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From 25 June to 5 July 2026, all eyes will be on Makhanda (also known as Grahamstown) as the National Arts Festival showcases South Africa's plethora of creativity.
The hugely popular annual event, which is proudly sponsored by Standard Bank, has been providing a platform for artistic greatness and cultural connection for over five decades - and the 2026 edition is expected to be a bumper festival of all things art, music, theatre, comedy, and expression once again.
For those who have already booked their tickets to the live showcases, we applaud you for your continued support of the arts in the country. For those still thinking about attending, we have one message for you: Do it!
How to get to the National Arts Festival from Cape Town
The easiest way to get to the festival from Cape Town is by flying into Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and hiring a car to complete the remaining 124km of your journey.
Most of the airlines have daily flights from Cape Town International Airport to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, but please be aware that some are not direct - so ensure you check that when booking. A return trip will cost in the region of R2,000.
If you are keen on a road trip, the N2 from Cape Town will take you all the way to Makhanda. This route takes travellers through the gorgeous Garden Route, so we wouldn't blame you if you extended your journey up or down to include a few nights within this stunning part of our country.
The drive is roughly 10 hours in total, covering a distance of 873km. Given the current state of affairs with regards to petrol, you are looking at an estimated cost of R3,200 for the return trip.
There are also bus services which operate between Cape Town and the festival, but please be aware that this method of transport is usually a lot slower than driving yourself and requires extra planning to ensure you do not miss the events of the National Arts Festival that you are eager to see.
A return fare with Greyhound will set you back around R1,300, depending on your dates.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Book tickets for the National Arts Festival here.
This article is sponsored by Standard Bank
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