The University of Pretoria is hosting its 2026 Principal's Concert on October 7 and 8, 2026, at the Aula on its Hatfield Campus in Pretoria. The event will feature The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe - The Ballet, presented in collaboration with Mzansi Ballet. This year's concert aims to support the university's Degrees Delivered campaign, which helps graduates who are unable to access their degree certificates due to historical student debt.
The Degrees Delivered campaign addresses a significant educational and career barrier for graduates who have completed their academic requirements but are unable to receive their degree certificates due to outstanding historical debt. Without these certificates, some graduates face barriers to employment, professional registration, or further study. The campaign aims to raise R50 million between 2026 and 2028 to help qualifying graduates access their earned qualifications.
The Principal's Concert brings together three of the university's flagship performing ensembles - the UP Symphony Orchestra, Tuks Camerata, and the UP Ovuwa Cultural Ensemble - alongside Mzansi Ballet. The production explores the legacy of Mapungubwe through music, dance, and theatre, inspired by one of Africa's earliest kingdoms. The ballet has a strong connection to the Mapungubwe Collection at UP Museums, where the iconic Gold Rhino is among the artefacts that tell the story of the ancient kingdom.
Mzansi Ballet Director Dirk Badenhorst stated that the production was conceived as a distinctly South African ballet inspired by the history and heritage of Mapungubwe. The vision was to tell an important African story through the universal language of dance, bringing together South African dancers, choreographers, composers, designers, and musicians with leading international artists.
The concert demonstrates the role that the arts can play in connecting people with history and culture while contributing to meaningful social impact. University officials believe that the arts challenge us to think differently, deepen our understanding of one another, preserve our cultural heritage, and inspire us to imagine new possibilities.
Tickets for the concert are priced from R350 to R550 and are available via the UP Principal's Concert ticketing platform. Members of the public are encouraged to book early to experience this unique celebration of Mapungubwe, South African ballet, and the talent of UP's performing arts community while helping to deliver qualifications to graduates who have already earned them.
The event offers an opportunity to combine a celebration of the arts with a tangible contribution to the lives of graduates. University officials emphasize that every contribution unlocks opportunity and helps place an earned qualification into the hands of someone ready to contribute to society. No graduate should be held back at the finish line, and no capable student should be left behind at the starting line.
Key points
- The University of Pretoria's 2026 Principal's Concert aims to raise funds for its Degrees Delivered campaign to support graduates affected by historical student debt.
- The concert features The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe - The Ballet, a distinctly South African ballet inspired by the history and heritage of Mapungubwe.
- The event brings together the university's flagship performing ensembles and Mzansi Ballet to tell an important African story through music, dance, and theatre.
