Heritage Day has arrived, with events and activities taking place across the country, from cultural celebrations and live music to museums, heritage sites and outdoor activities.
If you are looking for something to do today, here are some options in Cape Town, Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the national Heritage Day celebration in Oudtshoorn.
Cape Town
Explore African art for free
Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront is offering free admission on Heritage Day.
Visitors can explore the museum's exhibitions and take part in cultural performances and creative activities as part of its Heritage Day programme.
Get outdoors for free
Several City of Cape Town nature reserves are offering free entry over the Heritage Day weekend.
Blaauwberg, Helderberg, Table Bay and Tygerberg nature reserves are among the options, offering opportunities for walking, hiking, birdwatching and spending time outdoors.
Experience indigenous food and culture in Langa
Guga S'thebe in Langa is hosting a Taste of Mzansi Heritage Experience, bringing together indigenous food, music, dance and storytelling.
The experience includes an Indigenous Food Market and Harvest Table, offering visitors a way to experience Cape heritage through food and cultural expression.
Explore South Africa's scientific heritage
The South African Astronomical Observatory in Observatory is opening its historic site for a free guided Heritage Day tour from 1pm to 3pm.
Visitors can explore the observatory's historic main building, Photoheliograph, McClean Museum and Visitor Centre. Weather permitting, the programme will also include a sungazing experience.
Places are limited and booking is required.
Spend the day at the Spring Fair
The Cape Town Spring Fair Celebration is taking place at the Western Province Cricket Club in Rondebosch from September 24 to 26.
The event includes food, local stalls and live music and runs from 10am on Heritage Day.
Dance and listen to live music in Sea Point
The Mojo Heritage Day Street Fest takes over Regent Road in Sea Point with live music, DJs and food.
The 2026 line-up includes Bongeziwe Mabandla, Jack Parow, Dwson, Kujenga and Mila Smith, with Afro-soul, jazz, hip-hop, amapiano and rock among the sounds on offer. The festival starts at 2pm, with tickets from R200.
Catch a free WOMAD finale
The Heritage Day finale of WOMAD Cape Town takes place at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre from 2pm.
The free open-air event brings international and local artists together, with performers including Pepe Zapata and Vicente Gelo joining South African musicians.
Explore African art at Norval Foundation
Norval Foundation in Tokai is marking Heritage Day with a programme centred on African art and culture.
Visitors can explore exhibitions, attend live performances and take part in creative activities, while complimentary guided museum tours will also be available. Museum admission is 50% off for Heritage Day.
Johannesburg
Visit the Apartheid Museum for free
The Apartheid Museum in Ormonde is offering free entry to all South Africans on Heritage Day.
The museum is open from 9am to 5pm and explores South Africa's apartheid history and the country's transition to democracy.
Explore Soweto's heritage
Soweto offers a number of sites connected to South Africa's political and social history.
Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson Museum provide different perspectives on the country's struggle history, while Vilakazi Street offers an opportunity to explore the area on foot.
Visit Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill in Braamfontein offers exhibitions and tours exploring South Africa's history, including the country's transition to democracy.
It provides an opportunity to spend the day exploring one of Johannesburg's major heritage sites.
Get outdoors and plant a tree
A nationwide campaign to plant 10 million trees is taking place on Heritage Day, with one of the Johannesburg events at Noordgesig Community Hall in Soweto from noon.
The campaign is part of a wider environmental programme taking place across all nine provinces.
Spend the day in one of Joburg's green spaces
For a quieter Heritage Day, Johannesburg's parks and nature reserves offer an alternative to museums and organised events.
Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, The Wilds, Melville Koppies and Kloofendal Nature Reserve are among the city's green spaces worth exploring.
KwaZulu-Natal
Celebrate uMkhosi weLembe
KwaZulu-Natal's major Heritage Day cultural event is uMkhosi weLembe, the annual Zulu commemoration honouring King Shaka kaSenzangakhona.
The national Heritage Day celebration was originally planned for KwaZulu-Natal alongside uMkhosi weLembe, but was subsequently moved to Oudtshoorn. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said the move would allow uMkhosi weLembe to have its own day and focus.
Visit the Durban Natural Science Museum
The Durban Natural Science Museum, housed at Durban City Hall, offers an option for families and visitors interested in South Africa's natural heritage.
The museum's collections cover natural history and the country's wildlife and biodiversity.
Explore Durban's history at KwaMuhle Museum
KwaMuhle Museum in central Durban explores the city's social history and development.
The museum provides an opportunity to learn more about Durban's past and the people who shaped the city.
Explore Cato Manor's history
The Cato Manor Heritage Centre provides an opportunity to explore the history of one of Durban's historically significant communities.
Take a heritage route through Inanda
Inanda offers a number of sites connected to South Africa's political, religious and social history, making it possible to build a heritage-focused day around the area rather than visiting a single attraction.
The national Heritage Day celebration
Oudtshoorn
The official national Heritage Day celebration is taking place at Bongolethu Sport Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the event, which is being held under the theme “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us”.
The event was originally planned for KwaZulu-Natal before being moved to the Western Cape, with Oudtshoorn confirmed as the venue this week.
The official programme starts at 9am and entry is free, with capacity for up to 5,000 attendees.