The National Arts Festival (NAF) is ready to open its stages, streets and studios to the public from 26 June to 6 July 2025, with 242 productions and over 2,500 artists descending on Makhanda for an 11 day creative takeover.
As the country’s longest-running arts festival, the National Arts Festival goes beyond being an annual event into a cultural economic engine. In 2024, the Festival generated R130 million in impact for the Eastern Cape, with R54 million directly spent in Makhanda and R20 million channelled to artists, technicians and supporting industries. For many creatives, it’s a much needed platform; for the town, it’s an economic boost and a chance to participate in something positive and uplifting.
Visitors can expect a full, diverse programme — from theatre, dance, music, jazz and comedy to magic, visual art and family fare. The Curated Programme has assembled some of the country’s most exciting award-winning talent alongside global works and edgy genre-bending experiences. The Festival’s (and arguably one of South Africa’s) most important creative laboratories, The Fringe, is buzzing with new talent, urban theatre hubs, reimagined classics and crowd-pleasing favourites. Expect a warm welcome from restaurants, Village Green vendors and pop-up experiences, who have all prepared for the gathering.
Says National Arts Festival CEO, Monica Newton, “We’re all set for another arts-driven reset — the ideal antidote to the stress and uncertainty of the world right now – as artists give us the ideas and experiences that connect us and reflect our shared humanity. The National Arts Festival continues to be a platform where creative careers take shape, markets and opportunities are forged and audiences engage with new experiences.”
Newton acknowledged the collaborative effort it takes to raise the Festival with local institutions, organisations and individuals coming together to ready the town. “Makhanda continues to face water challenges. While most accommodation and hospitality providers in Makhanda are tapped into independent water sources, visitors are advised to use water sparingly,”
The Festival is also a platform for national storytelling and a space for social connection for the next generation of talent. The National Youth Jazz Festival, National Schools’ Festival, Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, National Playwright Competition and Fringe Ovation Awards all continue to spotlight and nurture the boldest new voices. See them first at the National Arts Festival.
Audiences are advised to bring a warm coat, a beanie and a spirit of adventure. Makhanda may be cold in winter — but at the National Arts Festival, creativity burns warm and bright.
Tickets and full programme available at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za