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Cape Town Sports Events 2019

Are you looking for the biggest sports events in Cape Town? Are you planning your trip to South Africa and want to experience some great sports festival or sporting event? 

Let us show you some great sporting events that happen in the Mother City throughout the year. 

Not to forget lots of sports activities can be pursued in Cape Town year round and fantastic events can be attended all over the Western Cape, so make sure to check out our monthly events listing as well and book your tickets early!

If not participating in the events, you still can have fun watching the amateur and professional sportswomen and sportsmen in action, enjoy mingling with the locals and make new friends with other spectators at the roadside. And there are many more wonderful sports activities such as fun cycles and fun runs surrounding most of the listed sports events, so join in and enjoy life in Cape Town.

For a quick overview of the major events in South Africa, make sure to also have a look at our Living in South Africa Events Guide

Major Cape Town sports events in 2019

Sun Met Horse Racing Event

Annual Horserace event at Kenilworth Racecourse - 2019 Theme: 'African Luxury: Precious Metals' 

  • When? 26 January 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Kenilworth
  • Tickets: From R150. More info

Red Bull King of the Air 2019

Annual kite surfing championship at Blouberg beach, 25km north of Cape Town CBD. This year with fourteen participants from ten countries. Events depending on wind and waves. Dress warmly and admire the brave sportsmen.

  • When? 26 January 2019 - 10 February 2019 
  • Where? Cape Town, Table View Beachfront
  • Free entrance. More info.
Volleyball players at Cape Town 10s - image gallery

Cape Town 10s - various sports events

South Africa’s biggest social sports festival and lifestyle event includes nine sports and the biggest ten-a-side rugby tournament in the world! This year the event will host 350 local and international sports teams, in 2018 there were 100 Rugby teams, 80 Netball teams, 60 Beach Volleyball teams, 20 Dodgeball teams, 14 Soccer teams, 10 Hockey teams.

  • When? 1 - 2 February 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Hamilton Rugby Club in Greenpoint
  • Tickets: Daypasses from R140/R50 for kids, under 12 years free entry. More info.

99er Cycle Tour

One of the largest cycle races and one of the seeding events for the Cape Town Cycle Tour. 102 km and 57 km races.

  • When? 9 February 2019
  • Where? Durbanville/Cape Town Northern Suburbs
  • Tickets: More info.

Cape Town Triathlon 2019

The triathlon - swim cycle run - and duathlon run - cycle - run events offer sprint, super sprint and standard distances and attract athletes from around the world. School challenges are include young athletes from the local area as well.

  • When? 10 February 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Greenpoint stadium precinct and V&A Waterfront
  • Tickets: More info.

Cape Town Cycle Tour 2019

Lifestyle Week from 2 - 11 March is a nine day celebration of all things to do with cycling and leading a healthy lifestyle. The event takes place at the Cape Town stadium precinct with the expo from 7 - 9 March. Various fun cycle races and the main event leading through many suburbs in the Cape peninsula. Experience the special vibe on race day but remember that many Cape Town roads will be closed on the day.

  • When? 10 March 2019 
  • Where? Cape Town stadium in Greenpoint and Cape peninsula
  • Tickets: From R50 for the expo. More info. Route information here.

Freedom Swim 2019

Only the brave take part in this 7.5 km open water swim between Robben Island and Blouberg beach. There are categories for solo swimmers, teams of four and swimmers for half the distance in two categories: with wetsuits or without! The water temperatures here are only about 15 degrees and sharks are known to visit the area!

  • When? 13 April 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Blouberg/Blaauwberg
  • Tickets: tbc. More info.

Two Oceans Marathon 2019

Annual road race including 56km ultra marathon and half marathon, including also trail runs and various fun runs as well as an international friendship run for international participants and their friends and families. There is also a lifestyle and sports expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 17 - 19 April 2019. The substitution window for entries is open until 25 March 2019.

  • When? 20 April 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Rondebosch
  • Ticket costs: varies depending on type of run. More info. 

Blisters for Bread Family Fun Walk 2019

The annual family fun walks (5 km and 10 km) organised by the Peninsula School Feeding Association work its magic for over 60 years. Your R50 fee of all the participants goes directly to the charity and helps to feed a child for a day! Join in and make a difference. Online entries open from May.

  • When? 25 August 2019 
  • Where? Cape Town, Greenpoint
  • Tickets: tbc. Maybe enter your school's team too? More info.
Cape Town gun run - image from gallery thegunrun.co.za

The Gun Run 2019

Annual Cape Town sports festival with 5km, 10km and 21km fun city runs with lots of entertainment for the whole family. Entries open from June.

  • When? 20 October 2019
  • Where? Cape Town, Greenpoint
  • Costs: tbc. More info.

Rugby Sevens 2019

Major annual sporting event for rugby fans in Cape Town. The tournament is hosted in ten cities around the world with Cape Town and Dubai being in the first series, starting off the Rugby Sevens Series events in December when the participating teams are usually the most energetic and competitive. The event takes place at Cape Town stadium.

  • When? second weekend December 2019
  • Where? Cape Town Stadium in Greenpoint
  • Tickets: tbc. More info.

More great Sports Events further afield | South African Sports Events

Still want to know more about great South African wine or more about special Cape wine festivals? Or are you travelling to Cape Town only later this year? Then make a note in your calendar for these great wine event later this year.

Dusi Canoe Marathon 2019 - image by Anthony Grefe

Dusi Canoe Marathon 2019

The biggest canoeing event in Africa stretches over a distance of 120 km from Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon in Durban. 

  • When? 14 - 16 February 2019
  • Where? KwaZulu-Natal between Durban and Pietermaritzburg
  • Costs and Route: More info.

Cape Epic 2019

Dubbed the Untamed African Mountain Bike Race, this race takes places over six days and covers a route of more than 620km. Start at the University of Cape Town with various stages in Hermanus, Oak Valley and Stellenbosch. Finish line is at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl.

  • When? 17 - 24 March 2019
  • Where? Western Cape between Cape Town and Hermanus
  • Cost and Route: More info.
comrades marathon runners - image by IC Swart/Shutterstock.com

Comrades Marathon 2019

The 2019 Comrades marathon is an "up-run", as the route leads from Cape Town City Hall up to Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. The ultra marathon is a run of approximately  87km and includes 25,000 local and international runners. South Africa's largest running related expo will be held from 6 -8 June 2019 at the Durban Exhibition Centre.

  • When? 9 June 2019
  • Where? KwaZulu-Natal between Durban and Pietermaritzburg
  • Costs and Route Info: More info.
J-Bay Open surf 2017 - Jeremy Flores surfing - photo by Pierre Tostee

J-Bay Winterfest and J-Bay Open 2019

Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape is one of the World Championship venues attracting the world's best of the best surfers.

  • When? 9 - 22 July 2019
  • Where? Eastern Cape, Jeffreys Bay
  • Tickets: tbc. More info.


Sports Events Info on ExpatCapeTown.com: Please be advised that all events are usually free for spectators, but you will have to pay and book for participating in the sports events or going to the events' affiliated sports fairs taking places in Cape Town. Make sure to double check event dates and pricing. We do not take responsibility for cancelled events or inaccurate information.

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Living in South Africa - Expat Guide Book by Regina Graeff and Derryn Campbell