Johannesburg’s queer nightlife is about to get a major shake-up with the launch of RUSH, a bold new party brand promising glamorous themed events, top DJs, dazzling performances and a welcoming space for everyone who loves to celebrate.
The first RUSH event, themed Heaven, takes place on Saturday, 25 July at Level Three in Kramerville, Sandton, and marks the beginning of what its founders hope will become one of South Africa’s biggest LGBTQ+ entertainment brands.
A Fresh Chapter for Johannesburg’s Queer Nightlife
For co-owner (and DJ) Dinarte Menezes, RUSH was born out of a desire to reignite Johannesburg’s party scene following the closure of longstanding LGBTQ+ venue Babylon.
“We’re really spicing things up and bringing a breath of fresh air to the scene,” Menezes tells MambaOnline. “Our parties are all themed. Since Babylon closed, we went into a little bit of darkness. There was no place to dance. So now we’ve opening heaven for everyone. It’s going to be a very chic party.”
Originally envisioned as a permanent club venue, the project evolved after ongoing challenges in finding the right location.
“Many of our landlords rejected us for being gay, and that’s still worrying in 2026. We still face rejection simply for who we are. That’s a problem not only for queer people, but for anyone who’s different.”
Rather than delaying the launch of RUSH any further, the team pivoted towards creating themed events.
“We already had plans to do events with RUSH nationwide. Eventually, the team decided to move ahead with that vision. We already have a number of events planned, and every one of them will have its own theme.”
Cocktails at Sunset, Dancing Until Dawn
The inaugural Heaven event on 25 July offers more than just a nightclub experience.
The evening begins at 4pm on Level Three’s rooftop terrace, where guests can enjoy cocktails against the backdrop of Johannesburg’s skyline before the main party starts later in the evening.
“Yes, it’s winter, but we’ll have heaters, beautiful cocktails and one of the best sunset views over Sandton,” says Menezes.
Food also forms part of the experience. “We’re introducing something different. If you’re hungry, you can order pizza, sushi, burgers, pregos—we have a fully equipped kitchen.”
From 8pm, the action moves downstairs for the main event, with dancing continuing until 3am.
The DJ line-up includes Tamara Dey, Dieter Hartig, Dweezy, Don Dinarte, Juran, Lotion and Tiago Reloaded, while guests can also expect drag performances and a few surprises.
“I can’t reveal everything,” Menezes laughs, “but we’ve got go-go boys, go-go girls, and we even have a transgender go-go dancer.”
Guests purchasing VIP and VVIP tickets can also enjoy exclusive cocktail bars and premium hospitality experiences.
A Party for Everyone
While RUSH is proudly queer-led, its founders say the brand deliberately embraces a wider audience.
“We’re not just an event for gay people,” explains Menezes. “We consider ourselves a fluid event. That means we’re for anyone who’s different. Everyone is welcome as long as they respect our rules.”
Those rules, he says, are simple.
“Everyone is free to be who they are. Nobody is going to judge you. Nobody is going to point fingers. That’s already a breath of fresh air because we’re allowing every type of person to come and be themselves.”
He believes that sense of belonging will become RUSH’s defining feature.
“I can promise people they’ll feel like they’re in a place where they’re happy. We’ve got entertainment, surprises and an atmosphere where everyone can simply enjoy themselves.”
Drag performance remains central to the RUSH experience.
“As one of the owners of RUSH, I couldn’t do a party without drag,” says Menezes. “We’ve got some of the best drag queens in Gauteng, and we’re going to bring drag artists from all over South Africa to perform with us.”
Looking to the Future
While the immediate focus is on building memorable events, Menezes says the long-term vision remains ambitious. “Our big plan is still to move RUSH into a permanent venue as soon as possible.”
In the meantime, there’s a slate of events planned this year, including Rush Inferno (29 August), Rush: Submerged (26 Sept), Rush Rewind (3 October) and Rush: Halloween (31 October).
The team also intends taking the brand beyond Gauteng. “The LGBTQ+ community isn’t only in Johannesburg or Cape Town. There are communities in Durban, Polokwane, Bloemfontein and elsewhere. We want to scale our events for different cities.”
Cape Town is first on the calendar. “The next phase will be taking RUSH to Cape Town in December and bringing the party to the beach.”
Building the Future of Queer Nightlife
Menezes acknowledges that today’s nightlife landscape is very different from previous decades.
“People forget that Babylon survived because straight people also supported it and helped pay the bills so the LGBTQ+ community could have a safe space.”
He says changing social habits have forced promoters to rethink how they create successful events.
“Gen Z gets bored very easily. They don’t go out like we did in the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s. That makes things more challenging.”
Even so, he believes the future lies in creating inclusive spaces that remain unmistakably rooted in queer culture.
With its blend of glamour, music, drag, rooftop cocktails and inclusive energy, RUSH: Heaven promises a fresh, ambitious and unapologetically fun night out where everyone can let loose and feel at home.
RUSH: Heaven takes place on Saturday, 25 July, at Level Three, Kramerville, Sandton. Tickets, from R100, are available in Early Bird, General Admission, VIP and VVIP categories. Doors open at 4pm. Get your tickets now at the RUSH website.
