Free Entry on Opening Night at the 2026 Royal agricultural Show!
COME & SHARE OUR FIRST EVENING AT TWEEDIE
The Royal Agricultural Show opens at its new Tweedie Showgrounds on Wednesday, 7 October — and everyone is invited to come and share its first evening.
Entry to the Show will be FREE from 17:00 to 20:00 on Wednesday night.
Come through after work. Bring the family or meet up with friends. Explore the new Royal Showgrounds, find something good to eat and drink, browse the stands, shop from local exhibitors and producers, enjoy live music and settle in for a very special first evening at Tweedie.
At 19:00, a historic Second World War searchlight will be switched on above the Showgrounds, symbolically lighting the way into a new chapter for the Royal Agricultural Show.
The moment will mark 175 years of the Royal Agricultural Society and the beginning of a new era for the Show in the KZN Midlands.
And there will be plenty happening before the light goes on.
Local musician Jason Hartman will perform during the evening, bringing a familiar Midlands voice — and his own themes of home, family and musical legacy — to the Royal Show's first night at its new home.
Over at the KhakiBush Bull Pen, a spectacular bonfire will be lit in honour of the occasion, creating a warm gathering point as evening settles over the Showgrounds.
Visitors can make a night of it: eat, drink, browse and shop, discover exhibitors they may not otherwise have time to visit during a busy Show day, and enjoy the grounds at a more relaxed pace.
There will be local products, speciality foods, crafts and distinctive gifts to discover across the Show — and with Christmas not too far away, it is also a chance to get some early shopping done while supporting local producers and businesses.
Opening Night will have a different rhythm from the Royal Show's full daytime programme. Rather than trying to pack everything into a few hours, Wednesday evening is about wandering, meeting people, enjoying the music and food, discovering the new venue and sharing in the atmosphere as the Show begins.
After generations of Royal Shows in Pietermaritzburg, this is a significant moment for the Royal Agricultural Society: a 175-year agricultural legacy arriving at a new home in the Midlands, with plenty of room for building a bright future.
It reflects the spirit of the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show:
Innovation in Agriculture — Past. Present. Future.
From Wednesday, 7 October to Sunday, 11 October, the Show will bring together championship livestock, agricultural machinery and demonstrations, the Farmer's Weekly Royal Pavilion, the KhakiBush Bull Pen, a Technology & Education Hub, crafts, honey, rabbits, food, agricultural displays and plenty of family attractions.
But first, there is Wednesday night.
Come through for supper or a drink. Browse the Show. Do some shopping. Enjoy the music. Gather around the bonfire. Discover our new home.
And at 19:00, look to the sky.
WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2026
New Royal Showgrounds at Tweedie
FREE ENTRY: 17:00–20:00
Live music by Jason Hartman
Bonfire at the KhakiBush Bull Pen
Historic searchlight: 19:00
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to our new home!
