What to Do in Gaborone in October 2026, From Gospel to a Night Run
BOTSWANA · GABORONE · EVENTS
Key Facts
- •The country Botswana is a landlocked democracy in southern Africa, and Gaborone is its capital. The country marked 60 years of independence on Botswana Day, Wednesday 30 September.
- •Why now The rest of October brings the fifth Bantu Film Festival from 20 to 24 October, big gospel nights, and charity runs that end with Run Gabz by Night on Saturday 31 October.
- •Key dates Victor Thompson on Saturday 17 October, a gospel live recording at the GICC on Saturday 24 October, and a cultural festival plus the night run on Saturday 31 October.
- •For US travellers The US State Department rates Botswana Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days, but you need three blank passport pages.
- •The money The pula closed at 13.35 to the US dollar on Tuesday 6 October, so a P100 ticket costs about US$7.49.
- •Still open The film festival has not named its venue on its ticket page, and several concert listings give no line-up beyond the headliner.
Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, spends the rest of October 2026 on gospel, film and running. The fifth Bantu Film Festival runs from Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October, the Nigerian gospel singer Victor Thompson plays the Game City rooftop on Saturday 17 October, and the month closes with Run Gabz by Night through the city centre on Saturday 31 October.
The calendar follows Botswana Day on 30 September, when the country marked 60 years of independence, and the public holiday on Thursday 1 October. For an American visitor, most tickets cost less than US$20, no visa is needed for a short stay, and many events are early-morning charity runs that welcome walkers as well as runners.
This guide lists only events still ahead after Wednesday 7 October, each checked on the ticket page of Webtickets Botswana or Ticketlinc, the two main local sellers. Prices are in Botswana pula (P) with the US dollar value in brackets.
10 and 11 October: Charity Runs and a Gospel Tribute
Saturday 10 October, 05:30 to 12:00
Debswana Fun Run for Mental Health
Debswana Corporate Centre, Gaborone · Free, register on Ticketlinc
Free entries for 5 km, 10 km and 21 km, with inquiries handled by the Fearless Fitness Club. Debswana is the diamond miner owned jointly by the Botswana government and De Beers.
Saturday 10 October, 05:00 to 12:00
Private Sector Annual Wellness Day
University of Botswana Stadium · P200 (about US$14.98) per person with event T-shirt, sign-up closes Friday 9 October
The Botswana Business Coalition on AIDS, which works with companies on healthier workplaces, brings company teams and individuals from the private sector together for relays, a “tug of wellness”, Pilates, aerobics, Zumba and a Hyrox-style workout challenge.
Saturday 10 October, 18:00
Kgalaletso Gospel Group: Gabriel Modise Tribute Festival
Gaborone Technical College, Multipurpose Hall · P100 to P180 (about US$7.49 to US$13.48) on Webtickets
A local gospel group’s evening in tribute to the gospel singer Gabriel Modise.
Sunday 11 October, 15:00
Tlang Gae Experience: Pay It Forward
Thapong Visual Arts Centre, The Village · P150 (about US$11.24)
An afternoon at Thapong, Gaborone’s artists’ centre, and the first of two Tlang Gae events there this month.
Saturday 17 October: Tebelopele Run and Victor Thompson
Saturday 17 October, 06:00 to 12:00
Tebelopele Fun Run
Game City parking lot · Free to attend; race packs P200 to P850 (about US$14.98 to US$63.67) on Ticketlinc
Tebelopele Wellness Center runs this fun run to promote healthy living and HIV prevention, with categories for runners and walkers. Some race packs are already fully booked.
Saturday 17 October, 19:00
Victor Thompson, Rooted World Tour
Game City Rooftop · P250 to P1,200 (about US$18.73 to US$89.89) on Webtickets
Also billed as Worship Court Botswana, a worship concert led by the Nigerian gospel artist Victor Thompson. Tickets come in five tiers.
20 to 25 October: The Bantu Film Festival and a Gospel Recording
Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 October
Bantu Film Festival, Fifth Edition
Gaborone, venue not yet published · Screenings P100 (about US$7.49) a day; all-access P350 (about US$26.22) on Ticketlinc
A pan-African festival for African films, with screenings, discussions and workshops. The opening ceremony on Tuesday 20 October is free. Screening days run Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 October, and the closing ceremony and award night on Saturday 24 October costs P200 (about US$14.98) on its own.
Saturday 24 October, 12:00
Tsa Ga Malete Pork Festival
Mogobane Dam, Ga-Malete, south of Gaborone · P150 to P760 (about US$11.24 to US$56.93)
An afternoon food festival by the dam in the Ga-Malete area. It is outside the city, so plan a car both ways.
Saturday 24 October, 12:00
Gin and Bubbles Experience
Protea Hotel, CBD · P350, P1,200 or P2,500 (about US$26.22, US$89.89 or US$187.26)
A daytime drinks event in a central hotel, with three ticket levels.
Saturday 24 October, 18:00
Hosanna Gospel Singers and Dr Tumi, Live Recording
Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), The Grand Palm · P200 or P500 (about US$14.98 or US$37.45)
A gospel live recording, presented under the GIA 26 banner, at the convention centre of The Grand Palm complex.
Sunday 25 October, 14:00
Tlang Gae Family Fun Day
Thapong Visual Arts Centre, The Village · P50, P100 or P200 (about US$3.75, US$7.49 or US$14.98)
The organisers describe Tlang Gae as a call to children, and the village around them, to come home, and tie the day to the 60th year of independence. Expect games, songs, stories and art for children.
29 to 31 October: Poetry, Culture and Run Gabz by Night
Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 October, from 10:00
Posh Race Africa: CBD Circuit Race
Gaborone CBD · P100 to P400 (about US$7.49 to US$29.96)
Billed by its organisers as “where luxury meets speed” and as an “African Monaco”, a circuit race in the central business district on three consecutive days.
Friday 30 October, 19:00
Masa Poetry Nights: Halloween Edition
Protea Hotel by Marriott, Masa Square · P100 single, P50 student (about US$7.49 or US$3.75)
A regular spoken-word night run by Think Tanks, here in a Halloween edition until 23:00. An early-bird ticket admits two for P150 (about US$11.24).
Friday 30 October, 19:00
Women’s Awards Botswana Gala
Travelodge, Gaborone · P400 to P800 (about US$29.96 to US$59.92)
The 2026 gala evening of an awards programme for women in Botswana.
Saturday 31 October, 08:00 to 21:00
Lo Ojwa Cultural Festival
Wagga Gardenex, Glen Valley · Children P70, adults P130 with food, VIP P300 (about US$5.24, US$9.74 or US$22.47)
An all-day cultural festival organised by SOS Children’s Villages, the international charity that runs family-style homes for children who have lost parental care.
Saturday 31 October, 12:00
Kabelo Tiro, Live in Concert
Game City Rooftop · P150 to P400 (about US$11.24 to US$29.96)
Kabelo Tiro, known as Skavenja, headlines a live concert presented by Setswana Dichabeng Entertainment.
Saturday 31 October, 15:00 to 21:00
The Perfect Noise Featuring 84
Court Five, 2755 Nkwe, Gaborone · Early bird P80 (about US$5.99)
The latest in the Perfect Noise Sessions series of afternoon music events, with the artist 84 as guest.
Saturday 31 October, 18:00 to 22:00
Run Gabz by Night
Three Dikgosi Monument, CBD · Registration closed on 4 October
The annual night run through the city centre with family and friends. Sign-up on Ticketlinc closed on Sunday 4 October, so newcomers can only watch.
What It Means for You
The US State Department rates Botswana at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, in an advisory dated 17 June 2026, citing crime. It says petty crime and crimes of opportunity, mainly theft of money and belongings, are common, and that potentially violent crimes such as home invasions, break-ins, muggings and smash-and-grab thefts from vehicles are also common. Several events here end after dark, so arrange a car or registered taxi home in advance.
US citizens do not need a visa for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for six months beyond both arrival and departure and must have three blank pages. You must declare cash above BWP 10,000 (about US$749) when you enter or leave, and a yellow fever certificate is needed only if you arrive from a country where the disease is endemic.
Botswana has no more public holidays in October after Thursday 1 October; the next is Christmas Day. Tickets sell online through Webtickets Botswana and Ticketlinc, and most of the daytime runs start between 05:00 and 06:00.
What Is Not Known
The Bantu Film Festival lists only “Gaborone, Botswana” as its venue and has not published a film programme on its ticket page. Several Webtickets listings, among them Beneath the Surface 9.0 on 17 October and the pork festival on 24 October, carry no line-up or description.
Some events in earlier listings for the month, such as a poultry expo, a charity golf day and a cybersecurity conference, appear only on aggregator sites and could not be confirmed with an organiser, so they are left out. Prices in US dollars move with the pula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main events in Gaborone in October 2026?
Victor Thompson at the Game City rooftop on 17 October, the Bantu Film Festival from 20 to 24 October, a gospel live recording at the GICC on 24 October, and the Lo Ojwa Cultural Festival and Run Gabz by Night on 31 October.
How much does the Bantu Film Festival cost?
The opening ceremony on 20 October is free. Screening days cost P100 (about US$7.49), the award night P200 (about US$14.98) and an all-access ticket P350 (about US$26.22) on Ticketlinc.
Do US citizens need a visa for Botswana?
No, not for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for six months beyond arrival and departure and have three blank pages.
Is Gaborone safe for American visitors?
The US State Department rates Botswana Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because petty crime and theft are common. Arrange transport home after evening events.
Sources: Ticketlinc, Debswana Fun Run, Ticketlinc, Private Sector Wellness Day, Webtickets Botswana, Kgalaletso Gospel Group, Webtickets Botswana, Tlang Gae Experience, Ticketlinc, Tebelopele Fun Run, Webtickets Botswana, Victor Thompson, Ticketlinc, Bantu Film Festival, Webtickets Botswana, Tsa Ga Malete Pork Festival, Webtickets Botswana, Gin and Bubbles, Webtickets Botswana, Hosanna Gospel Singers, Webtickets Botswana, Tlang Gae Family Fun Day, Webtickets Botswana, Posh Race Africa, Ticketlinc, Masa Poetry Nights, Webtickets Botswana, Women’s Awards Botswana, Ticketlinc, Lo Ojwa Cultural Festival, Webtickets Botswana, Kabelo Tiro, Ticketlinc, The Perfect Noise, Ticketlinc, Run Gabz by Night, Government of Botswana, public holidays, US State Department, Botswana travel advisory, US State Department, Botswana entry requirements. All retrieved 7 October 2026. Exchange rate: Tuesday 6 October 2026 close, 13.3502 pula per US dollar.
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