Join the cultural immersion at the Zeitz MOCAA gala in Cape Town

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) is set to host more than just a gala this February, with its 2026 Gala Collateral Programme, transforming the annual fundraiser into a three-day cultural immersion across Cape Town and the Winelands.

Running from Friday, February 20, until Sunday, February 22, the programme is titled By the Footsteps of the Beloved.

Theme curator Hamzeh Alfarahneh said it reflected on continuity, custodianship, and the collective labour of institution building. 

Zeitz MOCAA is a public, not-for-profit institution, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting 21st-century art from Africa and its diaspora.

"Echoing the spirit of previous editions that foreground intentionality, collaboration, and cultural exchange, the 2026 iteration extends Zeitz MOCAA’s commitment to building an ecosystem rooted in radical generosity, kinship, and excellence.

"It is an act of remembrance and renewal that honours those who have carried the light of this institution, while affirming the collective responsibility to sustain its future through shared purpose and collaborative stewardship," said Mr Alfarahneh.

The central event remains the annual fundraising gala on Friday evening, which will honour cultural luminaries including Abdoulaye Konaté, Dr Anita Blanchard, Martin Nesbitt, and Justice Albie Sachs.

Emmy Award-winning storyteller Thando Dlomo will host the evening, with a performance by Zoë Modiga and styling curated by designer Thebe Magugu.

The excitement, however, extends beyond the dinner as gala guests will be invited to a packed itinerary, beginning Friday with curator-led tours at Zeitz MOCAA and focusing on the BMW Centre for Art Education.

Saturday ventures out into the city, offering visits to galleries, sister institutions, and local artist studios, aiming to connect patrons with the broader Cape Town art ecosystem.

The weekend concludes on Sunday with a communal brunch at Hazendal Wine Estate in the Winelands.

David Green, Zeitz MOCAA co-founder and co-chair, affirmed this unique approach: "No other museum in the world undertakes a programme that extends their gala into a multi-day itinerary that activates the city."

Proceeds from the fundraiser are vital, directly sustaining the museum's curatorial, education, and research programmes, ensuring Zeitz MOCAA remains a platform for African and diasporic voices on the global stage.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Zeitz MOCAA partnerships manager and director of the annual fundraising gala, Tiffany Andrews, via email tiffany.andrews@zeitzmocaa.museum.