LEGACY Returns: Cape Town’s Love Pride Ball Ignites Queer Ballroom Culture at Old Biscuit Mill

Cape Town’s cultural calendar kicks off with a bang on Saturday, 7 February 2026. Edition Events presents the Love Pride Ball. It’s a premier Ballroom extravaganza celebrating South Africa’s queer community at The Old Biscuit Mill.

Now in its fourth year, LEGACY has celebrated over 25 productions. It has become the architectural backbone of Cape Town’s queer Ballroom scene. It’s more than an event: a space where hierarchy is respected, competition is strictly adjudicated, and culture is preserved.

Ballroom culture traces back to 1960s-70s New York City. It was born from Black and Latino trans and queer communities who were excluded from mainstream drag pageants. They created “Houses” – kinship networks led by “Mothers” and “Fathers” – and “Balls” for competing in status and affirmation.

While shows like Pose and Legendary have globalised the aesthetic, South Africa’s scene is unique. It is an evolution rooted in necessity amid ongoing societal challenges for queer bodies. Houses provide vital support, and LEGACY honours this as cultural infrastructure. It continues the legacy of the late Kirvan Fortuin, known as Mother Kirvan Le Cap. Kirvan was the founder of the first South African Ballroom house, The House of Le Cap.

The Love Pride Ball offers a cross-section of Ballroom life. Participants “walk” categories like Face, Realness, and Vogue Femme before a judging panel. “The floor” – the sacred runway – builds reputations and artistry.

Expect three community tiers:

• Mainstream Houses: Established families with formal hierarchies, focused on precision, history, and honour.
• Kiki Scene: Youth training ground, experimental and confidence-building for the next generation.
• 007s: Independent “free agents” honing individual skills, often transitioning between houses.

Edition Events, led by women, produces this event. They bridge subcultures with professional standards. They work alongside Ballroom consultant Rori Bingham 007 (former House of Le Cap father). Founder Léa Debbah emphasises cultural stewardship: “Ballroom is about resilience and chosen family… We give this community the platform it deserves. The production matches the talent – lighting, sound, atmosphere perfect to say: we see you, we respect you.”

Event Details

• Event: The Love Pride Ball (A LEGACY Production)
• Date: Saturday, 07 February 2026
• Time: 21:00 – 02:00
• Venue: Hearty / The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock
• Tickets: Via Quicket online & at the door

Follow for updates:
Instagram: @edition_events | @legacyball_ct
Website: edition-events.com