Guided by the theme ‘Listen’ the 13th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair – Africa’s most internationally connected art fair – makes its return to the CTICC from from 20 to 22 February.
WORDS Neyani Mphephu PHOTOS Mia Thom / Courtesy of Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Africa’s largest and most internationally connected art fair, Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2026 (ICTAF), represents a remarkable revolution in the art of listening. As the fair returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the theme Listen will transform how guests engage with contemporary art, creating space for genuine dialogue across cultures, continents and creative practices.
“‘Listen’ is an invitation to engage across borders, perspectives and experiences,” shares Fair Director Laura Vincenti. “Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2026 is a convergence of voices – a space where artists, galleries and audiences are encouraged not only to see, but to listen.”
While maintaining its strong Cape Town identity, ICTAF has evolved into an essential bridge connecting diverse international voices. The fair brings together 126 exhibitors representing 23 cities worldwide, showcasing 490 artists from 44 countries across five continents. This remarkable assembly establishes the fair not just as Africa’s largest art event, but as a global artistic capital for one transformative week.
Galleries on Display
This year’s edition welcomes exhibitors from new cities worldwide – including Andorra la Vella, Douala, Lugo, Lusaka, Marseille, Palermo, Santiago de Compostela, Stockholm and The Hague – bringing fresh perspectives. These voices join the fair’s celebrated returning participants, including powerhouse galleries such as Stevenson, Goodman Gallery, blank projects, Southern Guild, WHATIFTHEWORLD, EBONY/CURATED, SMAC Gallery and Eclectica Contemporary, among others.
Local Galleries
- 131 A Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
- 50ty50ty (Cape Town, South Africa)
- 99 Loop Gallery (Cape Town, South Africa)
- AFRONOVA GALLERY (Johannesburg)
- Art Formes (Cape Town, South Africa)
- artHARARE (Cape Town)
- Artist Proof Studio (Johannesburg),
- Association for Visual Arts (Cape Town)
- Berman Contemporary (Cape Town and Johannesburg)
- blank projects (Cape Town)
- Candise Berman Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa)
- Christopher Moller Gallery (Cape Town)
- Clarke’s Bookshop (Cape Town)
- Crome Yellow M&C (Johannesburg)
- Dale Sargent Fine Art (Johannesburg)
- David Krut Arts Resource (Johannesburg)
- EBONY/CURATED (Cape Town and Franschhoek)
- Eclectica Contemporary (Cape Town)
- Everard Read (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Franschhoek and London)
- Gallery F (Cape Town)
- Goodman Gallery (Cape Town, Johannesburg, London and New York)
- Graham Contemporary (Johannesburg)
- Jonathan Ball Publishers (Cape Town)
- kumalo | turpin (Johannesburg)
- Kwa-Zulu Natal Society of Arts Gallery (Durban)
- Lalela (Cape Town)
- Lemkus Gallery (Cape Town)
- locus projects (Johannesburg)
- Loft Editions (Cape Town)
- Norval Foundation (Cape Town)
- Occupying The Gallery (Johannesburg)
- Peffers Fine Art (Cape Town)
- RESERVOIR (Cape Town)
- Riaan Bolt Antiques (Johannesburg)
- SMAC Gallery (Cape Town and Stellenbosch)
- Southern Guild (Cape Town and Los Angeles)
- Stephens Tapestry Studio (Johannesburg)
- Stevenson (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Amsterdam)
- THK Gallery (Cape Town)
- Untitled (Cape Town)
- Vault Research (Cape Town)
- Vela Projects (Cape Town)
- WALL (Cape Town)
- Western Cape Art Centres (Cape Town)
- WHATIFTHEWORLD (Cape Town)
- WORLDART (Cape Town)
- THK Gallery (Cape Town)
- Zeitz MOCAA (Cape Town)
International Galleries
- AFIKARIS (Paris, France)
- Afriart Gallery (Kampala, Uganda)
- AMG Projects (Lagos, Nigeria)
- BETA Contemporary (Barcelona, Spain)
- Bode (Berlin, Germany)
- CFHILL (Stockholm, Sweden)
- Cellar Contemporary (Trento, Italy)
- Circle Art Agency (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Dep Art Gallery (Milan, Italy)
- Double V Gallery (Marseille and Paris, France)
- Doyle Wham (London, United Kingdom)
- Ellen de Bruijne Projects (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Everyday Lusaka Gallery (Lusaka, Zambia)
- First Floor Gallery Harare (Harare, Zimbabwe)
- Föenander Galleries (Auckland, New Zealand)
- Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea (Palermo, Italy)
- GALERÍA LUISA PITA (Santiago de Compostela, Spain)
- Galerie Caroline O’Breen (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Galerie EIGEN + ART (Berlin and Leipzig, Germany)
- Galerie Eric Dupont (Paris, France)
- Galerie La La Lande (Paris, France),
- Galleria Giovanni Bonelli (Milan, Italy)
- Gallery Nosco (Brussels, Belgium)
- GREGOR PODNAR (Vienna, Austria)
- LEESAYA (Tokyo, Japan)
- Livingstone Gallery (The Hague, Netherlands and Berlin, Germany)
- Lo Magno artecontemporanea (Modica and Scicli, Italy)
- Loft 3 Gallery (Harare, Zimbabwe)
- Logmo + Makon (Douala, Cameroon)
- NÉBOA (Lugo, Spain)
- No Man’s Art Gallery (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- O’DA Art (Lagos, Nigeria)
- OH Gallery (Dakar, Senegal)
- OOA Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
- Paulina Caspari (Munich, Germany)
- Perve Galeria (Lisbon, Portugal)
- PSM Gallery (Berlin, Germany)
- Reiners Contemporary Art (Málaga, Spain)
- Samuel Maenhoudt Gallery (Knokke, Belgium)
- Suburbia Contemporary (Barcelona, Spain)
- Taranmana Art Gallery (Andorra la Vella, Andorra)
- The Norm (Paris, France)
- The Space Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
- The 1897 Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria)
- THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE (Lisbon, Portugal and Luanda, Angola)
- Umoja Art Gallery (Kampala, Uganda)
- Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo (Barcelona, Spain)
- Windsor Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria)
- Wunika Mukan Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria)
First-time Exhibitors
These new participants represent an exciting mix of well-established and emerging gallery spaces from around the world, including Barcelona’s BETA Contemporary, OOA Gallery and Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo; CFHILL in Stockholm; Double V Gallery in Marseille; Doyle Wham in London; and Ellen de Bruijne Projects in Amsterdam.
African representation is equally impressive, with galleries including Everyday Lusaka Gallery; Loft 3 Gallery (Harare); Logmo + Makon (Douala); O’DA Art (Lagos); The 1897 Gallery (Lagos); The Space Ethiopia (Addis Ababa); Umoja Art Gallery (Kampala); and Wunika Mukan Gallery (Lagos). European first-time exhibitors include Francesco Pantaleone Arte Contemporanea (Palermo); GALERÍA LUISA PITA (Santiago de Compostela); Livingstone Gallery (The Hague/Berlin); NÉBOA (Lugo); Paulina Caspari (Munich); Perve Galeria (Lisbon); PSM Gallery (Berlin); and The Norm (Paris).
Wearable art
The bespoke tote bags for this year’s edition are designed by Asha Eleven. Each tote features unique paintings and hand-drawn illustrations which form the basis of these richly layered textile designs. The 2026 tote will be available in very limited quantities, which you will be able to purchase at the info desk or Asha Eleven’s booth in Capsule.
Must-see highlights and returning favourites for 2026
Curated Sections and Special Projects
Four thoughtfully curated presentations amplify creative voices from around the world. Discover Tomorrows/Today, curated by Dr Mariella Franzoni (Barcelona, Spain); SOLO, curated by Céline Seror (Amsterdam, Netherlands); Generations, curated by Tandazani Dhlakama (Toronto, Canada); and Cabinet/Record, curated by Beata America (Cape Town, South Africa). These internationally curated showcases sit alongside the fair’s three foundational pillars – Main, Editions and Lookout.
This year marks the launch of Performance, the fair’s newest special initiative, adding dynamic layers to the visitor experience. Connect remains dedicated to spotlighting the cultural organisations that cultivate and champion artistic production, while the transformed retail section – newly named Capsule – will feature unique, mindfully made design and craft.
Talks Programme and Art Walks
Art School Africa has curated a talks programme, supported by iTOO Artinsure, which will be situated inside the fair. The talks programme facilitates important dialogue, alongside a series of interactive, immersive workshops that encourage visitors to create, participate and discover through direct involvement. The fair will also reintroduce guided art walks, with expanded opportunities for engagement.
Unbound City
Through the Unbound City public programme, the event extends across Cape Town’s lively inner city and surrounding neighbourhoods, offering a continued experience at the After Hours Art Hub, based at The Gin Bar. Nearby, AKJP Studio will also host cocktails and conversations throughout the fair week.
For more updates and information, visit investeccapetownartfair.co.za. Book tickets via webtickets.
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