With 39 events spread throughout a week in Cape Town’s vibrant and busy City Centre, HEAT Winter Festival is a multi-cultural celebration of South African art, its creators, and its community.
Originally created in 2024 to boost interest in the Mother City’s art galleries and promote live performances in winter, the festival has quickly grown into a major cultural attraction, bringing some of the city’s rising stars from different art forms together in one high-quality, connective space.
Music
Giuliette Price & Karla von Solms
The musical programme kicks off with jazz vocalist Giuliette Price, returning after a prolonged absence from live shows. With deeply sentimental songwriting and often haunting vocals atop soulful jazz instrumentals, Price is renowned for tracks like Seeking Happiness and Only One, and has shared stages with artists like Zoë Modiga and Alice Phoebe Lou.
She is supported by emerging singer-songwriter Karla von Solms, who creates her own mixed blend of alternative folk, soul and jazz with similarly intimate lyrics.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets for HEAT on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | 7pm – 9.30pm
Where: Bree Street Community Hall, 4 Steenberg Rd, Tokai, Cape Town
Mfazwe Yamwezi & Mana
With a name meaning “War of the Moon” in a blend of isiXhosa and Swahili, Mfazwe Yamwezi is a recently formed all-female band making their own brand of African jazz-folk, incorporating their members’ diverse musical background to create something new. Their work often includes powerful vocal harmonies mixed with rhythmic percussion, various African instruments, and even spoken word passages.
They are supported by Mana, a Peruvian-South African musician known for combining bossa nova, samba, and neo-soul into a uniquely atmospheric soundscape.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets for HEAT now on Quicket.
When: Friday, 7 August 2026 | 7pm – 9.45pm
Where: Union House (Spier Arts), 25 Commercial St, Cape Town City Centre
Operation Khataza & Luh’ra
Recently releasing their first single, Mantra, off their upcoming debut album, Operation Khataza is an eight-person group making forward-thinking music, incorporating everything from rock and funk to Afro-jazz. Mantra was developed over many years, eventually becoming a politically charged war cry that dynamically switches from harmonious choirs to bass-backed spoken word.
Luh’ra brings it home with Cleo Sol-esque indie soul vocals and her own (literal) golden guitar playing, ending the night off with an array of soft-spoken, elegant tracks.
Cost: R200 per person. Book for HEAT now on Quicket.
When: Saturday, 8 August 2026 | 7pm – 9.45pm
Where: Union House (Spier Arts), 25 Commercial St, Cape Town City Centre
Vuyo Viwe, Tessi Nandi & Ruby Alix
A standout among Joburg’s thriving jazz scene, Vuyo Viwe is a flautist, vocalist and composer who continues the legacy of orchestral folk that moves between prayer, protest, and poetry. Tessi Nandi of Mbombela is a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist known for her nostalgic R&B and soul-laced sound. Her 2025 single, Embody, became a streaming hit, attracting over 150,000 streams on Spotify.
Cape Town-based Ruby Alix is the final performance of the night, diving deep into themes of grief, love, and heartbreak with her raw and poetic songwriting. HEAT is Alix’s first time performing multiple original works to an audience, including her only released song, Ladder, a slow and methodical ballad with layered, haunting vocals.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets for HEAT on Quicket.
When: Thursday, 13 August 2026 | 6.30pm – 10pm
Where: The H.U.B Gallery, 155 Loop St, Gardens, Cape Town
Wren Hinds Band & Francesca Biancoli
Known for his unique vocal quality supported by guitar-heavy indie, folk, and alternative textures, Wren Hinds‘ 2023 album Don’t Die In The Bundu brought South African music to the international stage through its release via Bella Union (home to famous artists Fleet Foxes, Beach House, and Father John Misty). On the night, he performs alongside Jonno Sweetman on drums, Dylan Fine on electric guitar, and Maurice Paliaga on bass.
Recently performing at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival as part of the Jazz Rising programme, Francesca Biancoli is a versatile singer-songwriter who very recently collaborated with famous jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, and has been releasing music for over a decade.
Cost: R200 per person. Book for HEAT now on Quicket.
When: Friday, 14 August 2026 | 7pm – 10pm
Where: The H.U.B Gallery, 155 Loop St, Gardens, Cape Town
Internet Athi & Mishy Kope
The most exciting name in South African jazz, Internet Athi was listed as Apple Music’s latest Up Next SA Artist, with his 2026 album Polymorphism receiving widespread critical acclaim and over a million streams on Spotify. Listeners can expect reimagined versions of fan favourites like his 2024 hit Wena, as well as renditions of album tracks, including Nguwe, Mna, and Undithembisile.
Afro-folk artist Mishy Kope is another quickly emerging star, making emotional piano-backed ballads and traditional Xhosa folk anthems, like her breakout Qongqotha. This performance comes soon after the release of her latest track, Yimpi Engapheliyo (‘It is an unending war’), an upbeat, jazzy celebration that kicks off a new era.
Cost: R200 per person. Book tickets for HEAT now on Quicket.
When: Saturday, 15 August 2026 | 7pm – 10pm
Where: Central Methodist Mission Church, 44 Long St, Cape Town City Centre
Beyond these headlining gigs, there are multiple performances from Opera UCT, a live performance celebrating ghoema, and a re-examination of the legacy of Tete Mbambisa. The complete lineup of live music at HEAT Winter Festival is available on the website.
Art
Opening Night
The 2026 edition kicks off with an evening of art and choral music, with 14 exhibitions from some of Cape Town’s leading art galleries guiding attendees through the City Centre, backed by the Amici de Lumine Choir. Included in the opener are works from Everard Read, Strauss & Co at Alliance Française du Cap, Union Block (Spier Arts Trust), and 33BREE. The opening night celebration is completely free to attend; more information is available on the website.
When: Thursday, 6 August 2026 | From 6pm
Where: Aspire Art, Mandela Rhodes Place, 21 Church St, Cape Town City Centre
When You Enter Water
This entirely unique, multi-sensory experience is inspired by the movement of water, inviting guests to experience a meditative audiovisual space. Visual artist Adele van Heerden, whose work often explores water-based landscapes, leads the way with her brush, while ambient sound and installation artist Botanicas uses three ever-evolving instruments (a River, Waterfall and Pond) to create a dynamic soundscape.
Guests can expect a quiet, intimate evening of reflection led by two talented artists inspired by the wonders of water, aiming to distort reality and imagination.
Cost: R180 per person (early bird). Book tickets for HEAT now on Quicket.
When: Tuesday, 11 August 2026 | 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: Everard Read Gallery, Ulundi House, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Zeitz MOCAA: Staying with SALA
Inspired by Zeitz’s permanent exhibition, this workshop starts with a guided walkthrough of SALA, led by the museum’s curatorial team, before participants take part in a creative reflection exercise. Drawing on scholar Tina Campt’s invitation to “write to the artwork”, participants create their connection between two artworks with their own point of reference – a song, film, memory, place, personal experience, or another artwork.
Finally, the workshop concludes with an informal group discussion reflecting on Zeitz itself: who is the museum for, how do museums shape the way we see the world, and how can engaging with art influence our futures?
Cost: R287 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When:Â Wednesday, 12 August 2026 | 5.30pm – 7pm
Where:Â Zeitz MOCAA, S Arm Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
Norval Foundation: Ekphrastic Poetry Evening
Guided by Portia Zvavahera’s Tanda rima exhibition, which tackles dreams, memories and lived experiences in intricate, moving paintings, Norval Foundation welcomes writers of all skill levels to participate in this generative writing workshop.
All participants explore the medium of ekphrastic poetry, a creative technique where writers reflect on and engage with visual art through their work. Equally suited for professional wordsmiths and those simply curious about writing, this workshop invites guests to see art through a new lens and transform their personal thoughts into meaningful poetry.
The workshop is led by writer-teacher Tayla Paige, with all tickets including complimentary wine and full museum access.
Cost: R350 per person. Book now on Webtickets or Quicket.
When:Â Thursday, 13 August 2026 | From 7pm
Where:Â Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai
There are far more visual art-focused events that form part of HEAT Winter Festival, with several curator-led walkabouts of a selection of HEAT Festival exhibitions, several platforms for art-based dialogue and conversation, an international collection of digital artworks at Iziko, and much more. The full complement of visual arts events and exhibitions at HEAT is available on the website.
Theatre & Comedy
Comedy in Common
Bringing a sense of levity to the HEAT Festival lineup, the Comedy in Common series gives a platform to many of the Mother City’s most in-demand comic talent. One of two Comedy in Common Shows, the midweek show is headlined by 2x Comics Choice Award Winner, KG Mokgadi.
Hosted by Cape Town comedy mainstay Phil De Lange, he is supported by fellow performers Chuma Bentele, CĂ©line Tshika, Nishen Pather, and Daniele Du Plessis.
Cost:Â R150 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When:Â Wednesday, 12 August 2026 | 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Where:Â Union House (Spier Arts), 25 Commercial St, Cape Town City Centre
Yazuke
Inspired by the remarkable true story of Africa’s first samurai, this BABA YAYA dance production brings together African contemporary dance, traditional martial movements, ritual performances, live music, and Japanese avant-garde theatre.
The piece tackles the ever-evolving search for belonging within everyone, inviting audiences to confront fear, embrace diversity, and find solace in the unknown.
Cost:Â R150 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When:Â Thursday & Friday, 13 & 14 August 2026 | 6pm – 7pm
Where:Â Central Methodist Mission, 44 Long St, Cape Town City Centre
Essay on Dying
In this incredibly intimate piece, acclaimed theatre director Boris Nikitin dives into the death of his father from ALS, the moral quandary of assisted suicide, and his coming out as a gay man 20 years ago.
Nikitin flouts the traditional boundaries of theatre and audience with this utterly personal narrative, asking what it means to make oneself vulnerable, the price one pays, and what can be gained from revealing oneself to others. After the show, audiences are encouraged to speak directly with Nikitin and give their answers to the questions the piece poses.
Cost:Â R150 per person. Book now on Quicket.
When:Â Friday & Saturday, 14 & 15 August 2026 | 6pm – 7.15pm | 8pm – 9pm
Where:Â Waterfront Theatre School, cnr Port Rd & Stanley St, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
The full list of theatre and comedy performances, including the poetic satire of Johannesburg’s suburbs of Gauteng (for Ebenhaezer), the tender relationship between father and queer child in Rescue Remedy, and the politically charged multimedia performance of Lamabali, is available on the website.
Discover South African art at HEAT
With a focus on small art businesses, emerging artists, and live performers, musicians and singers, HEAT aims to support young cultural producers across a variety of mediums. Whether it’s curated art exhibitions, jazz, opera, theatre, or visual art, there’s something for all supporters of local art and those who make it this winter.
Cost: Prices vary per event. Book now on Quicket.
When: 6 – 15 August 2026 | Times vary
Where: Many venues throughout Cape Town City Centre
Even more arts & culture experiences happening in Cape Town this August
