NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL IS A WEEK AWAY

 

The National Arts Festival is a Week Away - Take the Leap into New Worlds - June 25 – July 5, 2026.

The National Arts Festival is just one week away and it’s gearing up to be the winter soulfood that you’ve been craving. From exciting weekends filled with music, shows and experiences to a week packed with discovery, conversation and bold performances, concluding with all the big acts in store for the final weekend. Whenever you arrive, you’re here for the good stuff as we come together and build new worlds!

 

Weekends Packed With Music and More

Msaki and the ALTBLK >>Pan African Collective will perform on June 26 at the Guy Butler Theatre

The weekends of June 26-28 and July 3-5 are when the big music acts take centre stage. You’ll have the chance to see unforgettable performers like Thandiswa Mazwai, Msaki’s ALTBLK>>Pan-African Collective, the Soweto String Quartet, Concord Nkabinde, Manana with a full band, Betusile Mcinga's soulful gospel, rising stars Nomfundo Moh and Ntokozo Mkhize and the experimental sounds of Kids Love Jazz. The new dedicated music venue, the Great Hall, will stay open late, featuring DJ sets that carry the energy well into the early hours. The whole town will be buzzing with excitement.

But these weekends are not just about the headliners. The Fringe, showcasing over 200 works from nine provinces, is where you'll discover the unexpected.

 

Dance performances that move you

University productions alongside independent collectives - from UJ to the University of Zululand, AFDA to Phoenix College, there's a whole lot more from SA’s finest creative institutions

Shows that ignite conversations and inspire people to text their friends about what they've just experienced.

Great shows for families and children

 

Urban showcases from Spark Hub and TX Theatre

Get ready for LitFest with a programme focused on literature and conversation from June 26-28. Notable panelists include Zakes Mda, Professor Pamela Maseko, Phemelo Motene, Dr Athambile Masola, Siya Khumalo, Vuyo Ngcofe, Wesley Roodt, Nozibele Mayaba and Rorisang Thandekiso, Nozipho Tshabalala, Naledi Mqhayi, and Sihle-Isipho Nontshokweni-Bikitsha.

 

And Then The Week Unfolds

Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance, Lee-ché Janecke will perform June 27 to 29 at the Rhodes Box

During the week, the shows go on with riveting works and major premieres featuring the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance, Lee-ché Janecke, with Majaivan on June 27-29, and the 2026 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, Jason Jacobs’ Kraal unravels the tangled vines of inherited trauma and the shadow of the dop system (2-4 July). Expect outstanding music, captivating magic and much more! Don’t miss The Very Big Comedy Show on July 2 with Stuart Taylor, Yaaseen Barnes, Conrad Koch, Chester Missing & Friends, Khanyisa Bunu, Chris Mapane and host, Rob van Vuuren - and all the great shows on the Fringe.

Don’t forget to look out for the Ovation Award winners! The panel will be hard at work identifying Fringe works that are being presented for the first time and will share their selections daily.

The Festival becomes a space for conversation, discovery and contemplation of ideas with the Art Talk programme, featuring workshops for artists which the public can also attend.

Film is back with a tightly-curated selection of highly-acclaimed international works sourced from global film festivals. If you’re staying at home, search the programme for this year’s vFringe films. Additionally, there are readings and literary events at LitFest, late-night gatherings at Oldies, and explorations of black consciousness at The Black Power Station.

Every day at 17h00, the free Sundowner Concerts at the Monument showcase performances from the Festival line-up, allowing for a perfect wind-down while you discover your new favourite artist.

New this year, the Festival Canteen at the Monument becomes a place to enjoy affordable, hearty meals. Offerings include samp or pap with wors, chicken stew, soup of the day, and simple food that nourishes you between shows - open daily from 12 noon to 14h00 and 18h00 to 20h00.

The Village Green at Victoria Girls’ School is where you find your community, and the Long Table invites people to gather late into the night. For those looking to self-cater, local grocery shops like Pick ‘n Pay remain open until 21h00, while McDonald’s closes at midnight.

 

A Box Office in Your Pocket

The free National Arts Festival app is a simple, convenient way to manage your Festival experience.

-Browse shows by date or genre

-Book your tickets or add shows to your wishlist

-Buy them in your app

-Store your tickets in one place

-Use your app tickets to gain entry to shows

 

All your info is locked into your account so as long as you’re logged in, you can view the same info on your desktop browser

 

Download the app and create your account now

iStore

Android

 

What Makes it All Possible

Watch The Cry of Winnie Mandela from June 26 to 28 at the Rhodes Theatre

The organisers have worked hard to make the Festival accessible for everyone. Ticket prices range from R20 to R300. Genres range from circus to dance and children’s theatre– it's a family-friendly affair for all ages in a variety of languages.

Not sure how you’ll get there?

Thanks to the partnership with CrabaRide, you can travel for less. Book rides from Cape Town, Joburg, Durban, Gqeberha, KuGompo City (and maybe your town, too) on this genius and seriously affordable lift-sharing app. Not your thing? There are plenty of shuttles and private services available so book your ride.

When in Makhanda, venues are conveniently spread throughout the town, making it a brisk walk between shows or just jump on the hopper - a free shuttle that takes festival goers along set routes.

Above all, Makhanda is ready to embrace you so come and dive in!

Plan Your Trip

 

If You’re On The Fence - Here’s Your Sign

Catch FAMEHUNGRY on July 1, 3 and 4 at Thomas Pringle

Whether you drop in for a single performance or immerse yourself in all 11 days, whether your interests lean toward music, theatre, or thought‑provoking dialogue, whether you’re drawn to the buzz of late nights in the company of artists or the calm of mornings in the garden — the trip is worth it and the Festival welcomes you.

But beyond attending, you are invited to become a supporter of the arts. Festivals like this thrive not only on ticket sales but on the commitment of communities who believe in the power of creativity to transform lives. As our industry adapts to new challenges, your participation and support are more vital than ever. By standing with us, you help sustain spaces where artists can take risks, audiences can discover new voices, and culture can continue to thrive.

The Festival is designed for you to arrive as an audience member and leave as part of something bigger — a living, breathing community of art lovers. Here, you’ll find genuine connections, real interactions, and the shared joy of supporting creativity together.

Still need to plan a trip? Convince someone to be your NAF friend this year!

Tell a Friend about NAF 2026

 

It’s Not Too Late

Comedian Alfred Adriaan will perform in The Very Big Comedy Show on July 2 at The Guy Butler Theatre

Here’s all the need-to-knows to make it happen. Nearly 100% of Festival visitors say they’ll be back. If you haven’t been in a while - this is your year!

The National Arts Festival runs from June 25 to July 5, 2026 in Makhanda, Eastern Cape.

To check out the programme, head to the website www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

Tickets: Book via our www.nationalartsfestival.co.za or on the National Arts Festival App downloadable on iStore and Android  

You can also purchase tickets at the physical Box Office at The Monument - open now.

Ticket prices: R20 – R300 per show

Transport: Book a CrabaRide from anywhere in South Africa

More information: @NationalArtsFestival on social media or check out the FAQ’s

 

There are thousands of people that make the Festival possible, and the organisers are grateful to everyone who books a ticket, hosts a guest, provides a meal for visitors and, of course, presents a show as part their programme! A special thank-you to the sponsors of the 2026 National Arts Festival: the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Standard Bank, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture's Mzansi Golden Economy Programme and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.