Design Week South Africa, presented by Pinterest, has announced its Johannesburg programme for 2026. From 8 to 11 October, designers, artists, architects, makers and brands will take over venues across the city. The programme spans design, craft, architecture, fashion, music, food and art.
Theme: The Shape of Us:
This year’s programme runs under the theme The Shape of Us, which looks at the many forms South African creativity takes and the people, histories and perspectives behind it. It puts established practitioners alongside emerging voices, and it rests on the idea that design isn’t confined to studios or galleries. It shapes how cities are built and how communities connect.
Navigating the City:
Events are grouped into four districts:
- Braamfontein & CBD
- Rosebank & Surrounds
- The Parks
- Kramerville & Northern Suburbs
Programme Highlights:
- Talks & Conversations: Daily Morning Sessions at 44 Stanley’s Kohi. Wanda Lephoto presents Between History and Now. Young Urbanists curate Why Is Sandton So Hard to Walk? Pedersen + Lennard host The Industry Dialogue at their new Parkhurst store.
- Open Studios & Exhibitions: Bumba Souled ceramics, BCKRDS and dhk Architects open their studios, and there’s a preview tour of the new KRAM space in Kramerville. Beloved May, the creative agency and literary collective founded by Phola Gumede and Menzi Dimba, presents a three-day open reference library at The Salon, the atelier of fine artists Lulama Wolf and Sithasolwazi Mona.
- Workshops & Tours: Ceramics workshops at The Kim Sacks School of Ceramics, a Sealand customisation session at FabrikHunter, the Joburg on Foot inner-city tour, and a walkabout of JCAF’s REVERSE FUTURES exhibition.
- Product Launches & Pop-ups: 23 by Noah, Inomusainkosi, Pattern Lab and ballo launch new products, alongside a Studiooo pop-up.
- Music & Culture: An afternoon party from Vinyl & Vibes, a listening party by Curación Collection and UNI Form, and an exhibition at The Library of Things We Forgot to Remember.
Pinterest Predicts 2026: Global Trends, Local Voices:
As Title Sponsor, Pinterest is working with designers, crafters and makers in Johannesburg and Cape Town to interpret trends from its annual Pinterest Predicts report through a South African lens.
- The Things We Love Exhibition: Curated by Simone Schultz, this group show features South African design objects from the private homes of creative practitioners. It explores materiality, craft and how we find meaning in the things we own. Participants include AK Jenkins, Boemo Diale, Joe Paine, Lebo Kekana, Lezanne Viviers, MJ Turpin, Mpho Vackier, Nandi Dlepu, Pumla Maswanganyi, Rendani Nemakhavhani (PR$DNT HONEY), Roberta Coci, Vicky Ross, Vus Ndima, Zandile Tshabalala and Zanele Kumalo.
- An Invitation to Travel with Gozdava 1590: Inspired by the moss and scent-stacking trends, this “s(c)en(t)sory” journey walks guests through the architecture of perfumery. They explore a moss-inspired palette designed by Nose Agata Karolina, then bottle a fragrance of their own.
About Design Week South Africa:
Launched in 2024, Design Week South Africa has hosted more than 200 activations, discussions, showcases, workshops and exhibitions across Johannesburg and Cape Town. It positions itself as the country’s leading design platform, built on knowledge-sharing, inclusivity and support.
Event Information:
- Dates: Thursday, 8 October to Sunday, 11 October 2026
- Location: Multiple venues across Johannesburg
- Full programme: designweeksouthafrica.com
- Follow: @designafricasouthafrica