Trevor Noah to Headline South Africa’s Festival of Comedy in September 2026

A new kind of comedy festival is taking shape as Savanna South Africa’s Festival of Comedy arrives for its debut year. Rather than following the traditional festival format, this edition unfolds as a national tour to SunBet Arena in Pretoria and in Cape Town, positioning stand-up comedy with the same energy, pride and collective spirit typically reserved for big sporting events.

Built around the idea of a “national team”, the concept reframes comedy as both entertainment and cultural expression, drawing on South Africa’s instinctive relationship with humour as a shared language:

South Africa's Festival of Comedy 2026 in Pretoria | What's On in Joburg — Trevor Noah, Eugene Khoza and Ntosh Madlingozi

What to expect at South Africa’s Festival of Comedy 2026

At the centre of South Africa’s Festival of Comedy is Trevor Noah, stepping in as Lead Curator and Captain of the SA National Team of Comedy. He is joined by Vice Captain Eugene Khoza and Coach Ntosh Madlingozi, forming a leadership trio that blends experience, cultural insight and performance credibility.

Together, they will guide the rollout of talent announcements, additional tour dates and venues, building anticipation around what is framed as a “squad reveal”. The tour officially kicks off in Pretoria at SunBet Arena on 5 September 2026, before heading to GrandWest in Cape Town on 26 September 2026.

What sets this comedy project apart is its extended build-up. Running from May through to September, the festival unfolds as a season rather than a single event. Expect press conference-style announcements, “call-ups”, behind-the-scenes content and moments that mirror the structure of major sporting campaigns.

South Africa’s Festival of Comedy intends to meet audiences where they are, across live spaces, digital platforms and social moments, rather than limiting the experience to the stage.