Cape Town Carnival
South Africa's vibrant street parade of costumes, floats, music and dance along Green Point's Fan Walk.
- 20 March 2027
- Cape Town, South Africa
- When20 March 2027 · Held once a year on a Saturday in March, as an evening street parade along the Green Point Fan Walk.
- DatesConfirmed by the official source · checked 28 October 2026
- WhereGreen Point Fan Walk, Somerset Road, Cape Town, South Africa
- CategoryFestivals & Celebrations · carnival
- GuideOur South Africa travel guide →
South Africa's vibrant street parade of costumes, floats, music and dance along Green Point's Fan Walk.
The Cape Town Carnival is a free annual street spectacle celebrating South African creativity and diversity. The 2027 edition is scheduled for March 20 along the Green Point Fan Walk near the Cape Town Stadium, beginning in the early evening. Thousands of performers, giant puppets, illuminated floats, dancers and drummers move along the route in a themed procession, backed by live music, food stalls and community arts programs.
Cape Town Carnival in photos
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Getting there & around on event days
Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), about 20 km east of the city. The Carnival traditionally runs along Somerset Road in Green Point, near the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town Stadium. From the airport, a metered taxi or ride-hail reaches Green Point in roughly 25-35 minutes. Alternatively, the MyCiTi bus network runs from the airport to the Civic Centre station in the centre, where you change to a MyCiTi route serving Green Point and the stadium precinct. Traffic builds heavily on carnival evening, so allow extra time and consider arriving before dusk.
Where it happens
Getting to the event
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Safety & travel advice
- Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for South Africa (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
- Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.