading voice of neo-soul, a warm blend of R&B, jazz and spoken word.
She has won three Grammy Awards and is known to fans as Jilly from Philly. She also acts, and she played Precious Ramotswe in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, the 2008–09 series filmed in Botswana.
Songs such as A Long Walk and Golden remain favourites at her concerts. Her 2015 album Woman debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
On 9 September 2026 Billboard inducted her into its R&B Hall of Fame, at an event in New York. The honour came two months before the South African dates.
The New Album and the Tour
To Whom This May Concern, released in 2026, is her first studio album in more than ten years. It features guests including Ab-Soul, J.I.D and Tierra Whack.
The record came out in February 2026 and entered the top ten of seven Billboard charts. The world tour behind it runs to 36 dates across the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Speaking to Texx and the City ahead of the tour, Scott put her view of live music simply. “Music is a conversation, and the stage is where we come together to share truth, joy, and the beauty of being alive.”
Why South Africa Keeps Calling
This is Scott’s fourth visit to South Africa, after shows in Johannesburg in 2013 and 2024 and in Durban in 2017. In 2024 she headlined a day of the DStv Delicious Festival in Johannesburg.
Neo-soul has a devoted following in South Africa, where jazz and soul have deep local roots. Her mix of poetry and song suits audiences who come to listen as much as to dance.
South African singers such as Simphiwe Dana and Zonke work in a similar space between soul, jazz and the spoken word. That shared taste helps explain why she keeps coming back.
What It Means If You Live in South Africa
The Cape Town show is on a Wednesday, so expect a late finish on a work night. The Pretoria show on a Saturday is the easier option for many people.
Both venues sit inside casino complexes with parking, restaurants and security. Arrive early, as queues build near the 20:00 start.
Menlyn Maine is about an hour’s drive from central Johannesburg outside peak hours. GrandWest is about 15 minutes by car from Cape Town’s city centre.
Buy only through Ticketmaster or Showtime. Tickets from other websites will not be honoured, the promoters say.
What Comes Next
Support acts and any age rules should be confirmed on Ticketmaster closer to the dates. Check Ticketmaster for current prices before you buy.
If you want to see both shows, note that the shows are four days apart. Flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town take about two hours and run many times a day.
More on the country: South Africa Explained 2026.
Sources: Inbound SA, tour dates and price tiers; Inbound SA, update, 17 September 2026; Showtime Management, event page; The National, Billboard honour, 18 September 2026; Texx and the City, announcement, March 2026; Time Out Cape Town, listing. Exchange rate: mid-market rate of 24 September 2026 (open.er-api.com), R16.36 per US dollar.
More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Jill Scott South Africa tour?
She plays SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday 7 November 2026. The Grand Arena, GrandWest, in Cape Town follows on Wednesday 11 November, and both shows start at 20:00.
How much are the tickets?
Face-value tiers announced in March run from R800 to R2,500 (US$49–153), before booking fees. Some listings now show higher-priced options, so check Ticketmaster or Showtime.
Has Jill Scott performed in South Africa before?
Yes. This is her fourth visit, after Johannesburg in 2013 and 2024 and Durban in 2017.
What is her new album?
To Whom This May Concern, released in 2026, is her first studio album in more than ten years. The tour is named after it.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. How we use AI · Report an error
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