SOUTH AFRICA · COMEDY
Key Facts
- —The shows British comedian Jimmy Carr brings his current stand-up tour, Laughs Funny, to Pretoria and Cape Town in March 2027.
- —Pretoria Saturday 13 March 2027 at the Sunbet Arena in Time Square, Menlyn Maine; doors 6 p.m., show 8 p.m.
- —Cape Town Sunday 14 March 2027 at the Grand Arena in GrandWest, Goodwood; doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.
- —How to buy Only through Ticketmaster South Africa and Big Concerts, the promoter; general sale opened on Friday 2 October 2026.
- —Age limit 16 and over only; the promoter’s listing says no under-16s are permitted, and it shows no ticket prices yet.
- —For US visitors No visa is needed for stays under 90 days; passports must be valid 30 days after exit, with two blank visa pages.
The Jimmy Carr South Africa dates are set: the British comedian plays Pretoria on Saturday 13 March 2027 and Cape Town on Sunday 14 March. Both nights are part of his current world tour, Laughs Funny, which also takes him to Japan, Thailand and Australia.
Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster South Africa and by Big Concerts, the promoter, and general sale opened on Friday 2 October 2026. US visitors need no visa for a short trip, but under-16s are not admitted to either show.
Who Jimmy Carr Is and What the Show Is Like
Jimmy Carr is a British comedian, writer and television host, famous for dark humour, dry wit, heckler comebacks and one-line jokes. His official site points fans to his Netflix special Natural Born Killer and his book Before & Laughter.
Big Concerts, the South African promoter of the shows, calls him one of the biggest-selling comedy acts in the world. It says he plays to sell-out crowds around the globe and has performed in more than 50 countries.
His last South African visit came in March 2024, when he brought his Terribly Funny tour to the country, Time Out Johannesburg reports. Bizcommunity, a South African trade site, listed those shows at the same Pretoria and Cape Town venues.
Laughs Funny is the current Jimmy Carr show, built on fast-paced, edgy one-liners and banter with the crowd. The promoter is blunt about the tone, and says the show is not for everyone.
“Some people are repelled by Jimmy’s dark brand of comedy,” Big Concerts writes. “This show is not for them.”
Crowd work is part of the night, so think about where you sit. “Only the very brave sit in the front row,” the Big Concerts listing warns.
Laughs Funny is on sale now, his official site says. For American fans, the South African dates pair a comedy night with a trip to Cape Town and the capital region.
Tickets and How to Buy
General sale opened at 9 a.m. South African time on Friday 2 October 2026, through Ticketmaster South Africa and the Big Concerts website. A presale for the Big Concerts Fan Club ran from Wednesday 30 September until Friday morning.
Buy Jimmy Carr tickets only from those two official sellers, which the promoter names on its page. Big Concerts warns that tickets bought on Viagogo or other resale sites will be refused at the door, with no refund.
The promoter’s event page does not list ticket prices. Check prices on Ticketmaster South Africa before you set a budget, and remember that they are charged in rand.
The listing says no under-16s are permitted at either show. Families travelling with teenagers should plan around that rule before booking flights.
Both arenas sit inside casino complexes run by Sun International, a South African hotel and casino group. Time Square’s own page says no one under 18 may gamble there.
The Pretoria Show at the Sunbet Arena
The Jimmy Carr Pretoria show is on Saturday 13 March 2027, the first of the two South African nights. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. local time.
The Sunbet Arena sits inside Time Square, which Sun International calls the largest casino in Pretoria. The group describes the arena as one of the best-loved entertainment venues in Gauteng, the province around Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Big Concerts gives the address as 209 Aramist Avenue in Waterkloof Glen. Sun International places Time Square in the heart of Menlyn Maine, in Pretoria East.
Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital, and most long-haul flights to the region land at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg. From the airport, the simplest way to reach Time Square is by car or a ride-hailing app.
The same arena hosts other big touring shows this season, including <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/riverdance-30-south-africa-2027-2026/”>Riverdance 30 in April 2027</a>. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/kehlani-south-africa-2026-pretoria-cape-town-december-15-17/”>Kehlani guide</a> covers a December concert at the same two venues.
The Cape Town Show at GrandWest
The Jimmy Carr Cape Town show is on Sunday 14 March 2027, in the Grand Arena at GrandWest. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. local time.
GrandWest is a casino and entertainment complex run by Sun International. Arrive in good time, because the doors open only an hour before the show.
Big Concerts lists the address as 1 Jakes Gerwel Drive in Goodwood, a suburb of Cape Town. The complex is a drive from the city centre, so plan the trip there and back before the night.
Seeing both shows means a flight from Gauteng to the Western Cape on the Sunday. Book it early in the day to leave time for the evening show.
Running times have not been published, so arrange your ride back to your hotel before the show starts.
Tips for US Visitors
US citizens do not need a visa for South Africa for stays of less than 90 days, the State Department says. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after you leave and have two consecutive blank visa pages.
The State Department rates South Africa at Level 2, which means exercise increased caution. It warns that ATM and credit card skimming are common.
The advisory adds that some crime victims have been followed from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. It urges travellers to drive with doors locked and windows closed.
It also advises against driving outside cities at night. Before getting into a ride-share car, verify all the trip details, the State Department says.
South Africa runs on South Africa Standard Time, two hours ahead of UTC all year. So 8 p.m. there is 1 p.m. in New York on Saturday 13 March, and 2 p.m. on Sunday after US clocks spring forward.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
Big Concerts has not published ticket prices on its event page, and no opening act has been named. Running times have not been announced either.
The promoter lists only Pretoria and Cape Town so far. It names no date in Johannesburg or Durban.
More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does Jimmy Carr play in South Africa?
Jimmy Carr plays the Sunbet Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on Saturday 13 March 2027. He then plays the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town on Sunday 14 March, and both shows start at 8 p.m.
Where can I buy Jimmy Carr tickets in South Africa?
Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster South Africa and Big Concerts, the promoter, and general sale opened on Friday 2 October 2026. No under-16s are admitted.
Do US citizens need a visa to see Jimmy Carr in South Africa?
No visa is needed for US citizens staying less than 90 days. Passports must be valid for 30 days after you leave and have two consecutive blank visa pages.
Sources: Big Concerts, Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny, Pretoria and Cape Town (promoter; dates, doors, on-sale, age policy, venue addresses), accessed 13 October 2026; Jimmy Carr, official site (tour and Netflix special), accessed 13 October 2026; Time Out Johannesburg, Jimmy Carr’s Laughs Funny tour (29 September 2026), 29 September 2026; Bizcommunity, Jimmy Carr takes the stage in SA (29 February 2024), 29 February 2024; Sun International, Time Square, accessed 13 October 2026; Sun International, GrandWest, accessed 13 October 2026; US State Department, South Africa international travel information, accessed 13 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error