“Main Street Sundays” Invites Joburgers Back Into the Heart of the City

Main Street is about to transform into something most Joburgers haven’t seen in years… a place where people come before cars and connection comes before congestion.

Johannesburg, South Africa (09 April 2026) – There’s a heartbeat in Johannesburg that most people have forgotten how to hear. It gets drowned out by the fear, traffic, noise and the rush of getting from A to B.

But for one day, that’s about to change. And this might change everything.

Joburg’s Main Street is going car-free but it’s not just about closing a road. It’s about opening up a city. It’s about giving people the chance to step back into a space many have only ever experienced through a windscreen (or driving past on the double-decker highway) and rediscover it in a way that feels human again.

Jozi My Jozi, a city-focused initiative, is bringing people back to Johannesburg’s inner city through connection, culture and shared experience. They’re shifting perceptions of the CBD and reminding people that this is not a place to avoid but a place filled with life, history, creativity and opportunity. And now, they’re taking a bold next step by inviting Joburgers to experience Main Street differently. This is about stepping onto the pavement and taking your time. It’s about creating a space that feels open and welcoming, where you can move freely, support the businesses that keep the city going and experience Jozi at a pace that allows you to actually see it.

Because the city belongs to the people in it.

But this is not a new idea. Cities across the world have been doing this for years. And it works. In Bogotá, entire streets are closed every Sunday for Ciclovía, where people take to the roads on foot, bikes and skates, reclaiming public space in a way that has reshaped how the city feels. Closer to home, Cape Town has transformed Bree Street into a pedestrian-friendly experience that draws locals and visitors alike, creating safer, more vibrant urban spaces. These Sundays do more than just create a good day out… they start to shift perception, and when perception shifts, people begin to believe in their cities again. That belief is often where real change begins.

Main Street Sundays is an open invitation, with no entry fee, for anyone to come and be part of Johannesburg’s CBD in a way that feels accessible and exciting. It brings a world-class city experience to Jozi, opening streets to little feet, skates, bikes and prams, so families, friends and visitors can feel like this is their Jozi. My Jozi.

“Come and enjoy a Sunday where Jozi feels like it belongs to the people,” says Mbali Zulu of Jozi My Jozi.

“Come hear the city’s heartbeat without the roar of taxis and buses, come see kids and families cycling, skateboarding and roller-skating in the middle of the city. Come see the street turn into a massive living art canvas.”

For one day, pedestrians, cyclists and skaters have total right-of-way, turning Main Street into a safe, open playground for everyone. It’s not a commercial event, Zulu explains, and there’s no pressure to get to a stage or performance. It’s about connection. It’s about experiencing the city without distraction. From 10am to 5pm, Main Street, from the magistrate’s court all the way to Gandhi Square, will be closed to traffic and divided into different activity zones. There’ll be spaces for mind and body, art and craft, children’s playgrounds, cycling and skateboarding, silent reading and music that carries through the street, giving it a rhythm you can actually feel.

There’ll be no drivers playing Tetris with taxis in traffic. Instead, marshals, volunteers, JMPD and EMS will be on site, ready to assist and guide, with signage to help you find your way. There’s no need to rush. This is your chance to slow down, to look up and to experience the CBD as it opens itself up to you.

What, Where, How?

Like Gandhi guiding the way, Gandhi Square is the best access point.
Walking, cycling or using public transport is your best bet.
Wear something comfortable. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
Prams and wheelchairs can roll through with ease.
If the weather shifts, updates will be shared closer to the day.

Safe Parking:

42 Parkade (Anglo American Parking)
Standard Bank Parking, Frederick Street, Marshalltown
There’ll be signage from there on.

More info here: https://www.jozimyjozi.com/main-street-sundays/

This is how cities start to come back to life… not through big, complicated plans but through people showing up, stepping in and choosing to see things differently. One street, one Sunday, one shared experience at a time… and suddenly, the heartbeat of Johannesburg doesn’t feel so far away anymore.

Sources: Jozi My Jozi | Main Street Sundays | Exclusive interview with Mbali Zulu 

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