WOMAD CPT 2026 returns with a bold celebration of heritage, music & global collaboration.

Cape Town, South Africa – WOMAD Cape Town 2026 is set to illuminate the city with a festival of music, arts, and dance from September 15 to 24. This year, the Artscape Theatre Complex and various venues across Cape Town will transform into vibrant hubs of creativity, united under the powerful theme of cultural exchange and celebration.

As we step into a year filled with historical significance, from commemorating 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution to celebrating Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 95th birthday, WOMAD Cape Town pays homage to our shared legacies while fostering connections across borders. Each performance during this festival not only amplifies the voices of local icons and global talents but also embodies the spirit of Heritage Month, inviting communities to come together in remembrance and joy.

“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

Accessibility, representation and cultural exchange remain at the heart of WOMAD Cape Town. The 2026 programme shines a spotlight on disabled artists through groundbreaking performances by the UK’s Dyskinetic alongside Cape Town’s Unmute Dance Company, while indigenous voices are celebrated through storytelling, workshops and collaborative performances that honour ancestral knowledge and living traditions.

From emerging young performers to internationally acclaimed artists, WOMAD continues to create platforms where every voice has the opportunity to be heard.

“We’re excited to kick off celebrations of Desmond Tutu’s 95th 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

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

A Taste of the Programme

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: GLOBAL ECHOES DAY AT UCT

Workshops (Free Entry)

14h00–17h00 | Baxter Theatre

19h00: Concert
Concert tickets via Webtickets
R130 (full price); R100 (pensioners); Free Entry to scholars & students.

This powerful celebration of Indigenous music and cultural heritage brings together diverse artists from around the world for an afternoon of free interactive workshops and a vibrant evening concert featuring Kapowairua (New Zealand), Chambre Rouge ft Mei Han (China) with Randy Raine-Reusch & Michael Aihoshi (Canada), Arashka & The Shakti Project (Réunion Island/India) and Cisalpipers (Italy) alongside the UCT Sinjalo Group.

FRI, SEPT 18

Central Methodist Church, Greenmarket Square
An Intimate Lunch Time Concert

13h00 | Free Entrance

A spiritual event where Sweden’s Anna Fält’s haunting Nordic vocals meet Estonia’s Susanna Aleksandra’s jazz-infused storytelling in a captivating fusion of tradition and innovation.

Korean K-Pop Culture Concert

19h30 | Artscape Theatre

Free complimentary tickets via Webtickets.
Book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Experience the dynamism of Korean culture with exhilarating traditional & contemporary performances. This concert features a unique K-pop collaboration, blending South African amapiano flair with Korean elegance.

SAT, SEPT 19

Artscape Theatre

An immersive day filled with intimate performances that tell powerful stories through song and dialogue, each performance is a journey through diverse cultural narratives, connecting artists and audiences alike.

Korean Cultural Troupe (South Korea)

11h00–12h15: Free Entrance

Indigenous Voices & Story Tellers

12h30–19h30: Free Entrance

New Generations Concert

14h00: Tickets: R100 via Webtickets

Featuring Luukhanyo & the Hii Rollers, Freddy L, Mila Smith, Kimyan Law (Austria), Spanish Cajoneada Drumming led by Pepe Zapata and Thandi Swartbooi of Women Unite, joined by 50 young Cape Flats drummers.

UNITED 4 HUMANITY CONCERT

Artscape Theatre | Desmond Tutu United 4 Humanity Peace Concert

20h00: Tickets: R150 via Webtickets

This annual celebration has become a flagship of Cape Town’s cultural calendar. It honours the Arch’s legacy of hope, reconciliation, and unity through a spectacular showcase of global and local talent. The star-studded lineup features Koko-Jean & The Tonics (Spain), Enrico Cipollini & Cisalpipers (Italy), Anna Fält (Sweden), Susanna Aleksandra (Estonia) and Kimyan Law (Austria).

Headliners include Dyskinetic (UK) and the Unmute Dance Company, alongside award-winning “word designer” Jitsvinger from the Cape Flats, who brings his groundbreaking Afrikaaps artistry in collaboration with Māori singer Kapowairua.

Opening with the spirited voices of Mitchell’s Plain’s Yellowwood Primary School Choir, this unforgettable evening promises cultural diversity, global resonance, & the kind of unity the Arch himself would have cherished.

SUN, SEPT 20

Humans of the Streets

Artscape Foyer Theatre Well | 12h00 | Free

A powerful theatre production where Cape Town street survivors share stories of resilience, dignity and hope.

Honouring Prophets of Da City

13h00

South Africa’s pioneering hip-hop group is recognised with the BEA Humanitarian Award for its lasting contribution to activism & youth empowerment.

Culminating in a vibrant Cuban-inspired DJ set fills the foyer with music, dance and colour in tribute to Cuba’s enduring spirit.

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

15h00 | Tickets: R150 via Webtickets

Celebrate the enduring legacy of Buena Vista Social Club in a vibrant concert featuring Cuba’s Los Canelas alongside South African artists including Cito (Wonderboom) & Hassan’adas.

THURS, SEPT 24

Heritage Day Finale

The Amphitheatre, V&A Waterfront
14h00 | Free

The festival concludes with a free public celebration with a burst of rhythm as part of the Kidz 4 Kulture program, the Spanish Cajoneada Experience brings together the fiery pulse of flamenco’s iconic cajón with South Africa’s own heartbeat.

This one-of-a-kind event fuses Spanish tradition with Thandi Swartbooi’s Women Unite ensemble and fifty young drummers from the Cape Flats, creating a powerful cross-cultural showcase that celebrates unity, energy, & the universal language of percussion.

“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, Artscape CEO

MORE TO DISCOVER!

EMPOWERING VOICES • CELEBRATING UNITY

The festival continues with an exciting WOMAD Fringe, featuring intimate performances at local hotspots, and community outreach workshops aimed at empowering youth across the region.

Additionally, WOMAD teams up with the Cape Town Photography Festival to capture the essence of the festival through stunning visual storytelling.

Join us for WOMAD Cape Town 2026, where creativity knows no borders, and every performance empowers voices, celebrates heritage, and invites us all to participate in a shared cultural tapestry. Together, let’s create a festival that resonates with the heart of Cape Town and the spirit of humanity!

For festival updates, full program details, and ticket reservations.

Please visit the official website at www.womadsa.co.za.

Ticket and Venue Information

  • Dates: 15–24 September 2026
  • Venues: Artscape Theatre Complex, University of Cape Town (UCT), V&A Waterfront, and various Fringe hotspots across Cape Town.
  • Ticket Bookings: Select events are free to the public (including the Heritage Day finale), while ticketed performances can be booked directly through the official website or via regional ticketing platforms.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Media Relations: Alexis Matsimela

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