Sheer City Set to Takeover Cape Town Streets

On the 17th and 18th of January 2026, Sheer City is launching its inaugural two-day inner-city festival spanning six venues along Cape Town’s City Bowl and District Six. With over 40 musical acts over one weekend, this is a block party you don’t want to miss.

Sheer City is bringing together Cape Town’s most influential underground nightlife crews with international icons like Horse Meat Disco, Tama Sumo & Lakuti, Make A Dance, Freudenthal as well as over 20 local musicians and a network of dancers and installation artists. The lineup has been curated to honour Sheer City’s founding intention: a return to rave culture in its purest form.

It’s a multi-venue, walkable block party celebrating Cape Town’s creative pulse, queer culture, music, fashion, performance, and community.

The festival aims to bring together local and international acts, high-design production and flawless audio, visionary local curators, DJs, performance artists and fashion-driven subcultures, creating an environment that encourages exploration of the people, rooms and energies that define Cape Town’s creative identity.

The Weekend Lineup

Sheer Drop at Texas | 14:00 – 22:00 | 11 Albertus St, District Six
A daylight invitation into the festival’s energy, setting the tone for what unfolds across the District.

Sheer Delight at The Electric | 17:00 – 02:00 | 48 Canterbury St, District Six
Mila Rose and Friends return with a joyful takeover featuring The Electric After 5 crew and a special guest appearance from Johannesburg’s Lelowhatsgood.

Sheer Disco at Harringtons | 18:00 – 04:00 | 61B Harrington St, District Six
Sub Sahara curates a steamy, high-tempo room featuring Avi Subban, BlaqKongo, Flemish.Fetish, Fogshow (Live), Make A Dance, Roz and Shugi.

Sheer D.O.G at Zer021 Social | 20:00 – 04:00 | 46 Canterbury St, District Six
The Death of Glitter presents an explosive one-night spectacle honouring a defining queer institution. Featuring Tama Sumo and Lakuti, special guest Mandy Alexander, DOG residents Phijos and Dragmother, plus a surprise Sheer City headliner taking the midnight slot.

Sheer Assembly at District | 20:00 – 04:00 | 61C Harrington St, District Six
A reunion that pays homage to one of Cape Town’s most formative venues. Downtempo and Dub journeys from dj low and GlenVst on a custom-built Void system pay homage to set the tone with live electronic pioneers Sibot and Markus Wormstorm returning to the stage to take things up a notch. Das Kapital and Niskerone return to take care of late-night weight, with headliner Freudenthal channelling Discothèque.

Sheer Dive at Surfa Rosa | 21:00 – 04:00 | 61A Harrington St, District Six
Pearl Daddy’s hosts the weekend’s mischievous corner with Shaun Westwood, Faffa Bruwer, Dario and Mr Mo. A dive bar reimagined for maximal release. From daylight dancefloors to subterranean after-hours, each room becomes a moving portrait of performance, costume, rhythm and community.

And the celebration continues:

Sheer City Simmer Down | Texas 14:00 – 20:00 and Harringtons 18:00 – 02:00
Presented by Bridges for Music and Sub Sahara, Sunday offers a warm, soulful South African afternoon featuring deep house, Afro-centric sounds and a headline moment from Esa, a Cape Town icon marking a defining chapter in his career. Harringtons closes the weekend with reflective house music and surprise back-to-back sessions from some of the weekend’s top picks. Bloody Mary’s and a braai are there for returning party-goers in need of some fixing.

Tickets are available for Saturday and Sunday’s events separately as well as a full weekend pass.