The dates for the 2026 Ndlovu Youth Choir SA Tour have been announced. The 15 choristers and three-piece band promise to take audiences on an emotional roller-coaster ride, bringing passion, precision and heart to their South African shows next year.
With just 12 concerts planned, this will be an exclusive opportunity for fans to experience the choir’s celebrated performances.
Cape Town shows open the tour
The concerts kick off in Cape Town at Artscape Theatre Centre from Thursday 5 February to Sunday 8 February. Shows run daily at 19:30, with an additional Saturday performance at 15:00. The Cape Town leg concludes with two Sunday shows at 14:00 and 18:00.
Johannesburg concerts follow at Montecasino’s Teatro from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August, with the same schedule.
Queen drummer’s endorsement boosts choir’s profile
The choir added the timeless Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” to their repertoire in 2024, showcasing a fresh arrangement that gave the song even wider appeal. Audiences loved it, but an unexpected bonus was still to come.
In September 2025 Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor discovered a music video of the choir’s performance. He recorded a video response posted on Instagram, saying how much he “enjoyed the wonderful video of your fantastic version of Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The endorsement proved a tremendous honour and encouragement for the choir’s young singers.
Stronger South African flavour promised
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, Schmitt explained.
“The aim is to cover a wide range of South African genres,” he said, “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.”
Diverse repertoire spans continents
Fans can expect South African classics such as “African Dream” and “Pata Pata”, alongside songs celebrating Africa such as “Circle Of Life”, “Waka Waka” and Toto’s anthem “Africa”.The choir will also perform international hits they’ve transformed for new audiences, including “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Higher Love” and the sublime “Nessun Dorma”.
“Ndlovu Youth Choir tours are now entertainment fixtures for South African audiences,” said 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.”
From rural Limpopo to global stages
Based in the Moutse Valley in rural Limpopo, the Ndlovu Youth Choir was founded in 2009 and has become one of South Africa’s most treasured choral groups. They gained global recognition partly through reaching the finals of America’s Got Talent Season 14.
The choir has since toured across the USA and Europe, headlined the Africa Festival in Würzburg, Germany enjoyed a theatre residency at the prestigious AFAS Theatre in the Netherlands and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. Notable performances include shows for Trevor Noah, King Charles and Bill Gates.
Concert details
Cape Town: Artscape Theatre Centre
• Thursday 5 February to Saturday 7 February: Daily at 19:30
• Saturday 7 February: Additional show at 15:00
• Sunday 8 February: Shows at 14:00 and 18:00
Johannesburg: Montecasino’s Teatro
• Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August: Daily at 19:30
• Saturday 1 August: Additional show at 15:00
• Sunday 2 August: Shows at 14:00 and 18:00
Tickets and booking
• Prices range from R200 to R500
• Group discounts: 15% off for 20+ tickets on top two price categories (Thursday, Friday and Sunday 18:00 shows only)
• Group bookings: sales@showtime.co.za (terms and conditions apply)
Book tickets at www.showtime.co.za or Ticketmaster.co.za.
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