Cape Town is set to host a significant cultural gathering as Sheer City launches its inaugural edition on Saturday, January 17-18, 2026.
The two-day, day-to-night block party, spanning downtown venues from Harrington Street to the City Bowl fringe, celebrates the city’s vibrant creative scene while honouring its LGBTQ+ heritage and commitment to inclusive, dynamic nightlife.
Anchored in the Harrington Street district at Harringtons, District, Surfa Rosa, Social, and The Electric, and extending into the City Bowl fringe at Texas, the festival seeks to highlight Cape Town’s dynamic creative scene.
Ivan Turanjanin, along with the other Sheer City organisers, shared with the Saturday Star the festival’s essence and the vision behind its creation, offering insight into how the event seeks to merge artistry, music, movement, and community.
Turanjanin explains that, beyond entertainment, Sheer City serves as a platform to honour the city’s rich LGBTQ+ heritage and longstanding commitment to vibrant nightlife, fostering a space where culture, community, and artistic expression converge.
What inspired the creation of Sheer City, and why now for Cape Town?
Sheer City is the culmination of the collective which, in many forms and guises, has been curating spaces both locally and internationally for the better part of two decades. As avid music lovers, it has been a lifelong dedication to shine a light on forward-thinking creatives.
How does the event aim to redefine the city's nightlife and creative scene?
With a firm belief in a music-first attitude, the collective seeks to bring together uniquely and authentically the many different pockets of culture that are brimming over in this beautiful city and provide a world-class platform for them to thrive.
How will the festival embrace the city's LGBTQ+ history and cultural pulse?
Cape Town has always had a very special LGBTQ+ history, especially when you look back at the clubbing culture of the city and how music has been a significant force in unifying the people. Understanding the history, embracing the present, and preparing for a blossoming future are the very pillars upon which Sheer City is constructed.
How does the festival aim to build a sense of community, not just a party?
The festival really strives to be the golden thread that not only builds a sense of community but, more importantly, brings together the diverse communities that already exist. Given that the collective takes great pride in being representative but also that there is a sense of always wanting to improve, which means a humbleness and willingness to learn from those outside of our immediate ecosystem creates greater unity and strength.
What role do local curators and artists play in shaping the festival experience?
The curators and the artists personify the festival's ethos and mission. They help spread the net through their vast experience but also help shine a light on the wonderful pockets of culture that are sometimes hidden in the shadows.
Is this the start of a recurring festival, and what's the vision for its growth?
Yes, the plan is to grow not only the festival year on year but also the digital community. Creating a platform that can exist and thrive all year round. Supporting each other, supporting other events, and driving consistent conversation.
What can attendees expect?
We do hope the discovery and curation are as exciting for everyone else as they are for us. We encourage people to lose themselves not only in the music but also in time and space as well. In the meantime take the time to read up on some of the names you have never seen. The lineup really is wonderfully thought out, and each name represents a beautiful chapter in our story.
Saturday Star