V&A Voices at Art Fair 2026

And our V&A community is right there with it.

Under the curatorial theme Listen, the fair brings together 126 exhibitors from 34 global cities, and 22 countries across 5 continents showcasing the work of over 490 artists. It’s an invitation to connect, discover, and engage deeply with contemporary art and the conversations that shape our world.

Our institutions, our galleries and creative partners are all part of this conversation.

When you visit the fair, you’ll discover the cultural leaders and creative voices that call the V&A Waterfront home. The ones who’ve been shaping Cape Town’s art scene, supporting artists, and bringing world-class contemporary work to our city.

Cultural Institutions

These institutions bring curatorial authority, research depth, and a commitment to nurturing artistic excellence on a global stage.

• Zeitz MOCAA: Africa’s leading contemporary art museum. At the fair’s Connect section, Zeitz MOCAA brings global perspective and institutional authority to conversations about art, culture, and the future of creative practice in Africa.

• Lalela: Supporting artistic production through residencies and collaborative programmes. Lalela is a key cultural partner in the Connect section, demonstrating how institutions nurture and sustain creative practice.

Galleries & Creative Partners
Our galleries are the gateway to the world’s best contemporary work. In the Main section of the fair, they showcase the breadth of artistic practice—from emerging voices to established masters.
• Southern Guild: Showcasing contemporary design and art. Southern Guild brings both its group exhibition gallery presence and artist Manyaku Mashilo’s solo presentation to the fair.

• Berman Contemporary: Dedicated to All Women Art. Berman Contemporary champions diverse female artists whose work is reshaping how we understand contemporary creative practice.

• Everard Read: A cornerstone of Cape Town’s art scene. Everard Read represents the depth of local artistic excellence and the city’s vibrant contemporary art ecosystem.

Special Projects

Beyond the galleries lies a curated collection of projects designed to enrich your experience and offer deeper engagement with the art on display.

Cabinet Record Curated by Beata America, Assistant Curator at Zeitz MOCAA, Cabinet Record features photographic impressions of the world around us. A special project that invites you to see the everyday with fresh eyes and artistic perspective.

Publications & Media Partners

Art thrives when it’s part of a conversation. These publications bring critical discourse, cultural documentation, and amplify the voices that matter.

•Twyg Magazine (In Circulation Festival)

•House & Leisure (Creative Collaborator)

• YourLuxury Africa (Media Partner)

These publications don’t just report on the fair—they shape the conversation. They bring critical perspectives, feature the artists and galleries, and connect the work to a broader global audience.

Talks Curated by Art School Africa

Saturday, 21 February

Art School Africa curates a series of conversations responding to the 2026 theme, Listen.

11:00 – 12:00 | Collecting Stories that Matter

13:00 – 14:00 | ‘Africa is a Country’: Unpacking Tensions between Unity and Difference: Moderated by Beata America, Assistant Curator at Zeitz MOCAA.

15:00 – 16:00 | Grounded Practice and Global Reach: Embracing Local Knowledge and Ecological Responsibility through Design: Featuring perspectives from V&A Marketing Manager, Star Shongwe.

17:00 – 18:00 | Listen Inward: Intuition, Spirituality, and the Unseen in Contemporary Art: Featuring Zohra Opoku, currently presenting a landmark exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA.

The V&A Waterfront is not just a destination, it’s an active cultural contributor to the broader art ecosystem. A permanent home where creativity thrives year-round, where artists are supported, and where conversations continue.