Sun Met
Sun Met takes place Jan 30, 2027 (approx; last Saturday of January - confirm on the official site) in Cape Town, South Africa. The dress code is Strict high-fashion code built around an announced annual theme; avant-garde couture and sculptural headpieces are actively encouraged, and hospitality areas are formal. Typical cost ranges from 80 to 900 EUR per person.
Cape Town's most glamorous raceday, held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on the last Saturday in January and long known as the J&B Met before its sponsors changed. Grade 1 racing runs alongside a fiercely contested best-dressed competition organised around a theme announced months ahead. The Cape summer setting, with Table Mountain behind the stands, makes it the most visually striking race day in Africa.
- When
- Jan 30, 2027 (approx; last Saturday of January - confirm on the official site)
- Where
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dress code
- Strict high-fashion code built around an announced annual theme; avant-garde couture and sculptural headpieces are actively encouraged, and hospitality areas are formal
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 80 to 900 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 22 - 28C, hot and dry with the Cape Doctor southeaster often blowing
- When to book
- General tickets go on sale from around November; book premium marquees by December and Cape Town accommodation earlier still, as January is peak season
- Getting there
- CPT (Cape Town), 25 min to venue
- Where to stay
- Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, The Silo Hotel, Vineyard Hotel (Newlands)
- Official site
- https://caperacing.co.za/featured-events/met/
How to attend
Grounds and general-admission tickets go on sale online through the official site and ticketing partners from roughly November. Premium marquees and Sun International hospitality packages are considerably pricier and sell out, so book by December. Fully open to the public. Kenilworth is a short drive or Metrorail hop from central Cape Town, and you can enter the best-dressed competition on the day.
Tickets for the 2027 Met are not on sale yet - Cape Racing usually opens online sales around November, and there is no working public booking page before then.
Insider tip
The wind is a real factor at Kenilworth in January - anything sculptural on your head needs to be properly pinned, which is exactly why the best-dressed entrants build their looks around it.
Get inside Sun Met
Booking matters here: general tickets go on sale from around November; book premium marquees by December and Cape Town accommodation earlier still, as January is peak season. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.