On Somerset Road, the Second of January
You hear the brass before you see it. Along Somerset Road, the troupes of the Kaapse Klopse come forward in bright satin and painted faces, banjos and drums carrying the sound blocks away, and the pavement fills with families who have done this every second of January they can remember. Tweede Nuwe Jaar — the "second new year" — is Cape Town's own holiday, and in 2027 the minstrel parade falls on Saturday, January 2. It is free to the public. You stand at the kerb, you follow the route, and you let the afternoon go.
Follow the Parade, Then Take a Stadium Seat
The day is run by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association, chaired by Muneeb Gambino, and it is structured as a street parade followed by competition. Plan your day around both halves:
- The street parade — Saturday, January 2, 2027, along the Somerset Road District 1 route. No ticket needed; arrive early to hold a spot at the kerb.
- The second day of competition — later the same day at DHL Stadium, where the troupes perform for the judges. Stadium competitions are ticketed, so book ahead rather than assume you can walk in.
The previous season combined the parade and the first competition day at DHL Stadium using the Somerset Road route, so expect the two to feel like one long, continuous day of music.
Build a Season Around the Calendar
Tweede Nuwe Jaar is the centrepiece of a shortened four-day programme, adapted to accommodate the shifting Ramadan calendar. If you want more than one day of it, the dates are fixed and worth planning around:
- Wednesday, December 16, 2026 — the combined Voorsmaakie and first day of competition at Athlone Stadium. This is your preview of the troupes before the new year.
- Saturday, January 2, 2027 — the Somerset Road parade, then competition at DHL Stadium.
- Saturday, January 9, 2027 — competitions at Athlone Stadium.
- Saturday, January 16, 2027 — the final scheduled competition day, again at Athlone Stadium.
Athlone and DHL stadium events require tickets; the street parade does not. The City of Cape Town is backing the season with up to R10.35 million in total support, including up to R4.2 million for the parade and R2 million toward DHL Stadium rental — a sign of how seriously the city takes the programme.
Choirs, Bands and the Road March
The Klopse season runs alongside a choral and brass calendar that rewards a second visit. The Cape Malay Choirs Road March and the South African United Christmas Bands Board competitions both receive city funding, as do the Keep The Dream Choral Competitions, the Cape District Minstrel Board competitions and the Suid Afrikaanse Koorraad. The choral competitions were scheduled for Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 at the Good Hope Christian Centre in Ottery — an early-season fixture to watch for if you are planning a longer stay. Note that permit applications for several events, including the Cape Malay Choir Road March and the Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade, were still under review at the time of reporting; check the KKKA's announcements closer to the date before you build a trip around any single fixture.
Make a Day of It
Treat January 2 as a full day rather than an hour. Position yourself on the Somerset Road route for the parade, then move on to DHL Stadium for the afternoon competition with a ticket in hand. The stadium days at Athlone on January 9 and 16 give you a second and third look at the troupes in a more formal setting, and the December 16 Voorsmaakie at Athlone is the way to see the season before it peaks. Book stadium tickets early, keep the parade day free and unplanned, and let the route decide how long you stay.
The dates for 2027 are already on the calendar — December 16, January 2, January 9 and January 16. Start with the parade on Somerset Road, add a stadium ticket, and give yourself the second new year the way the city does: on your feet, in the crowd, following the brass.