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A platform to celebrate, reflect and collaborate

The sociable weaver nest grows bigger and stronger each day as hundreds of birds work together to co-create their home. As South Africa’s longest-running and most diverse arts festival, the National Arts Festival provides a platform to co-create our future nation.

Our 50th festival will feature a diversity of works across language and genre. From familiar favourites to ambitious new ideas, and over 200 options to choose from, there is something for everyone on the programme.

Curated Programme highlights

Book now Cion: 
Requiem of Ravel’s Boléro Vuyani Dance presents a requiem to awaken us Slide Book now Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse The gentle giant of jazz
returns at 72
Slide Book now Mandisi Dyantyis The award-winning Afro-Soul-Jazz artist performs with an 8-piece band Slide Third Space Three works co-created in 
a groundbreaking multi-national dance development programme Slide Nature is Louder Mook Lion and artists from Makhanda activate public spaces with a collaborative, site-specific and large-scale public mural Slide Book now The Stranger Brett Bailey’s meditative, ritualistic performance explores the myth of Orpheus Slide Book now 10 Years of Empatheatre They celebrate with a retrospective of two 
works: Lalela uLwandle 
and The Last Country Slide Book Now 1789 Grapple with ideologies of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in Sibikwa Art Centre’s cutting-edge new work Slide Book now Izandi zemilambo yabo kuthi/ the sounds of their rivers in us Mandla Mbothwe pays tribute to artists we have lost Slide Meet the 2023 Young Artists Spirit, ritual & celebration The 2023 Standard Bank
Young Artists chart new paths

Look out for …

2023 Standard Bank Young Artists