| Maynardville Open-Air Festival 2026 When: January 13 till March 8, 2026 Where: Maynardville Park, Piers Rd, Wynberg, Cape Town, 7800 Website: www.maynardville.co.za Explore the full programme: https://maynardville.co.za/maynardville-festival-programme/ Bookings: Quicket Direct booking link: https://www.quicket.co.za/organisers/56357-maynardville-open-air-festival Early Bird Special: Tickets will be sold at 2025 prices until December 31, with a small increase clicking in on January 1, 2026. Discounted tickets: Concessions available for seniors, students and families. Family of Four Discount Package Schools discount bookings: Contact boxoffice@maynardville.co.za for educational discounts Box office phone line: Active from 14h00 – 17h00 Monday to Friday. Call or WhatsApp 069 792 6020 Box office on site: Open during the festival season to assist with any last-minute queries or sales Parking: R50 by card for secure parking at Simon Van Der Stel Primary School Sports Field, just past the Engen Chelsea Village Convenience Centre at 6B Carr Hill Road -150m from the entrance with security patrolling the walkways. venuehttps://maynardville.co.za/parking/ Free Unsecured Parking is also available by the Wynberg Public Library on Glaren Road or along public roads near the venue Food market: https://maynardville.co.za/food-market/ |
Maynardville Open-Air Festival celebrates its 70th birthday in 2026 with a joyously titled festival, In Full Swing. The theme embraces the “journey through the style and sensuality of the golden eras of music.” The festival is on January 13 till March 8, 2026. The Shakespeare production is Twelfth Night (Jan 30– March 8), directed by Steven Stead, features a superb cast and will be “set to a sultry jazz soundtrack, with Shakespeare’s witty repartee and a modern twist.” Ballet is back – with two ballet companies on the programme – Cape Ballet Africa and Cape Town City Ballet. There is an exciting new addition – jazz – two evenings with “jazz legends from Cape Town’s rich jazz tradition. Also new is the Maynardville VIP experience, with parking, near to the venue and premier seating. The popular Sunday concerts are back – and include Cape Town Opera and The Cape Town Philharmonic. Several concerts sold out in 2025, so early bookings advised. On that note, it is prudent to book early from a cost perspective. Tickets will be sold at 2025 prices until December 31, with a small increase clicking in on January 1, 2026. The popular food market https://maynardville.co.za/food-market/ is back with amazing choices for food and drink – and excellent coffee. Read on for more. Info as supplied:
Maynardville Open-Air Theatre to Mark 70 Years in 2026
One of South Africa’s most beloved cultural traditions, the Maynardville Open-Air Festival Cape Town is celebrating 70 years of Shakespeare in the park in 2026 with a bumper season of music, theatre and dance, running from January 13 till March 8 – now with the addition of jazz! As one of many Cape Town festivals in the summer, Maynardville stands out for its dedication to works that have been inspired by the classics but with a contemporary twist.
Maynardville Festival creators VR Theatrical continue to nurture and grow the experience that they became custodians of in 2023. Says Executive Producer, Jaco van Rensburg, “It’s encouraging that 70 years after the first Shakespeare at Maynardville, there is still a very big appetite for the works of Shakespeare – that we can pack in the houses for more than a month of Shakespeare is an inspiring indication of the legacy of great storytelling.”
While the Festival may be best known for its annual Shakespeare play, the season now offers a full programme of ballet, opera, orchestral and classical concerts, jazz, blues, swing and show tunes. These concerts are once-offs or last only for two nights and have become so popular they often sell out weeks in advance.
The 2026 programme is themed In Full Swing; a journey through the style and sensuality of the golden eras of music. Explore the full programme https://maynardville.co.za/maynardville-festival-programme/
Bookings are already open for the early birds on Quicket. https://www.quicket.co.za/organisers/56357-maynardville-open-air-festival/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026
Here’s what to expect:
Midsummer Music to Kickstart the Magic
Opening on January 13, the Shades of Blue https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321064-maynardville-2026-shades-of-blue/?ref=organiser-profile#/ Chamber Concert will feature music from composers influenced by the rhythms and harmonies of jazz. Featuring Elna van der Merwe on piano, Liesl Stoltz on flute, Dylan Tabisher on drums and marimba, Roxane Steffen on double bass, and David Cyster on clarinet, audiences can expect works like Sonata Latino by Mike Mower and the Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling, among others.
The concert serves as a platform for young up-and-coming musicians in classical performance as an appetizer that will be followed by Jazz in the Park (Jan 14–15) https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321065-maynardville-2026-jazz-in-the-park/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ , a new two-day celebration featuring local jazz legends from Cape Town’s rich jazz tradition. The set includes a series of instrumental jazz classics including well-known standards like My Funny Valentine, Take Five and Summertime.
From January 16–17, another crowd-favourite Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321067-maynardville-2026-cape-town-philharmonic-orchestra/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ returns with a stirring classical programme that sees the full orchestra perform beneath the twilight birdsong and crescent moon. Sixty percent of tickets are already gone, so audiences are advised to book soon. The 2025 concerts sold out in a flash.
A Return for Dance
Ballet lovers will be thrilled to hear that ballet is back at Maynardville – and with a double bill! Cape Ballet Africa, young but already making waves, will bring their mesmerising production of Maina Gielgud’s Giselle, https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321068-maynardville-2026-cape-ballet-africa-giselle/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ choreographed by the internationally lauded choreographer (20-21 Jan). Cape Town City Ballet will also be returning with Swingtime! (January 23-24) https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321069-maynardville-2026-cape-town-city-ballet-swingtime/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ ; a nostalgic journey into the Big Band Era, in a perfect marriage of Broadway and ballet.
The Sweet Life with Shakespeare
No Maynardville season would be complete without the Bard, and this year, the stage will be transformed into 1960’s Rome with a new take on Twelfth Night (Jan 30– March 8) The production will be set to a sultry jazz soundtrack – think Sofia Loren and Fellini’s La Dolce Vita peppered with Shakespeare’s witty repartee and a modern twist.
Directed by Steven Stead in his Maynardville directorial debut, the production brings together a powerhouse ensemble of South African talent. Multiple Fleur du Cap winner Emily Child (recently seen in HBO’s Warrior) plays Viola, alongside Graham Hopkins as the pompous Malvolio, bringing his trademark comic timing to one of Shakespeare’s most memorable roles. Fan-favourite David Viviers returns as the wise fool Feste, while Jenny Stead takes on Olivia, Natasha Sutherland plays the scheming Maria and 50-year Shakespeare veteran Michael Richard is the rowdy Sir Toby Belch. Netflix’s One Piece star Aidan Scott returns to Maynardville as Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Behind the scenes, award-winning designer Greg King creates the sets, with costumes by Maritha Visagie, while Wessel Odendaal composes the sultry jazz soundtrack that will transport audiences to the hedonistic glamour of 1960s Italy. Together, this cast and creative team creates a vibrant interplay between experience and fresh talent – a perfect reflection of Maynardville itself as it celebrates seven decades of performance history. https://www.quicket.co.za/events/301564-maynardville-2026-shakespeares-twelfth-night/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/
Sunday Concerts
Now a firm favourite with Maynardville audiences, Sunday concerts are the ultimate relaxing finish after a busy weekend. Starting in the late afternoon and ending in twilight, they are memorable experiences for the whole family. First up in 2026 is the Charl du Plessis Trio (February 8) https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321070-maynardville-2026-the-charl-du-plessis-trio/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ , which comprises pianist Charl du Plessis, bassist Werner Spies and drummer Peter Auret, performing an early evening concert to end off the summer weekend.
Next is the hugely popular Cape Town Opera singing Gershwin in the Park (February 15) https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321071-maynardville-2026-cape-town-opera-gershwin-in-the-park/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ , a one-night-only celebration of the golden age of American music. Cape Town Opera are a big Maynardville favourite and this show is already halfway to sold out.
Then it’s the turn of The Great American Songbook https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321072-maynardville-2026-the-great-american-songbook/?ref=organiser-profile?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=mv2026#/ , a lush late afternoon celebration of timeless tunes with the Paul Roos Orchestra under the baton of Wessel Odendaal, and featuring the best of Cape Town’s jazz vocalists: Katlego Maboe (television presenter and performer), Tankiso Mamabolo (Chicago, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & The Tempest) and Amy Campbell (AcaNote, Kinky Boots). Audiences can look forward to fully orchestrated renditions of favourites such as Get Happy, Cry Me a River, In the Mood, and Someone to Watch Over Me (February 22 and March 1).
Book Ahead
The full schedule and ticketing details are available at www.maynardville.co.za
Early booking is strongly encouraged – especially for signature performances that traditionally sell out.
Tickets will also be sold at 2025 prices until December 31, after which a small increase will be implemented on January 1, 2026. Patrons are encouraged to book early.
Of course, all the Maynardville shows can be enjoyed by arriving early for a dinner at the Food Market, now with a VIP experience that includes premier seating, parking and proximity to the bar!
The Festival has a busy schools programme for the Shakespeare performance which the organisers are opening for booking early this year in good time for 2026 planning. Maynardville Open-Air Festival is made possible with the support of the City of Cape Town.
The box office phone line is active from 14h00 – 17h00 Monday to Friday. Call 069 792 6020 for assistance.
There will be a box office on site during the festival season to assist with any last-minute queries or sales.
Schools should please contact boxoffice@maynardville.co.za for educational discounts.
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| Maynardville Open-Air Festival 2026 – the programme – at a glance January 13 – Shades of Blue – Chamber Concert Jan 14–15 -Jazz in the Park – featuring jazz legends from Cape Town Jan 16–17 – Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra Jan 20-21 – Cape Ballet Africa – Maina Gielgud’s Giselle Jan 23-24 – Cape Town City Ballet – Swingtime! Jan 30– March 8 – Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Sunday Concerts Feb 8 – The Charl du Plessis Trio – pianist Charl du Plessis, bassist Werner Spies and drummer Peter Auret Feb 15 – Gershwin in the Park – Cape Town Opera Feb 22 and March 1 – The Great American Songbook – Paul Roos Orchestra under the baton of Wessel Odendaal, includes Cape Town’s jazz vocalists -Katlego Maboe, Tankiso Mamabolo and Amy Campbell The full schedule and ticketing details are available at www.maynardville.co.za Bookings: Quicket Direct booking link: https://www.quicket.co.za/organisers/56357-maynardville-open-air-festival |
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