With a new year comes a new opportunity to revel in the gorgeous melodies and mesmerising movement of the Ndlovu Youth Choir, whose annual performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town have become must-see, joy-filled musical extravaganzas for South African music lovers. If any evidence for this is needed, consider that the Choir’s national tours have been sold out every year since 2021, underlining the esteem in which they are held by audiences in their home country.
Promoter Showtime Management is pleased to announce the dates for the 2026 Ndlovu Youth Choir SA Tour. The concerts kick off in Cape Town at Artscape on Thursday, 05 February at 7:30pm followed by a Friday performance also at 7:30pm and two performances on Saturday 07 February at 3pm and 7:30pm closing with two shows on Sunday, 08 February at 2pm and 6pm. Johannesburg concerts at Montecasino’s Teatro take place on Thursday, 30 July at 7:30pm with one show on Friday, 31 July at 7:30pm and two shows each on Saturday, 01 August at 3pm at 7:30pm and Sunday, 02 August at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are on sale at www.showtime.co.za or Ticketmaster.co.za.
The Choir added the timeless Queen hit ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to their repertoire in 2024, showcasing a new arrangement that gave the song fresh – and even wider – appeal. Audiences loved it, but an unexpected bonus reaction was still to come. In September 2025, Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor, who had seen a music video of the Ndlovu Youth Choir’s performance of his band’s song, recorded a video that he posted on Instagram, saying how much he “enjoyed the wonderful video of your fantastic version of Bohemian Rhapsody.” What an honour and what encouragement for the Choir’s young singers!
For these 2026 shows, Ndlovu Youth Choir founder and conductor Ralf Schmitt promises a stronger South African flavour, emphasising the country’s diverse musical traditions and shared spirit. “Alongside classics such as ‘Mbube’ and ‘Homeless’, we have included Ghoema music, which celebrates the joy of Tweede Nuwejaar and Cape Town’s vibrant culture. The aim is to cover a wide range of South African genres, including gospel and an Amapiano medley, as well as hits from many of South Africa’s greatest singers and bands such as Mango Groove, Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg, and Miriam Makeba.”
Fans can look out for South African classics like ‘African Dream’ and ‘Pata Pata’; songs that celebrate Africa such as ‘Circle Of Life’, ‘Waka Waka’ and Toto’s anthem ‘Africa’; as well as hits by international artists that have been transformed and made popular with new audiences thanks to the Choir’s success here and abroad – think ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Higher Love’ and the sublime ‘Nessun Dorma’.
“Ndlovu Youth Choir tours are now entertainment fixtures for South African audiences,” says Tony Feldman of Showtime Management. “They bring music lovers from all of our country’s fascinating cultures together and every concert has a wonderful, generous energy.”
The Ndlovu Youth Choir, based in the Moutse Valley in rural Limpopo, was founded in 2009 and has become one of South Africa’s most treasured choral groups, recognised globally (thanks in part to reaching the finals of America’s Got Talent Season 14) for their unique music locally and internationally with tours across the USA and Europe. The Choir has performed as the headline artist at the Africa Festival in Würzburg, Germany, enjoyed a theatre residency at the prestigious AFAS Theatre in the Netherlands and performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York, among many other notable engagements, including performing for the likes of Trevor Noah, King Charles and Bill Gates
Get your tickets now for the Choir’s 2026 dates. The 15 choristers and live three-piece band will take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride, bringing passion, precision and heart to their South African shows – 12 concerts only!