Events in Johannesburg

Arts Alive returns with Johannesburg weekend programme

Published

7 hours ago

August 20, 2026

Johannesburg’s Arts Alive International Festival returns from Friday, 21 August to Sunday, 23 August, bringing a multidisciplinary programme of music, theatre, dance, visual art and poetry to venues across the city.

Here’s what to expect from the festival

The festival forms part of Johannesburg’s wider arts and culture calendar and gives audiences access to several creative disciplines across the city.

According to Visit Gauteng’s official events listing, Arts Alive runs from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Sunday. Events take place at various locations around Johannesburg, allowing visitors to experience different parts of the city through its creative programme.

The multidisciplinary format includes live music, theatre productions, dance performances, visual art and poetry. The programme is designed to bring different artistic forms together while highlighting Johannesburg’s creative community.

Arts Alive has a long association with Johannesburg’s cultural landscape. The festival has been presented as a City of Johannesburg arts programme, supporting cultural activities across the city. The City’s 2025/26 programme included music, design, craft, comedy, dance, theatre and visual art.

For Joburg residents looking for things to do this weekend, the festival offers several ways to spend time engaging with the city’s arts scene.

The programme runs across 21 to 23 August, with visitors advised to check individual event details before attending as venues and schedules vary.