FIRST V&A BUSKER FESTIVAL AT THE V&A WATERFRONT THIS WEEKEND: TURNING PERFORMANCE INTO A LIVELIHOOD

The inaugural V&A Busker Festival takes place on 31 October and 1 November, bringing 40 local and international street performers to 11 locations across the precinct for music, dance, magic and more.

Cape Town, 30 October 2026. This weekend, the V&A Waterfront, in partnership with Awesome Kulture Foundation, presents the inaugural V&A Busker Festival on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November 2026. The neighbourhood-wide celebration of street performance brings local and international performers together and puts the spotlight on busking as a pathway to a creative livelihood.

The festival builds on a busking culture that has been part of the V&A Waterfront's identity for more than 35 years, contributing to the neighbourhood's culture and atmosphere. It also draws on the V&A Waterfront Busker Programme, which has supported performers from a variety of disciplines for more than 12 years through artist development, skills training and opportunities for economic growth. Programme performers are not charged to occupy their allocated busking spaces, and they keep all of their busking earnings.

“For many performers, busking can be the first step towards establishing a sustainable creative business. Our Busker Programme and the Busker Festival create opportunities for performers to showcase their talent, earn an income and build careers. Every contribution from audiences supports the local creative economy and the livelihoods of the performers who bring our public spaces to life. As a destination that brings together tourism, culture, retail and entertainment, the V&A Waterfront has an opportunity to support the creative industries in a meaningful way,” says Donald Kau, Executive Manager: PR & Communications, V&A Waterfront.

“What makes the V&A Busker Festival so special is that it goes beyond the stage. It celebrates incredible talent, brings audiences and artists together, and creates opportunities for performers to learn and grow through workshops, recognition, prizes and performance opportunities. At Awesome Kulture Foundation, we believe that investing in artists strengthens the wider creative ecosystem by sharing knowledge, building connections and creating opportunities for sustainable growth. We’re proud to support a festival that contributes to our broader ambition of elevating busking as an art form and amplifying its culture across Africa,” says Dan Chiorboli, Director, Awesome Kulture Foundation.

Participating performers will compete for a prize package that includes R10,000 for the Best Busker Award, as well as opportunities to perform at the Ramblas Busking Festival in Barcelona, Spain, and the internationally celebrated Ferrara Buskers Festival in Italy. The festival also gives performers the opportunity to grow their audiences, gain recognition and take the next step in their careers.

Separate from the prize package, a small selection of buskers will be offered a one-year V&A Waterfront busking contract, based on the judging process over the festival weekend. The contract provides ongoing busking opportunities at one of Africa’s leading destinations, giving performers access to an audience of more than 24 million visitors annually.

Across the two days, the festival will showcase a diverse mix of street entertainment, from music and dance to magic, acrobatics and living statues. With no set route, visitors can explore the Waterfront and discover performances along the way.

Among the featured acts is Queen of Tiny Flames, whose performances combine fire dancing and flow arts. Cape Town-based musical duo Table42, made up of Chad Skippers and Kim Leigh Farmer, will bring their soulful acoustic covers and harmonies to the festival, while Congolese singer-songwriter Freed Mushaga blends AfroPop and Afro-soul with traditional storytelling and rich African rhythms.

The festival will also feature performers from the V&A Waterfront Busker Programme, including familiar faces who entertain visitors across the precinct throughout the year. These include Isibane se Afrika, a traditional gospel choir and dance group from Khayelitsha; Na-eelah Gassiep, whose interactive artistry includes face painting, henna and glitter tattoos; and Jedaja Ikoli, a Congolese fine artist known for his live charcoal portraits.

With such a diverse line-up, visitors can look forward to performances that celebrate different cultures, creative disciplines and musical traditions, all within the setting of the V&A Waterfront.

Festival details

• Dates: Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November 2026
• Times: 12:00 – 19:30 daily
• Where: 11 performance locations across the V&A Waterfront, including the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre. No tickets and no set route: wander, follow the music and let the performances find you.
• Cost: Free. Tipping your favourite buskers is encouraged.
• Suitable for: All ages and families
• More information:waterfront.co.za/va-waterfront-busker-festival