The World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival returns to Cape Town this September, turning the Mother City into a massive stage for global sounds.
Running from September 15 to 24, the festival carries immense national significance this year as it honors two major milestones in South African history: 30 years of the Constitution and what would have been Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 95th birthday.
With its new home base at the Artscape Theatre Centre, the 10-day festival is set to spread across the city, bringing a vibrant mix of ticketed and free public performances to the University of Cape Town (UCT) Baxter Theatre and the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre.
SAMA-nominated Capetonian singer-songwriter Mila Smith joins the lineup for WOMAD 2026.
Co-founded by legendary British musician Peter Gabriel, WOMAD South Africa 2026 will present 22 unique musical experiences featuring more than 50 artists from across the globe, including traditional international ensembles and local icons.
“We’re proud to unveil our most ambitious WOMAD Cape Town series yet with an explosion of creativity, extraordinary performances, and epic milestones in our nation’s story,” said Dan Chiorboli, WOMAD South Africa Festival Director.
“In a world full of challenges, WOMAD’s values shine through, celebrating unity, artistry, and the power of culture to inspire hope,” Chiorboli highlighted.
On September 18, the Artscape Theatre will host a free Korean K-Pop Culture Concert, debuting a world-first performance that fuses South African Amapiano with Korean contemporary pop, underscoring WOMAD’s commitment to genre-crossing collaboration.
The best of South African Amapiano beats and contemporary Korean K-Pop choreography, a spectacular cross-cultural performance is set to debut at WOMAD Cape Town 2026.
The festival also provides a vital launchpad for up-and-coming local talent through The New Generations Concert on September 19, where emerging voices such as Mila Smith, Freddy L, and Luukhanyo & the Hii Rollers will share the stage with seasoned international acts.
Artscape CEO Marlene Le Roux emphasized the profound importance of accessibility and cultural representation, stating, “This year’s celebrations represent a deliberate, conscious choice to give global artists a platform to share their lived experiences through music and art. Artscape is deeply honored to collaborate with WOMAD to carry forward a message of peace through the universal language of music.”
Honouring Archbishop Tutu’s Legacy
The festival’s flagship event is the Desmond Tutu United 4 Humanity Peace Concert, taking place on September 19 at the Artscape Theatre. Presented in partnership with the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, 100% of the concert’s proceeds will fund the organisation’s upcoming youth leadership initiatives.
The lineup pairs international artists head-to-head with local talent. Attendees can look forward to an unexpected cross-cultural collaboration between Cape Flats hip-hop artist Jitsvinger, performing in Afrikaaps, and Māori singer Kapowairua.
Sharing the stellar lineup are Spain’s Koko-Jean & The Tonics, Italy’s Enrico Cipollini and the Cisalpipers, Sweden’s Anna Fält, Estonia’s Susanna Aleksandra, and Austria’s Kimyan Law.
“We’re excited to kick off celebrations of Desmond Tutu’s 95th birthday with this incredible lineup,” said Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. 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.”
True to the legacy of the Arch, the show directly reflects South Africa’s constitutional values and the humanitarian legacy of Archbishop Tutu with a dedicated platform for artists with disabilities, most notably during the flagship Peace Concert on September 19.
Official poster for the Desmond Tutu United 4 Humanity Peace Concert, a flagship event of WOMAD South Africa in Cape Town, celebrating Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s legacy of peace and unity with performances by artists from around the world.
A Grand Heritage Day Finale
WOMAD’s grand finale belongs entirely to the public on Heritage Day, September 24, as the festival takes over the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre for a massive, free-to-attend celebration.
Closing out the 10-day festivities is the high-energy Spanish Cajoneada Experience, led by flamenco master Pepe Zapata and the Women Unite ensemble. Trading delicate instrumentals for raw power, the performance features 50 young Cape Flats drummers joining forces in a vibrant blend of local and international rhythm.
Welcoming the festival’s return, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared, “It is my great pleasure to welcome WOMAD Cape Town 2026 to the Mother City. WOMAD is a fitting celebration of the diversity that enriches our city and our country.”
A look at the vibrant international and local artists set to take the stage across Cape Town for this year’s 10-day celebration.
For the full festival schedule and to book tickets for the Desmond Tutu Peace Concert, visit womadsa.co.za or Webtickets.
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