Cape Town’s iconic celebration under the stars
Discover the Maynardville Open-Air Festival
Set in the heart of Maynardville Park, our annual summer season blends Shakespearean theatre, ballet, opera, and jazz into one unforgettable cultural experience. As one of the most enchanting Cape Town festivals, Maynardville is where shows in Cape Town become extraordinary nights out.
From world-class performances to a vibrant food market, Maynardville is more than a night of entertainment – it’s one of the top Cape Town tourist attractions, a place where memories are made beneath the trees.
Join us at the Maynardville Open-Air Festival – timeless, atmospheric, and unlike anything else in the city.
Fate, beauty, and transcendence
Cape Ballet Africa presents The Architecture of Beshert
13 - 16 January 2027
A classical ballet programme that explores the elegant interplay between destiny, love, and human connection.
Inspired by the concept of beshert - one's destined, or life's intended path - the production unfolds through a rich tapestry of classical choreography, sweeping musical compositions, and visually striking costume design.
Like the careful construction of a grand architectural masterpiece, each movement, formation, and encounter reveals the invisible forces that shape our lives and relationships.
Through moments of longing, separation, and ultimate union, the ballets celebrate the enduring belief that certain souls are destined to find one another, creating a poetic journey of fate, beauty, and transcendence.
Duration: Approx. 100 minutes including a 20 minute interval
Local jazz, Big Summer Energy
Jazz In The Park
19 January 2027
A crowd favourite during the Maynardville 2026 season, Jazz in the Park makes its highly anticipated return by popular demand!
This strictly limited return season brings the warmth, rhythm, and soul of live jazz back to the Maynardville Open-Air Festival for another relaxed summer evening beneath the stars. Featuring an exciting, curated line-up of top-tier local musicians, the concert celebrates the rich sound and vibrant spirit of South African jazz, from smooth, nostalgic classics to lively contemporary favourites.
Set in the beautiful, historic surrounds of the Maynardville park, audiences can expect world-class music, electric energy, and the unmistakable, magical atmosphere that only live outdoor jazz can create.
Whether you are a longtime jazz aficionado or simply looking for the perfect Cape Town summer night out, Jazz in the Park promises an unforgettable evening filled with heart, groove, and celebration.
Duration: Approx. 60 minutes
No interval
Intimate chamber music, stormy passion
Beethoven Bewitched
20 & 21 January 2027
A deeply moving and powerful evening of live music that will resonate long after the final note fades.
Beethoven Bewitched plunges into the dark, broodiest heart of the master composer’s genius, offering a rare chance to experience the raw ‘Sturm und Drang’ (storm and stress) of his most intense chamber music. Set in the deeply atmospheric surrounds of the Maynardville Open-Air Festival, this performance brings audiences up close to the turbulent emotion and fiery passion of Beethoven's work.
The evening is helmed by the formidable Elna van der Merwe on piano – a celebrated virtuoso and a regular Maynardville crowd-favourite – alongside a hand-picked ensemble of outstanding musicians.
Chamber music has a unique way of drawing listeners into the crossfire of every musical conversation, allowing the visceral connection between the instruments to truly come alive. Set beneath the whispering trees and stars of Maynardville, Beethoven Bewitched promises a deeply moving and powerful evening of live music that will resonate long after the final note fades.
Duration: Approx. 60 minutes
No interval
Classical favourites under the stars
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
22 & 23 January 2027
From powerful classical favourites to lighter, celebratory moments, all performed by some of the country’s finest musicians.
The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra at the Maynardville Open-Air Festival promises an unforgettable evening of music beneath the stars.
A much-loved highlight of the festival programme each year, audiences can expect everything from powerful classical favourites to lighter, celebratory moments, all performed by some of the country’s finest musicians.
Whether you are a regular concertgoer or experiencing the Philharmonic for the first time, it is the perfect way to spend a summer evening in Cape Town.
Duration: Approx. 60 minutes
No interval
a spectacular evening of dance under the stars
Cape Town City Ballet presents Noir
27 - 30 January 2027
From classical brilliance to contemporary innovation, this is a celebration of dance in all its power and beauty.
Join Cape Town City Ballet for a spectacular evening of dance under the stars.
This exciting triple bill features the iconic Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake, where the seductive and powerful Odile dazzles with breathtaking technique and theatrical flair.
The programme also includes the world premiere of Bolero, a bold new work by choreographic duo Chesney Stanfield and Emile Petersen, created especially for Cape Town City Ballet and set to Ravel’s thrilling score.
Duration: Approx. 65 minutes
No interval
Cape Town’s Shakespeare In The Park
Macbeth
5 February - 13 March 2027
What unravels when power, conscience, and spirit fall out of alignment?
Directed by award-winning Lesedi Job, Macbeth unfolds in a fractured landscape shaped by conflict, instability, and urgent questions about leadership, power, and moral collapse.
A celebrated general. A dangerous prophecy. A crown that demands more than anyone can bear.
When Macbeth encounters three mysterious figures who foretell his rise to the throne, fate awakens a darker ambition. Encouraged by Lady Macbeth, he turns prophecy into action, setting off a brutal chain of violence, paranoia, and betrayal.
As power takes hold, conscience begins to fracture. Loyalty erodes, the world closes in, and Macbeth and Lady Macbeth find themselves increasingly isolated by the choices that brought them to the crown.
Raw, urgent, and deeply human, this Macbeth explores what unravels when power, conscience, and spirit fall out of alignment.
Duration: Approx. 95 minutes
No interval
Romance, sonnets, golden twilight
Sunset Serenades - A Golden Hour of Sonnets and Love Songs
14 & 21 February 2027
A breathtaking musical journey, moving from the nostalgic familiarity of golden oldies to the vibrant energy of contemporary love songs.
Sunset Serenades is an intimate and deeply romantic evening of music and poetry set beneath the trees at Maynardville. Audiences are invited into the soft, golden sunset hour and an enchanting atmosphere shaped by love in all its beautiful forms.
Perfect for romantics, music lovers, and the young-at-heart, this exquisite new programme weaves a musical tapestry that spans generations. Audiences will be treated to a breathtaking musical journey, moving seamlessly from the nostalgic familiarity of golden oldies to the vibrant energy of contemporary love songs, all given a classy, elegant acoustic treatment.
Interwoven throughout the music are some of Shakespeare’s most famous and passionate love sonnets, brought to life by outstanding vocalists and musicians.
Whether you are celebrating Valentine’s, a lifelong romance, a new beginning, or simply a beautiful summer evening with someone special, Sunset Serenades is a memorable night of love, music, and poetry under the stars.
Duration: Approx. 60 minutes
No interval
Laughter, elegance, legendary showmanship
Nataniël In Concert at Maynardville
28 February 2027
An unforgettable, masterfully crafted evening of laughter, exquisite music, and unparalleled showmanship.
For the first time, Nataniël takes to the stage at the Maynardville Open-Air Festival, bringing his signature blend of storytelling, music, humour, and elegance to one of South Africa’s most iconic outdoor performance venues.
Presented in a brilliant, fluid mix of English and Afrikaans, the performance captures the true essence of Nataniël’s sharp-witted comedy and pathos.
Following his trio’s popular Maynardville concert in 2026, the phenomenal Charl du Plessis returns to the stage. The multi-award-winning virtuoso will accompany Nataniël on piano.
Set beneath the stars in the historic open-air theatre, this spectacular concert marks Nataniël’s highly anticipated festival debut. Together with Du Plessis’ world-class accompaniment, this special collaboration promises an unforgettable, masterfully crafted evening of laughter, exquisite music, and unparalleled showmanship with one of the country's most beloved and legendary performers.
Age Restriction: No children under 14
Duration: Approx. 90 minutes
No interval
Waltzes under the Stars
Cape Town Opera presents Vienna in the Park
7 & 14 March 2027
A unique blend of lighthearted wit, soaring romance, and irresistible rhythm that defined the golden & silver ages of Viennese music.
Vienna has long been the historical heart of some of the world’s most beloved music, famed for its sweeping waltzes and the sparkling operetta masterpieces of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Vienna in the Park brings this rich tradition to life beneath the stars, featuring a repertoire dedicated to the legendary composers of the era, from the definitive waltzes and Viennese operettas of Johann Strauss II to the romantic melodies of Franz Lehár.
The evening showcases Cape Town Opera’s Soloists, Judith Neilson Young Artists and Vocal Ensemble performing iconic selections from beloved works like Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow. This curated programme celebrates the unique blend of lighthearted wit, soaring romance, and irresistible rhythms that defined the golden and silver ages of Viennese music.
Set in the open-air surrounds of Maynardville, this performance offers audiences across generations a world-class encounter with the best Cape Town Opera has to offer.
Duration: Approx. 100 minutes including a 20 minute interval
Stay Updated with the Latest News
Maynardville Festival Buzz
Ballet, Jazz, Opera and more at Maynardville 2026
Maynardville’s Open-Air Festival may be best known for its annual Shakespeare play (a tradition that will be 70 years old in 2026), but the season now offers a full programme of ballet, opera, orchestral and classical concerts, jazz, blues, swing and show tunes.
Internship Applications 2026
Are you curious about how a professional theatre production comes together behind the scenes? The Maynardville Open-Air Festival is offering a unique educational internship programme - designed for anyone eager to explore the world of live events and theatre...
70th Anniversary Shows Selling Rapidly
Act Fast: Maynardville's 70th Anniversary Shows Selling Rapidly as Festival Unveils New VIP Experience There's a taste of spring in the air, and with just over four months to go until the Maynardville Open-Air Festival's 70th Anniversary summer season kicks-off,...











