(Above: The Eastern
Cape Ensemble)
Bookings are now open!
A gathering of the collective heartbeat of South African creativity. Here are some of the highlights of what to expect at the 2025 National Arts Festival
A highlight on South Africa’s cultural calendar, the National Arts Festival has been an annual multi-disciplinary arts festival, taking place in its Eastern Cape hometown of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), South Africa, since its inception in 1974.
The NAF was a critical space for protest during apartheid; has hosted numerous ground-breaking artists; survived the pandemic by going digital; and back to live again, and is evolving and shaping the arts for half a century. The National Arts Festival is defined by the idea that the arts help us understand our world, connect within it, find meaning and drive transformation.
The Festival will take place from June 26 to July 6, 2025.
The Festival no longer produces a printed programme. All information regarding Performances and Exhibitions will be available on the website
Whether you're a seasoned festival-goer or attending for the first time, our user-friendly website ensures a smooth experience. Simply follow the steps below so you don't miss any performances online and in person.
(Left: Road)
Road, choreographed by Oscar Buthelezi exhibits the strong foundations of Afro-Fusion. Road...It’s the place where we want to be, and the route that guides us there. This work has received six awards in Germany and one in South Africa
From hard-hitting new theatre to ritual performance,
genre-bending art, jazz, and high-octane dance, the 2025 Festival promises an
electric line-up. Expect showstoppers like The
Cirk’s Malo and the Moon Maiden,
a magical contemporary circus experience that’s sure to be a family favourite,
and Cape Ballet Africa’s SALT, a
rich, physical journey through fiery jazz, neoclassical expression and fanciful
musings.
Meanwhile, the Fringe is ablaze with edgy new works and much-loved favourites: look out for collaborative hubs from powerhouse independents like Joburg’s TX Collective, Cape Town’s Spark in the Dark, and Durban’s 031 Collective - each zone a concentrated taste of their region’s ever-evolving arts scene.
A bright new voice in theatre, Campbell Meas, has been announced as the winner of the 2025 National Playwright Competition with her play Vakavigwa (Burials/They were buried). The competition, facilitated by the National Arts Festival with the support of HEINEKEN Beverages, saw a countrywide call for new plays in any language. Meas joins an alumnus that includes Sibongakonke Mama, Amy Louise Wilson and Koleka Putuma who have previously won the competition.
Vakavigwa is a gripping and ambitious work that exemplifies the evolution of contemporary theatre. With its innovative use of multimedia integration and multi-plane storytelling, the play refuses to be confined to a conventional stage. Instead, it immerses the audience in an intricate theatrical experience that blends live performance with digital projections, layered soundscapes and dynamic staging. Meas will also direct the work.
The full programme is live on nationalartsfestival.co.za
WEBSITE
Visit the website https://tickets.nationalartsfestival.co.za/en and view the programme as a calendar or a selection of shows.
-Search for the Programme Option you are interested in (Fringe or Curated for instance).
-Or search for a show by name.
-You can also see the calendar view
-Once you open a show page, you’ll find the times and dates,
venue and other important information.
Water resources across the Eastern Cape are under severe
pressure. The water supply to Makhanda has stabilised but we encourage visitors
to the city to use this precious resource sparingly and speak to your
accommodation provider about what measures they have in place to manage water
on their premises
Loadshedding will be a reality over the Festival period. All Festival venues will have an alternative power supply
Call centre: 0860 002 004
Email: info@nationalartsfestival.co.za
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