LEGACY: Cape Town’s Premier Ballroom Extravaganza Hosts the Love Pride Ball this Weekend

On 7 February 2026, LEGACY returns to The Old Biscuit Mill to kick-off the 2026 cultural calendar with the Love Pride Ball. Now entering its fourth year with over 25 productions to its name, LEGACY has established itself not merely as an event, but as the architectural backbone of Cape Town’s queer Ballroom community – a space where the hierarchy is respected, the competition is strictly adjudicated, and the culture is preserved. Here’s everything you need to know.

All About the History on Show at the Love Pride Ball

To understand LEGACY is to understand the history it draws from. Ballroom culture emerged in New York in the late 1960s and 70s, created by Black and Latino trans and queer communities excluded from traditional drag spaces. They formed Houses- chosen families led by Mothers and Fathers- and hosted Balls where members competed for recognition, status, and survival.

While Ballroom has gained global visibility through mainstream media, the South African scene is rooted in necessity, not trend. It is not a copy of the American format, but a distinct local evolution shaped by its own realities.

In a country where queer communities still face deep structural challenges, Houses function as vital support systems. LEGACY serves as the cultural backbone of this movement, honouring Ballroom history while expressing it through a distinctly South African lens. It continues the work of the late Kirvan Fortuin (Mother Kirvan Le Cap), who founded South Africa’s first Ballroom House and whose legacy remains foundational to the scene.

The Love Pride Ball reflects the full Ballroom ecosystem. More than a nightlife event, it follows strict rules of competition, with participants “walking” categories such as Face, Realness, and Vogue Femme before a panel of judges.

The floor – the sacred space of Ballroom – will feature three tiers of the community: established Mainstream Houses competing for legacy and honour; the Kiki scene, a youth-driven space for experimentation and growth; and the 007s, independent walkers building names outside of House affiliation.