Event information
The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Variety Gala is one of the organisation’s longest-running community programmes, designed to provide performance opportunities to local artists, many of whom appear with a full symphony orchestra for the first time. The CPO, founded in 1914 as the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, is South Africa’s oldest professional symphony orchestra and a cornerstone of the city’s performing arts landscape. Conductor Brandon Phillips, a recurring presence at the Variety Gala podium, leads the 2026 edition.
The 2026 programme brings together an unusually broad cross-section of Cape Town’s performing arts community in a single evening. Cape Town Opera and Cape Town City Ballet represent the classical disciplines, joined by Jazzart Dance Theatre, whose work combines contemporary African dance with community engagement. Zip Zap Circus, the Woodstock-based youth circus company, contributes acrobatic performance, alongside acrobatic duo Oleksii and Michele and comedian and entertainer Tollie Parton. The choral programme includes the Tygerberg Children’s Choir, Amara Voices, and Anna Davel, while vocalist Moegammat Zayd Damon and multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Jimmy Nevis provide the popular music element.
In recognition of Artscape Theatre Centre’s 55th anniversary in 2026, a limited number of tickets are available at R55 exclusively through Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695.