WOMAD 2026

Cape Town, Get ready!

A global celebration of creativity and culture is coming soon

15 – 24 September 2026

Womad 2026

Cape Town

WOMAD Cape Town 2026 will ignite the city with a bold celebration of global creativity from September 15 to 24, transforming the Artscape Theatre Complex and venues across Cape Town into vibrant stages for extraordinary performances. This dynamic festival of music, arts, and dance unites cultures, elevates rising talent, and honours local icons, sparking curiosity and amplifying the city’s cultural spirit in a powerful showcase of creativity without borders.

2026 marks a powerful year of remembrance and celebration. From Artscape’s 55th anniversary to Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 95th birthday alongside the International Day of Peace, we honour 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, and 70 years since the Women’s March to Pretoria. Globally, we also celebrate the musical legacy of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club. Together, these milestones converge at WOMAD, affirming culture’s timeless ability to inspire, unite, and uplift the human spirit.

Empowering Voices, Celebrating Unity.

WOMAD Cape Town 2026 champions empowerment, inclusivity, and cultural exchange by placing communities and youth at the heart of its mission. Boldly inclusive, it spotlights disabled artists in groundbreaking performances led by the UK’s Dyskinetic and Cape Town’s Unmute Dance Company. WOMAD also amplifies indigenous voices from across the world, weaving together storytelling, ritual, workshops, and collaborations that celebrate heritage while inspiring dialogue and unity.

Background

Founded in 1982 by musician Peter Gabriel, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts & Dance) has grown into a global cultural force spanning 32 countries and inspiring millions worldwide. At its heart, WOMAD is a celebration of humanity, uniting people through diversity, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding.

Official sponsors of womad 2026

Festival Highlights

Kwena Music Academy, Table View

University of Cape Town Global Echoes Day Workshops

University of Cape Town Global Echoes Day Concert

Central Methodist Church, Greenmarket Square An Intimate Lunch Time Concert

Artscape Theatre Korean K-Pop Culture Concert

Korean Cultural Troupe (South Korea) Artscape Foyer Theatre Well

Indigenous Voices & Story Tellers Artscape Foyer Theatre Well

New Generations Concert Artscape Theatre

Desmond Tutu United 4 Humanity Peace Concert Artscape Theatre

Humans of the Streets Artscape Foyer Theatre Well

Prophets of Da City Artscape Foyer Theatre Well

Tribute: 30 Years of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club Artscape Theatre

The Amphitheatre, V&A Waterfront

WOMAD KAROO-WINELANDS

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

A celebration of culture, music & tourism, taking place from September 29 to October 11 along the R62 Klein Karoo, Overberg, and Winelands routes. Featuring local and WOMAD international artists, this dynamic series of concerts and community based interactive workshops on music, dance, indigenous traditions, literature and mental health transforms small towns into vibrant cultural destinations. By spotlighting lesser-known towns and creating economic impact, the event fosters job creation, cultural tourism, and a sustainable events pipeline.

In addition to performances, curated tourism experiences highlight the unique charm of each region, ensuring travellers discover hidden gems and authentic local culture. With ambitions to expand annually, this initiative seeks to establish a lasting annual cultural footprint.

More info on towns, dates and artists to follow!

WOMAD Barrydale Belanti – Karoo Arts Hotel

WOMAD Stanford – Stanford Hills

Stellenbosch In partnership with Toyota Woordfees.

Womad Cape Town 2026

Arashkha and the Shakti Project (Reunion Island)

A cross-cultural collaboration between French-Iranian composer Arash Khalatbari and Indian vocalist Sukanya Chattopadhyay, blending Indian folk traditions, Hindustani classical music, Bengali folk, Lithuanian polyphonic chants, and experimental electronic soundscapes into audiovisual works that explore feminine……

Pepe Zapata’s Cajoneada Drumming Experience (Spain/SA)

Pepe Zapata is a Spanish percussionist and cultural innovator, best known for founding the Cajón Expo and leading large-scale “cajoneada” drumming experiences that fuse flamenco rhythms with African traditions……

Kapowairua (New Zealand)

Maori singer Kapowairua Waitai from Aotearoa performs both traditional and contemporary waiata, weaving themes of heritage, identity, and community into her music. From Ngāti Kuri in Northland, she has gained recognition through ……

Koko Jean & The Tonics (Spain)

This high-energy soul, rhythm & blues, and funk band from Barcelona is fronted by Mozambican-born powerhouse vocalist Koko-Jean Davis, whose electrifying stage presence has earned comparisons to legends like Tina Turner and Etta James. …

Chambre Rouge (China/Canada)

Chambre Rouge (Red Chamber) is a cross-cultural music ensemble led by Chinese guzheng virtuoso Mei Han, featuring Canadian world music pioneer Randy Raine-Reusch and multi-instrumentalist Michael Aihoshi. …

Susanna Aleksandra (Estonia)

Susanna Aleksandra is an Estonian-born jazz singer, songwriter, and lyricist celebrated for her multilingual artistry and international career, with albums like Miracles (2015) and Souls of the Night / The Siren (2020/2021) ……

Freddy L

Freddy L is a dynamic South African singer-songwriter and frontman of the alternative trio FREDDY L, blending indie, soul, and rock influences. Originally a solo artist from Durban, he gained……

Jitsvinger

Jitsvinger (real name Quintin Goliath) is a Cape Town born rapper, poet, and performing artist who coined the term Afrikaaps to reclaim Afrikaans as a language shaped by marginalized communities. …

Luukhanyo & The Hii Rollers

A genre-bending act led by rapper and vocalist Luukhanyo (real name Sive Marasha) who fuse hip hop, R&B, funk, and jazz with Cape Town’s rich musical heritage. Their debut album Lucky UU (2025) ……

Mila Smith

This 22-year-old singer-songwriter and actress from Cape Town is best known for her bold pop-punk style. Her debut EP You Need Therapy (2023), and her breakout single Liars and Fakes topped the ……

Prophets of Da City

Cape Town’s pioneering hip hop crew, active from 1988 to 2001, made history with Our World (1990) — South Africa’s first hip hop album. Known for merging beats with activism, they used music to challenge……

Thandi Swartbooi & Women Unite

Thandi Swartbooi is a South African percussionist, choreographer, and cultural activist who founded Women Unite, an all-female vocal and percussion ensemble in 1997. The group is known for blending traditional South African music ……

Yellowwood Primary School Choir

35 wordsBased in Mitchells Plain, this award-winning youth ensemble is celebrated for its powerful performances and community impact. Despite being from a no-fee school, the choir has achieved regional recognition and continues to uplift young ……

Kwena Music Emerging Artist Showcase

One of the Western Cape’s premier artist management companies is devoted to discovering and nurturing exceptional young talent. This intimate showcase weaves together pop, acoustic, and rap influences, highlighting the fresh ……

Tribute: 30 Year Anniversary for Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club

The Buena Vista Social Club album reignited Cuba’s golden-age sound. With over 8 million copies sold and a Grammy win, it sparked a worldwide “Cuba-mania”—from salsa classes to Cuban-themed bars—celebrating the island’s ……

Ancient Voices

Lungiswa Plaatjies is a celebrated South African singer, percussionist, and storyteller from Langa, Cape Town, best known for her work with the ensemble Ancient Voices. The group, co-founded with Nomapostile Nyiki, blends indigenous Xhosa instruments ……

The Cisalpipers (Italy)

Founded in 2005, this seasoned folk ensemble from Ferrara—led by Chiara Temporin breathes new life into the rare Piva Emiliana bagpipe, an ancient Apennine instrument, while fusing its traditional tones with contemporary sounds ……

Anna Falt (Sweden)

A Finnish-born, Sweden-based singer and vocal artist known for her innovative solo a cappella performances that blend Nordic folk traditions with avant-garde vocal exploration. She specializes in Finnish and Swedish folk songs……

Dyskinetic (UK)

Dyskinetic is a renowned UK-based inclusive music collective led by disabled electronic musician Kris Halpin, pioneering radically accessible music-making through wearable technology, immersive audio, and collaborative projects with arts organizations….

Enrico Cipollini (Italy)

Renowned as one of the finest exponents of the dobro guitar, Enrico is also an acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist whose work blends American roots influences with the lyrical depth of Italian storytelling. …

Kimyan (Austria)

An exciting and dynamic Congolese-Austrian electronic musician, producer, and interdisciplinary artist based in Vienna, Kimyan is acclaimed for blending African instruments and rhythms with modern electronic soundscapes to create deeply human, cinematic music….

Mansoor Joseph

A Cape Town-born musician from Bo-Kaap who carries forward the legacy of his father, minstrel maestro Toyer Joseph. His work embodies Cape Malay heritage through ghoema rhythms, nederlandsliedjies, and qasidas……

PEMA Africa

Adéle Fouché, once rooted in rebellion and resilience, sought stillness beyond the stage and emerged as Pema Africa—“Pema,” meaning lotus flower. Through this transformation, she has created a powerful body of solo work …

Lizzie-Lou Gaisford

A South African singer-songwriter and ecologist from eShowe, Zululand, her debut album Love the Land (2026) blends folk, world, and acoustic influences with themes of nature, belonging, and resilience. Her music is deeply rooted in ……

DESMOND TUTU UNITED 4 HUMANITY CONCERT

FRIDAY OCT 4TH
St George's Cathedral, Cape Town

Ladysmith Black Mambazo • PJ Powers • Zolani Mahola • Arno Carstens • Hilton Schilder & Shaheema Lakay • Joep Pelt (Netherlands) • Iskwew Singers (Canada) • Francesca Biancoli (Italy) • Livia & Fred (Brazil) • Soweto Soul • Nhoza Sitsholwana & Andre Kriel

WOMAD GLOBAL SOUNDS

5&6 OCTOBER 2024
The Amphitheatre V&A Waterfront

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2024
Joep Pelt & Soweto Soul (Netherlands/SA)
Nomadic Orchestra

SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER 2024
Iskwew Singers (Canada)
Livia & Fred (Brazil)

“We’re proud to unveil our most ambitious WOMAD Cape Town series yet—an explosion of creativity, extraordinary performances, and epic milestones in our nation’s story. In a world full of challenges, WOMAD’s values shine through, celebrating unity, artistry, and the power of culture to inspire hope.”

Dan Chiorboli – WOMAD South Africa Festival Director.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome WOMAD Cape Town 2026 to the Mother City as we once again celebrate the extraordinary power of music, arts and culture to bring people together. Taking place during Heritage Month, WOMAD is a fitting celebration of the diversity that enriches our city and our country, while welcoming artists and audiences from around the world. On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I wish every performer, resident and visitor an inspiring, joyful and unforgettable WOMAD Cape Town 2026”

Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town

“This year, as Artscape marks 55 years of journeying from exclusivity towards inclusivity, cultural exchange is not just a word we use. It is an active, conscious decision to allow artists from across the globe to share their life experiences through music and art, enriching audiences and enriching themselves on a shared journey that reminds us we are all human beings. Artscape is honoured to partner with WOMAD, a festival founded by the visionary, world-renowned artist Peter Gabriel, to spread a message of peace through music.”

Marlene Le Roux, Arscape CEO

“We’re excited to kick off celebrations of Desmond Tutu’s 95 birthday with this incredible line-up at the WOMAD festival! Music is one of the most powerful tools we have to unite people across cultures, genres, geographies, and divides. We know the Arch would be dancing in the aisles, and we hope you will be too!”

Janet Jobson, Leah & Desmond Tutu Foundation CEO

Events

Unique music experiences by local and International artists.

cities

WOMAD takes part in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

artists

0 +

Musicians from Brazil, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, SA and more.

countries

WOMAD now spans 32 countries around the world.