Find Fresh Fish at V&A Sustainable Seafood Festival 2026

Now in its third year, the two-day Sustainable Seafood Festival at Makers Landing focuses on sustainable seafood through fresh fish markets, cooking demonstrations, public filleting demos, food and beverage vendors, and education zones covering ocean and fishing practices.

By celebrating all things local & traceable seafood, the Sustainable Seafood Festival promotes an equitable, environmentally-friendly seafood industry that prioritises ethical consumption and production. With seafood forever being an important part of Cape Town’s diverse food culture, this ensures that future generations can enjoy the same cuisine that has been a part of the city’s identity.

One of the main attractions of the Sustainable Seafood Festival is a fresh fish market, where attendees can buy an extensive range of seafood products that are locally harvested and ethically sourced. Among the participating organisations is Abalobi (isiXhosa for “fishers”), a South African fisher-driven social enterprise that connects small-scale fishing communities to markets through a digital traceability platform. Also attending are fine food merchants Wild Peacock and four other small-scale fishers from the Cape and Overberg fisheries joint initiative.

Makers Landing’s state-of-the-art demo kitchens are hosting various cooking demos by industry professionals, so viewers can get expert knowledge on all things seafood preparation. Public hake filleting demos are also scheduled in the main event space for those looking to perfect their technique before heading home.

There are a variety of food and beverage vendors throughout the Sustainable Seafood Festival space, alongside many education and entertainment-focused areas from many of the city’s leading seafood-focused organisations, and even a dedicated kids’ area for little ones. The day’s atmosphere is supported by live music from a diverse set of local bands.

The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) are one of the main educators present at the festival, along with professionals from the Two Oceans Aquarium and other groups that tackle marine conservation in Cape Town and surrounding waters. At the Sustainable Seafood Festival 2026, guests can look forward to workshops, lessons, and discussions on aspects of seafood consumption and production in South Africa, led by leading voices in the sector.

Demos & cooking classes take place in the Demo Kitchen, starting with a fish filleting workshop by Abalobi at 11am. Thereafter, Chef Zeyn Jeewa of Marriott Hotels and Cape Fish’s tuna filleting class take over for 45 minutes each, at 12pm and 1pm, respectively. There is a half-hour caviar demonstration and tasting by Aquatir Caviar from 2pm, before Abalobi returns with a demo by their Buffelsjagbaai Fisherwomen from 2.45pm to 3.30pm. Finally, Cape and Overberg end the day’s classes from 3.45pm to 4.30pm.

The Cooking Workshops in the Thyme Room kick off with a kids-only class run by Ayesha Juwaley of The Charming Chef from 10am, followed by Tariq Kathrada leading the adult cooking class from 12pm to 1pm. The final class is a one-hour Mommy & Me Cooking Class that starts at 2pm.

There are many experiences and other activities happening on both days. Terrarium Restaurant’s Residency is open from 10am to 4pm daily, as is Onezwa Mbola Dinner’s Residency from 6pm to 10pm. Silent Events Disco & Dance bring the music throughout both days, along with the Ocean Education Zone, Documentary Room, and family-friendly activities. On Saturday, there is a seafood edition of the Craft & Conversation Corner from 10am – 12pm, inviting makers of all skill levels to work on their projects and discuss important topics regarding sealife.

Makers Landing, situated at the V&A Waterfront Cruise Terminal, is a food-focused destination designed to showcase Cape Town’s culinary talent and food producers, with an emphasis on food as a tool of community. MyCiTi bus routes serve the Waterfront directly, and multiple paid parking garages are on-site. For more information, visit the website or email [email protected].