First Thursdays in Johannesburg bring the city to life with a monthly roundup of art, culture, food and creativity. From vibrant gallery openings and immersive workshops to unique dining experiences and live music, the evening invites you to explore Johannesburg’s neighbourhoods in a whole new way.
Whether you’re looking for a stroll, a creative spark, or a night out with friends, First Thursdays offer something for everyone. Grab a map, hop on a TukTuk, and let the city surprise and inspire you. Here’s what’s in store.
What’s On at the Wits Art Museum and Origins Centre
What We Do Not See
What We Do Not See is an exhibition that remembers David Goldblatt in what would have been his 95th year, and explores the idea of home – the structures, places, cultures and relationships that we live within – in and around Johannesburg.
In addition to Goldblatt, the exhibition brings together a group of nine mainly Johannesburg- based photographers: Gulshan Khan, Jabulani Dhlamini, Jo Ractliffe, Jodi Bieber, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Madoda Mkhobeni, Mark Lewis, Sabelo Mlangeni and Tshepiso Mazibuko.
Exhibition curated by Brenda Goldblatt and Fiona Rankin-Smith and supported by the David Goldblatt Legacy Trust.
Cost: Free entry
When: Running from 4 August to 24 October 2026 during the Art Museum’s opening hours, which are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm
Where: Wits Art Museum, University of the Witwatersrand, Cnr Jorissen and Bertha St, Johannesburg
(Un)charted Territories
(Un)charted Territories, currently showing in the Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts, is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the exhibition, sharing fresh insights and new perspectives.
The exhibition reimagines the artist’s book as a unique cartographic instrument. Moving beyond traditional geography, these works transform the map from a tool of control into a dynamic space for encounter and discovery.
The exhibition highlights diverse books that use physical maps, layered folds, and cartographic symbols to visually translate abstract concepts
Cost: Free entry
When: Running until 23 September 2026 during the Art Museum’s opening hours, which are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm
Where: Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts at the Wits Art Museum, University of the Witwatersrand, Cnr Jorissen and Bertha St, Johannesburg
Hentie van der Merwe’s After de Jongh
After de Jongh explores Hentie van der Merwe’s relationship with personal identity, cultural inheritance, and the enduring presence of history through painting.
Drawing inspiration from Bloekomlaan (Avenue of Gum Trees) by the Dutch-born South African painter Tinus de Jongh (1885 – 1942), Hentie van der Merwe revisits an image deeply embedded in Afrikaner visual culture and collective memory.
Cost: Free entry
When: Runs during the Art Museum’s opening hours, which are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm
Where: Wits Art Museum, University of the Witwatersrand, Cnr Jorissen and Bertha St, Johannesburg
Experiences and events this First Thursday
The Brother Moves On at Hugh’s Jazz Club Series
Hugh’s Jazz Club is a premium world-class club designed by Play Braamfontein in collaboration with the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, paying homage to Hugh Masekela through curated performances in an intimate setting.
Every Thursday, the club provides a space for established musicians and emerging talents to express themselves and show off their skills and creativity.
The Brother Moves On [TBMO] is a South African performance art ensemble founded in 2009, officially by broad-based artist Nkululeko Mthembu and his brother Siyabonga Mthembu while watching an episode of ‘The Wire’ by David Simon. Their music combines African influences with futuristic and old-school sounds, moving between heavy, dub, psychedelic rock, township and indie music, and free-form African jazz.
Cost: R300pp. Book online
When: Thursday, 3 September from 6pm
Where: Hugh’s Jazz Club, Level 13, 10 De Beer St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
The Melville Art Mile
The Melville Art Mile is back for its monthly celebration of Johannesburg’s bohemian heartland. This Thursday, the suburb wraps up with an ode to women – izimbokodo.
The Art Mile have curated the best offerings across the precinct, from galleries and studios to heritage sites and night markets, creating a vibrant circuit of art and dining.
How to navigate the art
Follow the Lew Geffen Sotheby’s wayfinding arrows to discover hidden studios and live performances.
- White arrows: lead north to bamboo.
- Green arrows: lead west to mudroom.
- Pink arrows: lead south to die pienk kerk.
The entire route is secured by the Melville Security Initiative (MSI). Prefer a ride? Jump on one of the official tuk-tuks to zip between venues:
- Ticket holders (vip/explorer): unlimited free rides.
- General public: pay-as-you-go (R25 per trip).
Cost: R450pp for a premium guided tour including drinks, activities and a souvenir. R150pp for a self-guided tour with unlimited tuk-tuks. Free to explore on your own and pay-as-you-go. Book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 3 September from 4pm to 9pm
Where: 27 Boxes, 76a 4th Ave, Melville, Johannesburg
JPO Early Spring Symphony Season – Gareth Lubbe and Daniel Boico
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra returns with the Early Spring Symphony Season for 2026.
Peak technical brilliance and evolved talent are required for Rachmaninoff Symphony in D minor, “Youth Symphony”, Walton Concerto for Viola, and Franck Symphony in D minor. The work will be performed by South African-born multi-instrumentalist and overtone singer Gareth Lubbe – an internationally active soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue.
He grew up in apartheid-era South Africa and performed at the presidential inauguration of Nelson Mandela in 1994. He later continued his musical studies in Germany and served as principal violist of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly from 2007 to 2014. He is currently Professor of Viola at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, succeeding Vladimir Mendelssohn.
Conductor Daniel Boico will be tasked with reinterpreting the symphony for fine music lovers for the final concert in the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra’s Early Spring Symphony Season.
Cost: From R190pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 3 September at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Joburg Artist Market
The Joburg Artist Market is home to an evolving mix of local artists, designers and independent makers showcasing handcrafted jewellery, fashion, homeware, artworks and one-of-a-kind finds. The space regularly hosts live music performances, workshops and interactive experiences that create a more immersive visit.
Set within the distinctive 27 Boxes precinct, itself built from repurposed shipping containers, there are also food and drink stalls to turn your visit into an easy afternoon outing. The market aims to create direct engagement between creatives and visitors, allowing guests to discover the stories and people behind the work on display.
Cost: Free entry
When: Thursday, 3 September from 4pm to 9pm
Where: Joburg Artist Market @ 27 Boxes, 6a 4th Ave, Melville, Johannesburg
Keyes Art Night at Keyes Art Mile
This Keyes Art Night begins with a city still being imagined.
In the Atrium, the Makers Table, in collaboration with Johannesburg In Your Pocket and Open Window, invites you to work directly with archival photographs from Marc Latilla’s Johannesburg Then and Now. Hand-colour, collage, draw, and reimagine the city through your own lens, from impossible futures to deeply personal interventions.
In Gallery 1, Groundwork enters its final weeks. Spend time with an exhibition shaped by stone, dust, carbon, and clay, and the questions they leave behind about construction, memory, and time.
And just around the corner at CIRCA Gallery, Bag Factory Art marks 35 years with When We Gather…the ordinary becomes extraordinary – a fundraising group exhibition bringing together alumni and current artists from three and a half decades of studio practice.
At Lizamore & Associates, A Small Kind of Magic brings together Rosemary Marriott, Moloko Mabotja and Jenny Nijenhuis in a quiet exploration of identity, memory and the things we absorb before we have language for them.
At BKhz, Stephen Tebogo Langa opens Until Love Makes Sense – paintings that hold love in uncertain, shifting moments, somewhere between thought and feeling.
Cost: Free entry, food and drink for your own account
When: Thursday, 6 August from 6pm
Where: Keyes Art Mile, 21 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Travelling Date Night at Indaba Hotel
Warm evenings call for romance, adventure, and a little indulgence. Join Indaba Hotel on the First Thursday of every month for an unforgettable 4-stop dining journey across the Hotel property:
- Sundowner cocktail and canapés at the Gin School
- Do dinner and a glass of wine at Epsom Restaurant
- Dessert and bubbly at the Indaba Tasting Room
- End with fire-side s’mores and a nightcap in the Courtyard
Cost: R785 per couple, book via email at [email protected]
When: First Thursday of every month
Where: Indaba Hotel, cnr. Winnie Mandela Drive & Pieter Wenning Rd, Fourways, Johannesburg
McCoy Mrubata – Jazz At The Bioscope
Curated by award-winning musician Mandla Mlangeni, Jazz At The Bioscope brings together established musicians and emerging voices, with performances designed to surprise and engage audiences.
McCoy Mrubata is an expressive and soulful voice, blending Cape jazz, mbaqanga, and contemporary jazz into a style that is unmistakably his own. Audiences can look forward to an evening of rhythm, memory, and celebration.
Cost: R225pp, book via TixSA
When: Thursday, 3 September from 8pm. Guests are encouraged to arrive earlier to enjoy food and drink at The Bioscope Cafe
Where: The Bioscope at 44 Stanley, 44 Stanley Avenue, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg
Venturo Game Night at Shooters in Fourways
Venturo Game Night is back, and this time they’ve found a new playground: Shooters in Fourways. Swing by after work with friends or colleagues, or go solo and make new ones. Entry is free, the vibe is easy, and Shooters has a solid food menu ready for when the hunger hits. Expect a mix of classic favourites, fast-paced party games and plenty of laughs across the tables.
Cost: Free entry
When: Thursday, 3 September from 6pm to 11pm
Where: Shop F13, Fourways Mall, 11 Ruby Cl, Fourways, Sandton
Stained Glass Paint Night
The Pisces Glass Studio hosts a creative and relaxing glass painting evening where guests transform an ordinary glass bottle into a beautiful, hand-painted keepsake.
The event provides all materials and creates a vibrant atmosphere where beginners and seasoned creatives can order delicious food and drinks, have fun, socialise, and stay inspired. Fun, social, and inspiring.
Cost: R480pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 3 September from 6pm to 9pm
Where: The Noble Experiment, Prison Break Market, 10 MacMillan Rd, Glenferness AH, Johannesburg
Messy Masterpieces Paint & Sip
A relaxing evening where visitors paint a beautiful seaside artwork featuring tranquil blue waters, a sailboat, and vibrant cherry blossoms.
With step-by-step guidance, a pre-drawn canvas, and all materials provided, this workshop is perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike.
Cost: R320pp, book via Quicket
When: Thursday, 3 September from 6pm to 8pm
Where: Del Forno, 57 Van Buuren Rd, Bedfordview
