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WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) Cape Town will return to the city from September 15 to 24, 2026, bringing 10 days of music, arts and dance to venues across Cape Town.
A key part of the programme will take place at Artscape Theatre on Saturday, September 19, when the venue hosts a double-bill comprising the New Generations afternoon concert and the United 4 Humanity Peace Concert.
The two concerts will bring together South African and international performers, with organisers placing young artists, cultural exchange, inclusion and the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the centre of the Artscape programme.
WOMAD was founded in 1982 by British musician Peter Gabriel. The 2026 Cape Town series is being presented as an opportunity to celebrate artistic collaboration across genres, generations, and borders.
“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,” said Dan Chiorboli, WOMAD South Africa festival director.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the festival’s timing during Heritage Month made it a fitting occasion for the city.
“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,” he said.
The New Generations concert begins at 1.30pm and will feature collaborations between local and international musicians, alongside a drumming experience involving young performers from the Cape Flats.
Cape Town artist Freddy L will join Congolese-Austrian artist Kimyan in a performance WOMAD describes as a contemporary blend of African rhythms and electronic sound.
LUUKHANYO & The Hii Rollers will collaborate with Māori artist Kapowairua. The performance will combine hip-hop, R&B and jazz with traditional cultural elements.
SAMA-nominated artist Mila Smith will also appear on the afternoon bill, alongside the Cajoneada Drumming Experience led by Spanish musician Pepe Zapata. The Cajoneada performance will feature 50 young drummers from the Cape Flats.
The United 4 Humanity Peace Concert starts at 8pm and will deepen the evening’s focus on music, dance and collaboration.
The line-up includes South African artists Ancient Voices, JITSVINGER and Mansoor Joseph, as well as Spain’s Koko-Jean & The Tonics and Swedish artist Anna Fält.
The United Kingdom’s Dyskinetic Duo will partner with Cape Town’s Unmute Dance Company, an inclusive troupe bringing together artists with and without disabilities.
Organisers say the performers will use motion-sensing gloves to manipulate sound through real-time live looping. The performance is intended to explore the relationship between movement, music, and inclusion, giving dance a role in shaping the sound heard by the audience.
Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux said the partnership with WOMAD reflected the theatre’s journey towards inclusion.
“This year, as Artscape marks 55 years of journeying from exclusivity towards inclusivity, cultural exchange is not just a word we use,” le Roux said.
“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.”
Le Roux said Artscape was honoured to partner with WOMAD to spread a message of peace through music.
Adding to the venue’s diverse weekend, the Korean Cultural Centre hosts a once in a lifetime experience concert also at the Artscape on Friday, September 18 at 8pm. Tickets for the event have already sold out.
The 80-minute performance will celebrate traditional and contemporary Korean culture, featuring the sounds of Gugak performed by the National Gugak Centre, the powerful rhythms of Samulnori, and the grace of the Taepyeongmu court dance.
Bridging the two nations, a special collaboration will bring Korean dancers together with South African performers for an exciting fusion of K-pop and Amapiano.
Before and after the performance, attendees can also immerse themselves in a traditional Hanbok experience and a Korean cultural exhibition in the Artscape’s foyer.
The United 4 Humanity concert is supported by the Leah & Desmond Tutu Foundation and will take place less than three weeks before what would have been Tutu’s 95th birthday on October 7.
Archbishop Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his opposition to apartheid, spent his life advocating for human rights and equality.
As the chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he played a central role in South Africa’s transition to democracy and advocated the concept of a united, rainbow nation.
Janet Jobson, chief executive of the Foundation, said the concert would begin the official birthday commemorations for the Archbishop.
“We’re excited to kick off celebrations of Desmond Tutu’s 95th birthday with this incredible line-up at the WOMAD festival,” Jobson said.
“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.”
To book your tickets for the New Generations and United 4 Humanity concerts at Artscape, click the links below.
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