By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-09-27 11:21:54 | Updated at 2026-09-27 16:00:03
5 hours ago
Music: South Africa
Key Facts
- Date and venue. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December 2026, from 6 p.m. Then the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December at 7 p.m.
- Who they are. Live are the American alternative rock band behind Lightning Crashes, I Alone and All Over You, fronted by Ed Kowalczyk. Webtickets credits them with over 23 million albums sold and two Billboard number-one albums.
- Why it matters. This is their first South African tour in almost a decade. Both Cape Town nights and the first Pretoria night were sold out on 27 September 2026.
- Tickets. Only Saturday 12 December in Pretoria is still on sale through Webtickets. Reserved seats cost R895 to R2,995 (about US$55 to US$184) and Golden Circle standing R1,295 (about US$79), before booking fees.
- What to know. Francois van Coke supports in Pretoria, where Golden Circle is closed to children under 12. No refunds are offered for any of the four shows.
Live South Africa 2026 brings the American rock band to Kirstenbosch in Cape Town and to Pretoria for four December nights. Only the second Pretoria show, on 12 December, still has tickets.
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The American rock band Live, styled +LIVE+, return to South Africa this December for four concerts in Cape Town and Pretoria. Three of the four nights had sold out by 27 September 2026.
Live South Africa 2026: Four Nights in Two Cities
The tour opens at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on Tuesday 8 December 2026. A second garden concert follows on Wednesday 9 December, with the concert area opening at 6 p.m. both nights.
The band then moves north to the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria. They play there on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December, with a 7 p.m. start on each night.
AMP Events is promoting all four dates, and Webtickets is the only official seller. Pre-sale opened on 23 April 2026 and general sale the following day.
Who Live Are and Why This Tour Matters
Live are an alternative rock band from Pennsylvania, formed in 1984 and fronted by the singer Ed Kowalczyk. Their best-known songs include Lightning Crashes, I Alone, All Over You, Selling the Drama and Heaven.
Webtickets credits the band with more than 23 million albums sold and two Billboard number-one albums. Those songs still get regular play on rock radio around the world.
This is their first South African visit in almost a decade. When the Pretoria arena first opened, Live were the band that played its opening show.
“South Africa has a very special place in my heart,” Kowalczyk said when the tour was announced in April. The promoter recalled packed venues and huge sing-alongs on the last tour.
Tickets and Prices: What Is Left
All prices below are Webtickets figures before the booking fee, converted at 16.30 rand to the US dollar. The fee itself is added at checkout and is not shown on the listings.
At Kirstenbosch, the 8 December concert ran from R995 to R2,995 (about US$61 to US$184). The 9 December concert started higher, at R1,195 (about US$73), and both nights are now sold out.
In Pretoria, reserved seats cost R895 to R2,995 (about US$55 to US$184), and Golden Circle standing costs R1,295 (about US$79). Every ticket for Friday 11 December was marked sold out on 27 September.
Saturday 12 December still offered both reserved seats and Golden Circle standing on that date. A meet-and-greet package with Kowalczyk is also listed, though no price was published on the page.
Kirstenbosch: A Picnic Concert Under Table Mountain
Kirstenbosch sits on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and hosts a summer concert series on its lawns. These are the band’s first concerts at the garden.
A concert ticket grants entry to the garden from 8 a.m., and the dedicated concert area opens at 6 p.m. All tickets are general admission, and the event is open to all ages.
Picnic blankets, hampers and cooler boxes are welcome. Gazebos, umbrellas and high camping chairs are not allowed, and the garden is a non-smoking venue.
The concert goes ahead whatever the weather, so bring a warm layer and rain cover. Ticket holders without a car should plan a ride-hailing trip home in advance.
Pretoria: The SunBet Arena at Time Square
The arena is part of the Time Square Casino complex at 209 Aramist Avenue, Waterkloof Glen. It stands opposite the Menlyn Maine district in the east of Pretoria.
Francois van Coke, whom the vendor calls one of South Africa‘s most celebrated live performers, opens both Pretoria shows. No children under three are allowed in the seated area.
Golden Circle standing is closed to children under 12 and has a minimum height of 1.3 metres. Accessible tickets can be requested from Webtickets by email with proof of disability.
Practical Tips for Foreign Fans
Buy only through Webtickets, since no refunds are permitted for any of the four shows. Resale tickets from unofficial sellers carry a real risk of being invalid.
December is high summer in South Africa and the start of the main holiday season. Book flights and accommodation early.
Fans planning both cities can fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg, the nearest major airport to Pretoria. The Pretoria shows fall two and three days after the second Kirstenbosch night.
What Has Not Been Announced
No support act had been named for the Kirstenbosch concerts on 27 September 2026. Neither vendor page gave a set time for the band itself.
The booking fee and the meet-and-greet price were also not shown. It is unclear whether any returned or held-back tickets will appear for the sold-out nights.
More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
FAQ
When does Live play in South Africa?
Live play Kirstenbosch in Cape Town on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December 2026. They then play the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December.
Can I still buy tickets?
Only for Pretoria on Saturday 12 December, according to Webtickets on 27 September 2026. Both Kirstenbosch nights and the Friday Pretoria show were marked sold out.
How much do Pretoria tickets cost?
Reserved seats cost R895 to R2,995 (about US$55 to US$184) before the booking fee. Golden Circle standing costs R1,295 (about US$79), with no children under 12.
Who is the support act?
Francois van Coke, the South African rock singer, opens both Pretoria shows. No support act had been named for Kirstenbosch at the time of writing.
Sources: Webtickets (both listings consulted 27 September 2026), Time Out Cape Town (23 April 2026), Time Out Johannesburg (24 April 2026), Jacaranda FM (24 April 2026), all consulted 27 September 2026.
