Johannesburg has become a hub of creativity, bursting at the seams with incredible talent. It is no wonder that the city has also become home to some of the biggest and best art fairs in the country. Keep up with all the art fair favourites happening near you with this guide.

RMB Latitudes Art Fair

RMB Latitudes Art Fair returns to Johannesburg for another showcase of artists and exhibitors from across Africa and the diaspora.

Brought together by the team behind Latitudes Online, and in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank, the art fair offers visitors a unique art experience that brings together the art community from across the continent and diaspora.

Over the course of the art fair, galleries and artists from across Africa showcase their art throughout Shepstone Gardens, a magnificent three-acre property, and visitors are invited to discover and explore all corners of the indoor-outdoor venue, as they wander through marble halls, secret gardens and rooftop pavilions, enjoying a diverse programme of exhibitions, talks and more.

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.

Cost: Early bird tickets for R320 will be on sale from 11 March 2026

When: 22 to 24 May 2026
Where: Shepstone Gardens, 12 Hope Rd, Mountain View, Johannesburg

FNB Art Joburg

FNB Art Joburg is Africa’s leading and longest running contemporary art fair.

The art fair is a platform where curatorial and commercial interventions meet. It is divided into seven specialised sections: gallery HUB, gallery LAB, MAX, ETC, AUX, ORG, and the GIF section.

The gallery HUB is the art fair’s central section and presents the best in contemporary Africa art from across the world. The gallery LAB is an incubation to develop emerging galleries and hybrid art spaces, presenting and testing new ideas and business models aimed at transforming the contemporary African art landscape.

The MAX section houses installations or works that would present a challenge if presented in the conventionally sized gallery booth. The ETC section offers the opportunity to engage with master print and publishing houses, featuring an abundance of books, prints, catalogues and zines.

The ORG section looks to redefine how the public engages with organisations. Whether museums, universities or private institutions, the section is a hands-on approach to examine bodies that were established for the good of the public.

The AUX section brings industry leaders to the public to explore a plethora of topics impacting the contemporary art world in the form of talks, screenings, public lectures and audio essays. Finally, the GIF section gives galleries the opportunity to spotlight photographers in their programme.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC. Last held in September
Where: Sandton Convention Centre,161 Maude St, Sandown, Sandton

Design Week South Africa

Design Week South Africa is a curated calendar of events and immersive experiences that will showcase the future of South African design through knowledge-sharing, inclusivity and support.

Over four days, Design Week hosts exhibitions, studio and urban tours, product launches, installations, panel discussions and workshops.

Cost: TBC

When: 8 to 11 October 2026
Where: Various venues in Johannesburg

Contra.Joburg

Contra.Joburg seeks to redefine how contemporary art is seen, experienced, and shared. Right from the start, this concept art festival in Johannesburg has always been about breaking down barriers, bringing artists and audiences into direct dialogue, and fostering a sense of pride and ownership of the city.

Contra offers an immersive journey into Johannesburg’s dynamic art scene, highlighting culture’s vital role in shaping our lives. Here, art is not static or incredibly polished; it is alive, unbridled, and in constant conversation. Visitors are invited to witness the process as much as the product, engaging with the raw energy of creation.

Cost: TBC

When: 29 and 30 August 2026
Where: Various art galleries and venues in Johannesburg

The BMW Art Generation

Hosted by FNB Art Joburg, The BMW Art Generation brings cultural excellence together for a day of conversation, live performances, and a demonstration of Africa’s lifestyle excellence for art enthusiasts across the continent.

From exhibitions and workshops to music, guided walks and conversations, each encounter traces a line between imagination and lived experience, between the language of images and the possibilities they open.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC. Last held in August
Where: TBC

Absa L’Atelier Art & Lifestyle Fair

In partnership with SANAVA, the Absa L’Atelier is an annual art competition that has been helping young visual artists from across 12 countries in Africa to take their art to a wider audience, grow their art careers, and ultimately gain the recognition they deserve.

Together with the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy in South Africa, the fair also honours over 20 years of L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award, specifically for South African artists.

Guests get to wander the expansive lawns and lakes of the NIROX Sculpture Park while exploring a specially curated exhibition by the Top finalists of the Absa L’Atelier. Art, music, food, and kids’ and teens activities are also available.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC. Last held in October
Where: NIROX Sculpture Park, R540 Kromdraai Rd, Kromdraai, Krugersdorp

The Centre for the Less Good Idea’s Public Arts Festival

Every year, The Centre for the Less Good Idea sets the stage for The Fox Street Activation, a public arts festival showing staged theatre, experimental visual art and dance, public conversations and activations in and around Arts on Main. The work on show spans media and brings together independent creatives from diverse practices. 

Cost: TBC

When: TBC. Last held in November
Where: Maboneng Society, 264 Fox St, Maboneng, Johannesburg

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