Please be aware that Rhodes University has a vaccine mandate, and ticket holders for shows happening at any of their spaces on campus will need to show either a vaccine certificate, a negative rapid test no more than 72 hours old, or a certificate that states you have had COVID-19 in the last three months.

Should you not have a vaccination certificate, a rapid test facility is located at The Old Goal (40 Somerset Street), and the National Arts Festival has organised that ticket holders can be tested for R50. The test result is available in 2 minutes and is valid for 72 hours. The Festival test site will be open from 9am to 4pm daily over the period of the Festival.

Should you be in the position that you have purchased tickets to any of the shows affected, and you do not have a vaccine certificate and don’t want to take advantage of the rapid testing, the festival will refund your tickets. Please contact our helpdesk on ​ 0860 002 004 or info@nationalartsfestival.co.za

You can carry your vaccination certificate in digital form by registering on https://vaccine.certificate.health.gov.za 

Be sure to do this with your vaccination certificate to hand as you will need the vaccination card code to complete the registration.

The vaccine mandated venues are:

Rhodes Theatre (including Rhodes Theatre Foyer)
Rhodes Box
Great Hall
The Hangar
Beethoven Room
Nuns Chapel
Studio Gallery 1
Studio Gallery 2
Tryall Cottage
The Raw Spot Gallery
African Media Matrix
Rhodes Red Foyer
Social Innovation Hub
Rhodes Department of Fine Art

Other Venues

The National Arts Festival does not have a vaccine mandate at any other venues except those on the Rhodes University campus, but masks are mandatory when indoors. All indoor venues will be operating at 50% capacity and will be sanitised between shows.

Please note that in keeping with the evolving policy environment on the management of COVID-19 this may change according to any new legislation or safety requirements. NAF will always ensure that we are 100% compliant with the law and will do our utmost to protect the well-being of our visitors and participants.

View our comprehensive Covid protocol here.

For further information, please contact our helpdesk on ​ 0860 002 004 or info@nationalartsfestival.co.za