Cape Town, South Africa – WOMAD Cape Town 2026 is set to illuminate the city with a festival of music, arts, and dance from 15–24 September 2026. This year, the Artscape Theatre Complex, together with 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 throughout the festival not only amplifies the voices of local icons and global talent but also embodies the spirit of Heritage Month, inviting communities to come together in remembrance, celebration and joy.
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.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, 16 September
WOMAD South Africa and Drumstruck will come together on 16 September for a special evening celebrating one of the country’s most influential musical voices: Miriam Makeba.
Set at Drumstruck, Silvermist Wine Estate, the evening will bring together music, poetry, storytelling and community in an intimate celebration of Makeba’s enduring contribution to South African and global culture.
The programme will feature a performance by Hassan’adas Band, followed by a poetry reading that reflects on heritage, identity and the stories carried through generations.
Food and drinks will also be curated for the experience, creating a relaxed setting in which guests can enjoy an evening of music, conversation and connection as Heritage Day approaches.
Ticket Link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1599456529
Thursday, 17 September
Global Echoes Day
University of Cape Town | Baxter Theatre
14h00 – 17h00
Interactive Workshops
Free Entry
19h00
Global Echoes Concert
Tickets available via Webtickets
- R130 (Full Price)
- R100 (Pensioners)
- Free Entry for Scholars and Students
This powerful celebration of Indigenous music and cultural heritage brings together 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)
- Randy Raine-Reusch (Canada)
- Michael Aihoshi (Canada)
- Arashka & The Shakti Project (Réunion Island/India)
- Cisalpipers (Italy)
- UCT Sinjalo Group
Indigenous Voices & Story Tellers 1 @Kaya HQ | 7pm
A series of intimate performances where international and local artists share powerful stories through song, drawing on their diverse roots and life journeys, each culminating in a Q&A with
the audience.
Pema Africa: Arising South African songstress who fuses soulful storytelling in Afrikaans and English with spiritual Tibetan mantras.
Erico Cipollini IItaly): Folk, country, and Americana collide in resonator guitar and raw vocals, forging a soulful voice in the Global Italian scene.
Friday, 18 September
An Intimate Lunchtime Concert
Central Methodist Church | Greenmarket Square
13h00
Free Entry
A spiritual musical encounter 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.
Indigenous Voices & Story Tellers 1 @Kaya HQ | 7pm
Susanna Aleksandra (Estonia) & Kyle Shepherd: An Estonian-born jazz singer, songwriter, and lyricist celebrated for her multilingual artistry and international career.
Anna Falt (Sweden): She specializes in Finnish and Swedish folk songs, combining ancient styles like valisanger (herding calls), lullabies and joik with modern vocal artistry.
Cisalpipers (Italy): Blending Celtic roots with folk spirit, ancient bagpipes meet modern sounds to celebrate Emilia-Romagna’s cultural heritage.
Korean KPop Culture Concert
20:00
Free Complimentary Tickets via Webtickets
Book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Experience the dynamism of Korean culture through exhilarating traditional and contemporary performances, including a unique collaboration blending South African amapiano with Korean artistry.
Ticket Link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1599410796
Saturday, 19 September
Artscape Theatre
An immersive day of performances where every artist shares powerful stories through music, dialogue and cultural expression.
Korean Cultural Troupe (South Korea)
11h00 – 12h15 | Free Entry
New Generations Concert
13h30 | Tickets: R100 via Webtickets
Featuring:
- Luukhanyo & the Hii Rollers
- Freddy L
- Mila Smith
- Kimyan (Austria)
- Spanish Cajoneada led by Pepe Zapata (director) featuring Vicente Gelo (vocals, guitar and cajon)
- Thandi Swartbooi of Women Unite
- 10 young Cape Flats drummers
Ticket Link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1599409420
Saturday, 19 September
United 4 Humanity Peace Concert
Artscape Theatre
20h00
Tickets: R150 via Webtickets
Presented in partnership with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, this annual celebration honours Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s legacy of hope, reconciliation and unity through an extraordinary showcase of global and local talent.
The international line-up includes:
- Koko-Jean & The Tonics (Spain)
- Enrico Cipollini & Cisalpipers (Italy)
- Anna Fält (Sweden)
- Susanna Aleksandra (Estonia)
- Kimyan (Austria)
Joined by local talent: Ancient Voices (SA) and Mansoor Joseph (SA).
Headliners include:
- Dyskinetic (United Kingdom)
- Unmute Dance Company (South Africa)
- Jitsvinger
- Kapowairua
Opening the evening are the spirited voices of Yellowwood Primary School Choir from Mitchell’s Plain.
Ticket Link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1599410602
Sunday, 20 September
Artscape Foyer Theatre
Humans of the Streets
12h00
Free Entry
A moving 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 receives the BEA Humanitarian Award for its lasting contribution to activism and youth empowerment.
The afternoon culminates in a vibrant Cuban-inspired DJ experience celebrating Cuba’s enduring musical spirit.
Tribute: 30 Years of Buena Vista Social Club
15h00
Tickets: R150 via Webtickets
Featuring Cuba’s Los Canelas alongside South African artists including Cito (Wonderboom) and Hassan’adas.
Ticket Link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1599410479
Thursday, 24 September
Heritage Day Finale
V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre
14h00
Free Entry
Presented in collaboration with Kidz 4 Kulture, the Heritage Day finale will feature the Spanish Cajoneada Experience Fragile 2, led by legendary Spanish percussionist, Pepe Zapata (director) featuring Vicente Gelo (vocals, guitar and cajon). The performance brings the distinctive sound of the flamenco cajón into conversation with South African rhythms and musicians.
Zapata will join forces with Thandi Swartbooi’s Women Unite ensemble and 30 young Cape Town drummers from communities across the Cape Flats, creating an energetic cross-cultural performance that places collaboration and participation at its heart.
Also joining the Heritage Day programme is Arashkha, a Franco-Iranian musician based on Réunion Island whose work brings together ancestral world melodies and urban electronic soundscapes. His music creates powerful sonic journeys that move between traditions, generations and contemporary sounds, adding another international dimension to the afternoon’s celebration of cultural exchange.
The event explores what happens when musical traditions meet, not as a formal exchange between two cultures, but as musicians learning, listening and making music together.
Empowering Voices | Celebrating Unity
Beyond the headline performances, WOMAD continues with an exciting Fringe Festival, intimate performances across Cape Town, community outreach workshops and collaborations with the Cape Town Photography Festival, celebrating the city’s rich artistic landscape through music and visual storytelling.
Join us for WOMAD Cape Town 2026, where creativity knows no borders and every performance celebrates heritage, empowers voices and strengthens our shared humanity.
EVENT INFORMATION
Festival Dates
15–24 September 2026
Venues
- Artscape Theatre Centre
- University of Cape Town
- V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre
- WOMAD Fringe Venues across Cape Town
Ticket Information
A number of events are free to the public, including the Heritage Day Finale.
Ticketed events are available via Webtickets.
Festival Programme
For festival updates, the full programme and ticket bookings, visit:
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Alexis Matsimela
Publicist | WOMAD South Africa
Email: alexis.matsimela@gmail.com
Mobile: +27 82 949 6681
Website: www.womadsa.co.za
EDITOR’S NOTES
About WOMAD
Founded in 1982 by musician Peter Gabriel, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) is one of the world’s leading festivals celebrating cultural diversity through music, arts and dance. Staged in more than 30 countries, WOMAD brings together artists from across the globe to foster cultural exchange, artistic collaboration and social connection through the universal language of music.
PRESS KIT
“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
