The 2026 edition of the RMB Latitudes Art Fair is bringing together artists and exhibitors from across the African continent to transform the enchanting Shepstone Gardens from Friday, 22 May to Sunday, 24 May 2026. Here’s what you need to know.
What’s up at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2026
Presented by Latitudes Online in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), the RMB Latitudes Art Fair has become a standout event on Johannesburg’s cultural calendar, celebrated for its unique, immersive approach to experiencing contemporary African art.
By moving beyond the confines of a traditional fair venue, RMB Latitudes invites visitors to explore art in the dynamic and multi-sensory Shepstone Gardens. Attendees can wander through distinctive indoor and outdoor spaces, pausing for a leisurely lunch in lush gardens, engaging in thought-provoking conversations, and contemplating sculpture beneath Johannesburg’s crisp autumn skies.
The 2026 Fair takes a Nigerian Focus
Each year, RMB Latitudes Art Fair spotlights a different African country through their International Focus programme, an initiative designed to foster cross-border artistic exchange, spotlight emerging and established talent, and strengthen collector networks across the continent.
The 2026 focus is Nigeria. In celebration of this, together with Yenwa Gallery, RMB Latitudes are producing a curated exhibition in Lagos, which will bring together some of Nigeria’s most exciting contemporary art and cultural practice, before travelling to South Africa to take pride of place at RMB Latitudes Art Fair.
An Oasis theme
The 2026 theme, Oasis, reflects on the improbability of creative flourishing in unlikely places. Marking 140 years of Johannesburg – a city founded without access to a major body of water – the theme considers how creativity, like water, sustains and regenerates life in unexpected environments.
“The Fair embraces Johannesburg’s spirit of resilience and renewal, affirming the arts’ capacity to nourish, connect and reimagine the cultural landscape,” says Denzo Nyathi, Curator and Head of Sales. “It also draws inspiration from the gardens that host the Fair each year – a carefully tended pocket of green within an urban context.”
On show: Over 300 artists from Africa and beyond
This year, RMB Latitudes Art Fair is excited to be working with 50 galleries and with over 300 artists showcasing their talent over the course of the weekend. From major local galleries such as Southern Guild, Stevenson and Everard Read to nomadic gallery FEDE Arthouse, Strauss & Co auction house and new Nigerian space AMG Projects, every aspect of the art ecosystem is represented.
Featured spotlighted artists this year include Dada Khanyisa, Kamohelo Blessing Rooi and Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi, to name a few.
Jan Neethling and Robert Hodgins present On Friendship and Form as the 2026 ESSAY special project
Each year, RMB Latitudes Art Fair presents a special project, ESSAY, a dedicated curatorial platform that creates focused dialogues between South African artists across generations. Since its inception in 2019, ESSAY has grown into one of the Fair’s most anticipated special projects.
The 2026 edition centres on the work of Jan Neethling, presented in dialogue with a focused selection of works by his former teacher and lifelong friend Robert Hodgins. Titled On Friendship and Form, the exhibition examines how artistic influence, exchange and sustained dialogue unfold over time – shaped as much by friendship and critique as by individual creative trajectories.
Bringing their practices into close proximity, the presentation offers a renewed lens through which to engage with both artists, while positioning Neethling’s practice with fresh clarity and overdue recognition.
ESSAY 2026 marks a significant public moment in Neethling’s career, bringing renewed attention to a body of work distinguished by expressive figuration, technical mastery, psychological depth and acute observation. His paintings feature distorted figures, charged interiors, conflicted landscapes and satirical studies of power.
Independent art practices get the spotlight as RMB Latitudes partners with National Arts Council
RMB Latitudes Art Fair announces a strategic partnership with the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) for INDEX 2026 – a successful platform dedicated to independent and emerging artistic practices.
INDEX has been central to RMB Latitudes’ mission to make art fairs more accessible by challenging the traditional model that typically limits participation to gallery-represented artists.
This partnership with the NAC builds on that foundation, introducing a progressive model that connects public arts funding with tangible market opportunities. The partnership also aligns with the NAC’s mandate to support, develop and promote the arts by creating meaningful opportunities for emerging and independent artists.
Presented within RMB Latitudes 2026, INDEX will bring together a dynamic selection of artists from across the continent. The exhibition will include both a curated presentation within the Latitudes programme and artists selected through the NAC’s open call process, creating a layered and inclusive platform for discovery.
Through INDEX 2026, the NAC will enhance artist visibility, facilitate market access and support professional development by connecting artists to collectors, curators and broader audiences.
The RMB Latitudes CuratorLab: Cultivating next-gen art curators
Throughout the year, the art fair runs RMB Latitudes CuratorLab, which is a practice-based, online curatorial residency for emerging curators in Africa. Ten selected aspiring curators are guided through a facilitated online programme that offers practical experience in the industry and refine their curatorial skills.
No formal training is needed, and practical curatorial experience is preferred. Email the team to find out more about the 2026 call or entries.
How to book tickets
Cost: From R380 day entry for adults; from R70 day entry per child aged 3 to 12. Book online
When: Friday to Sunday, 22 to 24 May 2026. Friday from 12pm to 7pm | Saturday from 10am to 7pm | Sunday from 10am to 5pm
Where: Shepstone Gardens, 12 Hope Rd, Mountain View, Johannesburg
Website: latitudesartfair.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @latitudes.online
Facebook: @latitudes.online
