South Africa’s National Arts Festival opened this week in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, running from June 25 to July 5, 2026, under the theme “Create New Worlds, Come Together.” Now in its 52nd year, the Festival is the country’s most diverse celebration of theatre, dance, music, poetry, visual art, and more, drawing artists and audiences from across South Africa, the continent, and beyond, with roots stretching back to 1974 and a long history as a site of artistic protest and democratic expression during apartheid, including a landmark 1999 opening address by Nelson Mandela. Below is the opening address delivered by Professor Siphiwo Mahala, Chairperson of the National Arts Festival Board:

Opening Address by Prof. Siphiwo Mahala, NAF Board Chairperson

It is a great pleasure to stand before you this evening as we open the 52nd National Arts Festival in Makhanda. Last year, I spoke about the need for the Festival to move beyond merely surviving and towards thriving. I also emphasised that such a future would only be possible through the support of our partners, collaborators, artists, audiences, and communities. Today, as we gather once again, I am pleased to say that we have taken important steps in that direction.

It is particularly meaningful to stand on the same podium from which Nelson Mandela addressed the nation exactly thirty years ago. Speaking at the reopening of this monument after it had been damaged by fire in 1994, President Mandela remarked: “The coming of age of our democracy is also the recognition that national unity and reconciliation live in the hearts of our people rather than in law. The new patriotism is a force that propels us towards a vital and unifying national culture which respects, promotes and celebrates our diversity.”

These words remind us that nation-building is not only the work of governments and institutions; it is also the work of artists, storytellers, musicians, performers, and audiences. Through the National Arts Festival, we remain committed to advancing this vision by presenting dynamic and inclusive programmes that reflect the richness and diversity of our society.

The power of culture is perhaps best understood through what is often called soft diplomacy—the ability of sport and the arts to bring people together in ways that politics alone cannot. In the early hours of this morning, South Africans celebrated as our national soccer team, Bafana Bafana progressed to the group stages in the FIFA World Cup. This victory reinvigorated a sense of collective joy, pride, and belonging. Over the next eleven days, we hope to create that same sense of connection, nationhood and shared humanity through the arts.

I stand here this evening filled with gratitude that, through a collective effort, we have once again come together to create a remarkable eleven-day celebration of creativity, imagination, and human expression. The National Arts Festival continues to serve as a hub of artistic excellence and cultural exploration. It remains one of the most dynamic, multidisciplinary, and community-rooted arts festivals in the world. Beyond its artistic impact, the Festival contributes meaningfully to livelihoods and local development. Through the Social Employment Fund, 1,600 residents of Makhanda are employed. More than 100 households are welcoming visitors through our Homestays Programme. Most importantly, over two thousand artists and creative practitioners are able to earn an income through their participation in the Festival.

On behalf of the NAF Board, I extend a warm welcome to all artists, arts organisations, audiences, delegates, and visitors who have travelled from near and far to be part of this extraordinary experience. I also wish to acknowledge the many individuals and organisations who have reached out to us over the past year, formally and informally, publicly and privately, to offer advice, encouragement, and support. Your faith in the Festival reminds us that this institution belongs not only to those who manage it, but to the many communities who care deeply about its future.

While the Festival is not yet everything we aspire for it to be, I hope that you will recognise the dedication, hard work, and determination that have gone into presenting the strongest Festival possible under the circumstances. Every year, we strive to improve, to grow, and to better serve artists and audiences alike.

This would not have been possible without the support of our partners. Although time does not permit me to acknowledge all of them individually, I would like to express special appreciation to a number of key partners who stood by us when we needed them most:

  • The Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
    • Standard Bank
    • The National Lottery Commission, whose support came at a critical moment
    • The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
    • Sarah Baartman District Municipality
    Please join me in expressing our sincere gratitude to all our partners and sponsors whose contributions have made this Festival possible.

Before I conclude, I wish to acknowledge someone whose contribution to this Festival deserves special recognition. Next month, Monica Newton will step down as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Festival after six years of dedicated service. Monica joined the organisation in 2020 at one of the most challenging moments in its history. She led the Festival through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and navigated the many complexities of sustaining a major cultural institution during a period of unprecedented disruption.

Throughout her tenure, Monica demonstrated resilience, commitment, and an unwavering belief in the value of the arts. On behalf of the Board, the Festival team, artists, audiences, and the wider Festival community, I extend our deepest gratitude for her leadership and service. Monica, thank you for carrying the Festival through difficult times and helping to position it for the future. We wish you every success in the next chapter of your journey.

As we begin this year’s Festival, I invite you all to immerse yourselves in the artistic feast that awaits over the next eleven days. Explore new ideas, encounter different perspectives, celebrate creativity, and connect with one another. Together, let us ensure that the National Arts Festival continues to inspire, challenge, and unite generations to come. Let us work together to carry this remarkable institution into its next fifty years. Thank you.

For more details about the event, or to attend the rest of the shows, visit the website.