Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 brings together 21 creative leaders, researchers and change-makers from across Africa and beyond to explore the theme: How do we design to thrive?
Taking place from 21–24 October 2026, the three-day conference runs from Wednesday, 21 October to Friday, 23 October at Workshop17 in the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. The programme features speakers from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Australia.
Highlights include Zimbabwean design scholar Saki Mafundikwa, Australian Indigenous design expert Dr Russell Kennedy and FORMALL Design Lab Founder Juliet Kavishe in a discussion on Indigenous wisdom, cultural memory and Afrika’s visual languages and design codes.
Day one also features keynote presentations by Afrikan futurist Dr Njeri Mwagiru and Dominic Wilhelm of The Global Trust Project, alongside a session on community-rooted innovation and regenerative tourism featuring Henry Mathys of the V&A Waterfront, Uthando South Africa Founder James Fernie and Langa-based guide and filmmaker Thulani Nxumalo.
The second day explores food systems, inclusive entrepreneurship, public space, belonging and women-led enterprise, while a special Book Dash case study examines creative collaboration and early book access.
Friday’s programme focuses on education as a complete ecosystem, from early childhood play to lifelong learning. Dr Rael Futerman will deliver the opening keynote on Creative Intelligence and future-fit learning, with further sessions covering STEAM education, ethical fieldwork and biomimicry. Jess Berliner, Founder of Learn Biomimicry, will deliver the closing keynote.
Each conference day concludes with an afternoon workshop, which can be booked separately. A networking event takes place on Friday evening and is open to delegates and the wider public. On Saturday, 24 October, Uthando South Africa will host a Community & Cultural Impact Tour centred on the Waste to Wonder campaign, with 100% of ticket fees going towards the community projects visited.
For tickets and further information, click here.
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Join Bedford Centre and Planet Fitness for a free rooftop morning of yoga, PF20 and dance in Bedfordview on 3 October 2026.
Join Bedford Centre and Planet Fitness for a free rooftop morning of yoga, PF20 and dance in Bedfordview on 3 October 2026.
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