5 Best Theatres in Johannesburg (2026)

Joburg Theatre, in Braamfontein, is Johannesburg's largest performing arts venue, hosting large-scale touring productions, musicals and tribute shows alongside underground parking and an on-site restaurant. It is the most-reviewed theatre in Johannesburg by a wide margin, reflecting both its scale and how often big-name shows pass through. Reviewers frequently call it a top-class venue for major productions.

movies@ Gold Reef City is a multiplex cinema inside the Gold Reef City entertainment complex, surrounded by several eating options for a full night out. It runs the standard first-run film slate with a rewards card program for regular customers, and it sits alongside the complex's other attractions. It is the only straightforward movie cinema on this list rather than a live-performance venue.

The Market Theatre, in Newtown, is one of Johannesburg's most historic performance venues, known for South African storytelling and drama with a history stretching back decades, marked by its 50th anniversary celebration in 2026. It runs an intentionally unreserved seating policy, so arriving early matters more here than at the bigger venues. It holds the highest rating of any theatre on this list.

Roodepoort Theatre, in Florida Park, is a community-focused venue known for local productions, ballet and family-friendly shows, sitting next to a museum that several reviewers pair with their visit. It maintains well-kept grounds and a secure setting that reviewers repeatedly single out. It serves the West Rand as a more local alternative to the bigger inner-city venues.

Lyric Theatre, inside the Gold Reef City complex, is a roughly 1,100-seat venue hosting Broadway-style musicals, comedy, jazz and dramatic productions alongside pageants and corporate events. It runs a bar on its first floor and opens doors about 30 minutes before each show. Reviewers note the casino complex charges a separate entry fee at the gate even for ticketed theatre guests, a quirk unique to this venue on the list.