Cape Town, the beautiful and culturally vibrant city, is gaining recognition as a top destination for major international events. The Events Department recently revealed its five-year plan for hosting an impressive lineup of global tournaments and championships.
Rugby Championships
Cape Town has expressed interest in bidding to host the European Professional Club Rugby finals in 2025 or 2026 together with SA Rugby. The city is hoping to add this prestigious rugby championship to its growing list of international events. Cape Town is also looking to support Cricket South Africa to host one of the Men’s ODI World Cup matches in 2027, which will take place across South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Women’s World Cup
The city is in talks with SAFA Cape Town in supporting their bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. Football fans will be delighted to know that Cape Town continues to make progress in securing this global sporting event.
UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships
Cape Town has issued an endorsement letter to Cycling SA for their bid to host the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in 2028. This event will bring together the world’s top cyclists to compete in Cape Town.
Cape Town’s Experience in Hosting International Events
Alderman JP Smith, Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, highlighted the city’s proven track record in hosting major international events. He emphasized the importance of planning ahead to ensure the continued success of the events industry and its positive impact on the city’s economy and residents.
Successful Events in the Past Year
In the 2022/23 financial year, Cape Town’s Events Permit Office issued 1,171 permits, which nearly tripled the number of permits issued in the previous year. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions, the city successfully hosted several major events in just ten months, including the Springboks vs Wales test match, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Formula E, Cape Town Cycle Tour, and World Travel Market Africa.
Economic Impact of Sporting Events
Seven of Cape Town’s sporting events generated over R5 billion worth of economic activity within the city. In total, the city provided financial and event support to 126 events during the 2022/23 financial year. The Rugby World Cup Sevens and Women’s T20 World Cup final broke attendance records, while the first E-prix in sub-Saharan Africa and the fastest track in Formula E history were delivered successfully.
Netball World Cup
Cape Town is also working with the Netball World Cup Local Organising Committee and other partners to finalize preparations for Africa’s first major international tournament, set to take place at the CTICC in July 2023.
Cape Town’s plan to host major international events for the next five years is well underway. With new motorsport events and exciting concerts coming up, Cape Town is poised to cement its status as a global hub for major events. This will attract visitors and foster economic growth for years to come.
