Cape Town Pride Festival 2016 is "brave enough"

01 February 2016

It’s time once again for Cape Town’s LGBTI community to take to the streets to mark Pride.

Amid much controversy, the Cape Town Pride Festival is back, under the theme of “Brave Enough”, and will be held from 19 to 28 February.

The parade and mardi gras take place on Saturday 27 February at Green Point Urban Park.

Organisers say this will be “the biggest Pride in Cape Town ever”, with the mardi gras boasting more than 20 artists and celebrities taking part. Those that have been confirmed include 3 Tons of Fun, Odidiva, Terry Tiger, Coda Africa and Zoe Zana, as well as a host of DJs.

The event is being supported by the City of Cape Town and many of the city’s gay bars and clubs. Entry is R40 and the mardi gras runs from 1pm till 8pm.

Other events planned for the 10-day-long festival include the Pink Party and a pool party; Ms Cape Town Pride; a sports day; movie screenings; a fashion show; and a church service. We will update this page with more details about Cape Town Pride events as we receive more information.

In December, the theme of “Gay, Proud and Colourblind" was criticised as exclusionary of other members of the LGBTI+ community, not reflecting the reality of South Africa’s racial inequality and pandering to “white-privileged” gay men.

The Pride committee agreed to change the theme, which is now "Brave Enough".

Confirmed Cape Town Pride 2016 events

Fri 19 Feb: Pink Party. De Waterkant gay village. From 8 PM.

Sat 20 Feb: Pride Official Pool Party. Ritz Hotel Cape Town. 12 PM - 6 PM.

Sat 20 Feb: Pre Pride Outstanding Picnic. Buyel' Embo Village, Khayelitsha.

Sat 20 Feb: Mr & Miss Cape Town Pride. Centre for the Book. 7:30 PM - 11 PM.

Sun 21 Feb: Documentary Movie Night. Labia Theatre. 6 PM.

Mon 22 Feb: Pride Book Case with author Barbara Castle-Farmer. Alexander Bar. 6:30 PM - 9 PM.

Tue 23 Feb: Movie Night - Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Labia Theatre. 6:15 PM.

Wed 24 Feb: Pride Memorial Service. Pride Shelter. 6 PM.

Thu 25 Feb: DIVA'S Extravaganza. Crew Bar. 8 PM.

Fri 26 Feb: PELT men's party. Beaulah Bar. From 8 PM.