National Arts Festival
National Arts Festival takes place Late Jun - early Jul 2027 (11 days, dates TBC) in Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa. The dress code is Warm winter layers, scarf and closed shoes; casual and practical for walking between venues. Typical cost ranges from 200 to 600 EUR per person.
The largest arts festival on the African continent, transforming the small university town of Makhanda into an eleven-day hub of theatre, dance, music and visual art each winter. A curated main programme runs alongside a sprawling independent fringe of hundreds of productions. Ticket prices are low and the town-wide immersion makes it a cultural pilgrimage; the next edition is expected late Jun - early Jul 2027.
- When
- Late Jun - early Jul 2027 (11 days, dates TBC)
- Where
- Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
- Dress code
- Warm winter layers, scarf and closed shoes; casual and practical for walking between venues
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 200 to 600 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 2 - 18C, cold mid-winter with frosty mornings, sometimes wet
- When to book
- Book Makhanda accommodation 3+ months out - the town's beds sell out; programme and tickets go live on the festival site in autumn
- Getting there
- PLZ (Gqeberha), 90 min drive to Makhanda
- Where to stay
- The Graham Hotel, 7 Worcester Street (boutique guesthouse), The Cock House Guest House
- Official site
- https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/
How to attend
Browse the programme and buy tickets online via nationalartsfestival.co.za; many fringe shows cost only a few euros and some events are free. Book accommodation months ahead as the town's limited beds fill completely. Fly into Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and drive about 90 minutes.
Insider tip
Trust the fringe - buying tickets on word-of-mouth from queue conversations is how the festival's best discoveries are made.
Get inside National Arts Festival
Booking matters here: book Makhanda accommodation 3+ months out - the town's beds sell out; programme and tickets go live on the festival site in autumn. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.