Major sporting, cultural and entertainment events generated more than R5 billion in economic activity while attracting 4.1 million spectators and participants during the 2025/26 financial year.
A review of 30 leading events found that they contributed more than R5 billion to the local economy, with just six flagship events accounting for approximately R4.5 billion of that impact.
The events sector also delivered significant employment opportunities. An assessment of 20 events found that they generated more than 31 000 temporary and permanent jobs, highlighting the role of major events in supporting livelihoods, tourism and local businesses.
During the financial year, 1 540 event permit applications were processed, with 983 permits approved for events ranging from major international sporting fixtures and large festivals to cultural, lifestyle and community gatherings.
The events attracted approximately 4.1 million spectators and participants, demonstrating the scale of the industry and its ability to bring visitors into the economy while creating opportunities across hospitality, tourism, transport, security, catering and other supporting industries.
The 2025/26 calendar featured international sporting fixtures involving the Springboks, Bafana Bafana, the Proteas Women and the Springbok Women, alongside major entertainment and cultural events.
Among the year’s highlights was the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon securing Abbott World Marathon Major status, while a capacity crowd attended the Springboks Test against Australia at DHL Stadium.
The international friendly between Bafana Bafana and Panama sold out, as did the Betway SA20 Final at Newlands Cricket Ground.
The Blitzboks secured back-to-back HSBC SVNS Cape Town titles, while DHL Stadium welcomed a combined 235 880 spectators for DHL Stormers home matches, recording the second-highest attendance in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The entertainment and lifestyle calendar also included the return of Red Bull Flugtag, a sold-out Comic Con Cape Town, the FIM World Supercross Championship season finale, the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town, the Heineken F1 World Tour and EFC’s inaugural Knox Legacy Series.
More than 100 000 people attended the annual Festive Lights Switch-On, while international sporting fixtures included the Proteas Women against Ireland and the Springbok Women against Black Ferns XV.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, said the figures demonstrate the wider value created by a strong and diverse events calendar.
“Every event hosted in our city creates opportunities for local businesses, supports jobs, attracts visitors and showcases everything that makes Cape Town a world-class destination,” Smith said.
He added that the Events Permit Office works throughout the year with government departments and external stakeholders to ensure events take place in safe and secure environments.
“The Events Department as a whole works to facilitate, support and enable a diverse calendar of events that includes community festivals, nationally and internationally recognised sporting spectacles, and major entertainment events,” Smith said.
“These figures show that our investment in creating an enabling environment for events continues to deliver meaningful economic and social returns for Cape Town and its residents.”
The momentum is expected to continue into the 2026/27 financial year, with a number of major sporting events already on the calendar.
These include the Springboks taking on the All Blacks at DHL Stadium as part of the Greatest Rugby Rivalry, the Proteas Women facing India in T20 action and the traditional New Year’s Test between the Proteas and England at Newlands Cricket Ground.
The inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon is also scheduled for October.
With billions of rand in economic activity, millions of spectators and thousands of jobs connected to the events economy, the figures demonstrate that major events are delivering an impact extending far beyond the stadium, festival ground or finish line.
