A new destination for gaming, sport, creativity and urban culture is arriving in Johannesburg as The Urban Playground prepares to officially open its doors at Rosebank Mall on Saturday, 1 August 2026.

Located on Level 4 of the popular shopping destination, The Urban Playground brings together an exciting mix of sport, esports, content creation, music, dance and street culture, offering visitors an immersive entertainment experience unlike anything currently available in the city. The opening will be celebrated with a launch event featuring live DJs, entertainment and a skateboarding competition, giving visitors a first look at Johannesburg‘s newest lifestyle and creative hub.

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Step inside and the space unfolds fast: a 3v3 underground street soccer court, a skate park, an esports gaming area lined with PCs for tournament nights, a street art gallery, foosball tables and a studio built for dance rehearsals and live shows. Take the corner and you will discover a photographic studio, two film studios, a music studio and a podcast studio, giving creatives everything they need to shoot, record and edit under one roof. Changing rooms, showers and lockers are also available on-site. A retail and reception area greets visitors at the door, along with a coffee shop, merch store and working space for entrepreneurs or solo operators, and private rooms are up for grabs for parties, meetings or anything else that needs a room and a door.

Muhammad Varachia, General Manager of Rosebank Mall, said the opening reflects the mall’s commitment to its surrounding community: “Rosebank has always been a hub for culture and creativity, and The Urban Playground fits naturally into that identity. We wanted to give our community, and everyone beyond it, a space where everyone feels welcome, somewhere to practise a sport, learn a new skill, grab a bite, play a game of pool or simply be around others who share their interests. The inclusive venue is easy to reach whether you live nearby or are visiting from across the city, and we believe it will become one of the reasons people of all ages choose to come back to Rosebank Mall.”

Adriano Franco, creator of The Urban Playground, said the venue was built to give people room to explore more than one interest at a time: “Most of us are told at some time in our lives to pick one thing and stick to it. We built The Urban Playground because we don’t think that’s how passion works. A skater might also be a filmmaker. A dancer might also want to try gaming. This space gives them room to do both, under one roof, without having to choose.”

Media personality Robot Boii, has thrown his weight behind the launch, joining The Urban Playground Rosebank as a strategic partner for the opening of their second location.

The Urban Playground is located at Rosebank Mall, accessible above Incredible Connection or through the rooftop entrance on level 4.

The Urban Playground operating hours:

10am to 8pm (Monday to Thursday)

10am to 10pm (Friday and Saturday)

9am to 8pm (Sunday and Public Holidays)

Fees:

Memberships range from R350 – R750

Daily sessions range from R50 – R150 (depending on activity)

Coming up at The Urban Playground:

15 August: Stage NEON Fist, a girls’ only Tekken 8 gaming event created and run by Wasabi

29 and 30 August: NOTW, a dance and art event

5 September: RE:PLAY Festival, a new event bringing together fighting games, trading card enthusiasts, competitive tournaments, dance and 90s pop culture