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Art lovers, collectors and those simply curious can head to Sandton this September for Johannesburg’s big contemporary art weekend.
For your ease of reference, we’ve broken down the fair’s different sections from established galleries and emerging spaces to photography, talks and publishing, you can figure out what’s worth making a beeline for.
After nearly two decades on Johannesburg’s cultural calendar, FNB Art Joburg is back for its 19th edition at the Sandton Convention Centre from 4 to 6 September
Across eight sections, FNB Art Joburg brings together established galleries, emerging spaces, experimental practices and institutions working across the contemporary African art scene.
There’s a new addition to the fair this year with ARC, a section dedicated to solo presentations.
Returning offerings include HUB, LAB, MAX, GIF, ORG, AUX and INK. The fair is only part of the programme, with The BMW Art Generation and Open City extending FNB Art Joburg into other corners of Johannesburg.
Essential FNB Art Joburg information
FNB Art Joburg
- Friday, 4 September to Sunday, 6 September, 12pm
- Location: Sandton Convention Centre, 161 Maude Street, Sandton
- Cost: R200 Day Pass, R400 Weekend Pass via Tixsa (https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/fnb-art-joburg-2026ac61n4l)
What can you see at FNB Art Joburg?
HUB
The main section of FNB Art Joburg, gallery HUB brings together established contemporary galleries from across the scene. The galleries are chosen by the fair’s selection committee, with an eye on international standards and creating links between participating galleries and the global art community.
If you want to get a feel for established contemporary African art, start here. You’ll find artists working across different media and practices, as well as galleries that are a useful introduction to the collecting side of the fair.
LAB
Gallery LAB is the space where emerging galleries and programmes play around with more experimental practices.
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This section connects galleries and hybrid spaces from across Africa and beyond, with each presentation dedicated to one artist or artist collective. This gives each practice more room to breathe and allows you to spend a little more time to engage with the work.
The Lab is curated by Kim Kandan, FNB Art Joburg’s Fair Manager.
MAX
Not every artwork is made for a booth. Some need room to breathe. MAX is where galleries can think bigger, with spaces for large-scale works that might not fit inside a conventional booth. If big, ambitious installations are your thing, look out for this section.
ARC
Making its debut this year, ARC integrates solo presentations that take a more focused and experimental approach. The section gives individual practices more space and puts discovery, dialogue and critical thinking at the centre. For 2026, three exhibitors make up the line-up, WORLDART, Graham Contemporary and White River Gallery.
Graham Contemporary works with both emerging and seasoned artists across countrywide and creators with African roots. Cape Town’s WORLDART has been showcasing for more than two decades. Representing the Lowveld, White River Gallery showcases contemporary artists from Mpumalanga alongside artists across South Africa and Southern Africa. If you’re keen on getting to know individual artists and their practices, ARC is well worth a visit.
GIF
GIF is where photography takes the spotlight. The idea is to give photographers a stronger presence at the fair, while opening the door to other forms of lens-based media in the future.
ORG
If the gallery sections are about commercial spaces, ORG puts the spotlight on institutions instead. ORG shines a light on the organisations that help shape the art world, from those that support and research art to those that preserve and present it. P
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articipating organisations range from museums and universities to private institutions. The section is a useful reminder that there’s more to the art world than commercial galleries. Institutions help shape what gets researched, exhibited, collected and preserved, and ORG gives visitors a closer look at that work.
AUX
Want to understand more about the ideas behind the work? AUX is your oyster. The programme interweaves talks, public lectures, audio essays and walkabouts, with artists, curators and other voices unpacking some of the ideas behind contemporary African art. It’s worth checking the programme before you go so you can plan around any discussions or walkabouts you don’t want to miss.
INK
INK puts the focus on print and publishing. You’ll find books, prints, catalogues and zines from a range of established print and publishing houses. If you want to take a little piece of the fair home with you, INK is a good place to browse. Look through the publications and see what catches your eye. You might discover a new favourite artist without doing too much damage to your wallet.
Where to eat and drink after FNB Art Joburg
Once you’ve seen all eight sections, it might be time to take a break and grab something to eat. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food, with plenty of restaurants just a short distance from the convention centre. For a classic steakhouse experience, The Grillhouse on Alice Lane is a nearby option. Seafood lovers can head to Pigalle Restaurant at Michelangelo Towers on Maude Street for a more formal dining experience.
For a more casual meal, Solo Restaurant on Fredman Drive is worth a look. If you fancy a drink after the fair, there are plenty of spots nearby where you can keep the conversation going. If you’re after skyline views, Alto234 on Maude Street is a good spot for a drink after the fair. For something that can take you from afternoon drinks into dinner, San Deck Bar & Restaurant at Sandton Sun is worth considering. If you’re not ready to call it a night, La Parada Nelson Mandela Square is a great option and is right in the heart of Sandton.
What else to expect at FNB Art Joburg
The three day fair is just one part of a wider programme of cultural activity happening around Johannesburg.
Open City runs from August 27 to September 10, taking the Art Joburg programme beyond the Sandton Convention Centre and into venues across Johannesburg. The city wide initiative brings together art, music, food and fashion, with events happening throughout the programme. In short, your art weekend doesn’t have to end when you leave the Sandton Convention Centre.
The BMW Art Generation Vol. IV is split between the BMW Art Haus in Parktown North and the MAX section at FNB Art Joburg. The project looks at how knowledge, references and cultural inheritances shape contemporary African art, alongside a programme of exhibitions, conversations, performances, guided walkabouts and educational events.
Read: Thando Zide, Nduduzo Makhathini headline 4th BMW Art Generation
The opening weekend was held over the weekend of August 29 and 30, with performances by Thando Zide and Nduduzo Makhathini respectively. The exhibition continues at the BMW Art Haus until September 6, running alongside the FNB Art Joburg weekend.
The programme also includes a walkabout at the BMW Art Haus on September 5, taking visitors through the exhibition during the fair weekend. You don’t have to be an art expert to enjoy FNB Art Joburg. You don’t have to see everything. Start with what catches your eye and see where it takes you. You never know what you might discover when you start wandering through an art fair.
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