More than 170 artists, 16 creative spaces and two very different days will bring Johannesburg’s creative scene to life on 29 and 30 August.
Forget the traditional art fair where everything happens under one roof. This August, Contra.Joburg is inviting art lovers to experience Johannesburg itself as the gallery, with more than 170 artists and makers opening up studios, galleries, heritage buildings and creative spaces across the city.
Returning for its fifth year on 29 and 30 August 2026, the festival will connect visitors with the people and places behind Johannesburg’s vibrant creative scene, with Rosebank joining the route for the first time.
We got a sneak peek at some of Contra.Joburg’s activations during a media tour this week, and if what we saw is anything to go by, this year’s festival is shaping up to be something special.
The concept is simple: get closer to the art, the artists and the city. Visitors can explore working studios, meet artists, watch live performances, make their own art, shop local and discover parts of Johannesburg they may not ordinarily encounter.
And while both days offer plenty to see and do, Contra.Joburg has deliberately given each day its own character.
Saturday is for spectacle. Sunday is for getting closer.
Saturday brings the energy, with live performance, dance, music, art, architecture and hands-on creative experiences.
At the historic Rand Club, Thabo Pie’s RDP (Redevelopment & Deconstruction Programme) brings live performance into one of Johannesburg’s most distinctive heritage spaces. Visitors can also explore contemporary African photography on the fourth floor before Joburg Ballet takes over the building for a performance at 14:30.
The day can continue at Jozi Gold Brewing Company with a brewery tour and tasting with the master brewer, followed by a live performance by acclaimed bassist and composer Herbie Tsoaeli at 18:30.
Elsewhere on the Saturday route, visitors can explore Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, Asisebenze Art Gallery, The Bus Factory, Little Artists School, Play Braamfontein and Creative Uprising at Transwerke, where they can meet artists and makers and create their own resistance poster.
Sunday takes a more intimate approach, offering a closer look at the people and processes behind the work.
At August House, families can head to the Kids’ Area for art-making, face painting and hands-on activities, while A Gritty Fairytale, music from DJ Jupiter King and the Different Is Good Market bring the building to life. Childminders will be available in the Kids’ Area, with activities free for children attending Contra.
At Ellis House, visitors can explore five floors of open studios. At the same time, Victoria Yards offers the chance to become part of BodyWeaving, an interactive artwork created through people, movement and thread.
The Sunday programme also includes Living Artists Emporium, Oovookoo and the working studio of renowned artist Usha Seejarim, offering visitors a rare glimpse into artists’ creative environments.
For collectors and browsers, there are local markets and makers to explore, as well as 74 artworks going under the hammer in Collect Contra, a collaboration with Stephan Welz & Co. At 223 Jan Smuts, visitors can also discover conservation framing, USM modular furniture and chocolates designed to resemble miniature artworks.
“Different is good because Johannesburg itself is different,” says Contra.Joburg founder Sara Hallatt. “There is no single way to experience the city, and there shouldn’t be a single way to experience its art. Contra.Joburg is about meeting artists where they work, while discovering parts of the city you might not otherwise encounter.”
The festival is designed to be experienced at visitors’ own pace. Whether that means spending an hour in a working studio, discovering a new gallery, meeting a maker, buying an artwork, stopping for lunch or catching a performance, visitors can shape their own weekend and move between venues using Contra.Joburg’s hop-on-hop-off shuttle service.
The shuttles, included in the ticket price, operate every 20 minutes from 10:00, with east and west loops running to and from Candice Berman Gallery at 223 Creative Hub in Rosebank and Stephan Welz & Co in Waverley.
With its mix of art, performance, design, food, family activities and unexpected spaces, Contra.Joburg offers a different way to experience both contemporary art and Johannesburg itself.
Contra.Joburg Art Festival
29–30 August 2026 | 10:00–17:00
More than 170 artists and makers
Inner city, Braamfontein and Rosebank
Hop-on-hop-off shuttles included in ticket price
Family-friendly, with dedicated activities for children
Tickets: Book Contra.Joburg tickets
Programme: Contra.Joburg
Instagram: @contra.joburg
Please note: Joburg Ballet at Rand Club and Herbie Tsoaeli at Jozi Gold Brewing Company require additional tickets.
