Zeitz MOCAA has announced its 2026 Gala Collateral Programme, transforming its annual fundraiser into a three-day cultural gathering that extends far beyond a single evening. Taking place from Friday, 20 February to Sunday, 22 February 2026, the programme unfolds under the curatorial theme By the Footsteps of the Beloved, a framework rooted in continuity, custodianship, and the collective work of building institutions that matter.
Anchored by the Zeitz MOCAA Gala on the Friday night, the weekend invites guests into a layered itinerary of exchange, reflection, and celebration. Powered by Explore Sideways and curated by Hamzeh Alfarahneh, the programme connects patrons with artists, curators, partner organisations, and collectors through exhibition tours, studio visits, gallery engagements, and moments of hospitality across Cape Town and the Winelands. Originally developed by the late Koyo Kouoh, the initiative pioneers a distinctive institutional model, one that extends the museum’s reach into the broader cultural ecosystem while deepening relationships that sustain it.
The theme draws from Arabic literary and devotional traditions, where “the Beloved” signifies reverence and guidance. Here, it gestures toward legacy, not as imitation, but as forward motion. It is about inheriting a mantle and choosing to build, protect, and expand the vision for generations to come. As Alfarahneh notes, this year’s edition continues Zeitz MOCAA’s commitment to radical generosity, collaboration, and excellence, positioning the Gala as both remembrance and renewal.
The opening day centres on the museum itself, with a focus on the BMW Centre for Art Education and curator-led tours, culminating in the annual fundraising Gala dinner.
The second day spills into Cape Town’s wider art landscape with visits to galleries, institutions, and artist studios, before the weekend concludes with a Sunday Brunch gathering at Hazendal Wine Estate, a final communal moment of celebration and pause. The Gala evening will honour Abdoulaye Konaté, Martin Nesbitt, and Justice Albie Sachs, with laudations delivered by Fatima Bintou Rassoul SY, Siddhartha Mitter, and Gavin Jantjes respectively. Hosted by Emmy Award–winning storyteller Thando Dlomo, alongside a distinguished Host Committee including Acha Leke, Vanessa September, Roger Ross Williams, and Jo-Ann Strauss, the night blends art, philanthropy, and performance. Styling for the hosts will be curated by Thebe Magugu, while award-winning musician Zoë Modiga will deliver an exclusive performance before the celebrations move to an after-party overlooking Cape Town’s skyline.
More than a glamorous date on the cultural calendar, the Gala remains a critical fundraiser that directly supports Zeitz MOCAA’s exhibitions, education programmes, and artist-led research initiatives. In extending the Gala into a city-wide, multi-day programme, the museum reinforces its belief that institutions are built not only through funding, but through shared responsibility, sustained relationships, and meaningful proximity between artists and audiences.
With the support of longstanding partners and cultural collaborators, the 2026 edition positions Zeitz MOCAA not simply as a venue, but as a living civic space, one that continues to amplify African and diasporic voices on the global stage while strengthening the local ecosystem that makes that work possible.
