Six Things to Look Forward to at Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026

Taking place from 21 to 24 October, Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 explores how design can help people, communities and cities thrive

From 21 to 24 October, Pan Afrikan Design Week (PADW) 2026 makes its Cape Town debut, bringing together designers, cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, educators and community leaders to explore one central question: how do we design to thrive? Convened by the Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI), with Open Design Afrika as its Local Host and Coordinating Partner, the event combines three days of talks, dialogues and workshops at Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront with networking, live performances and a community-focused cultural experience.

“We’ve built a programme packed with ideas, voices and lived experiences, with something to spark, challenge and inspire at every turn,” says Suné Stassen, CEO of Open Design Afrika and Programme Director. Here are six highlights to look forward to.

design

10 Modern African Artists Shaping Contemporary Art Today

1. Conversations Shaping The Future Of Design

With a 21-strong speaker line-up, PADW moves beyond conventional design discourse to consider how cultural memory, Indigenous knowledge and collective responsibility can inform more inclusive futures. Zimbabwean design scholar Saki Mafundikwa, author of Afrikan Alphabets, joins Dr Russell Kennedy, co-author of the International Indigenous Design Charter, and Juliet Kavishe to discuss Indigenous wisdom, dignity and design value.

The programme opens with a welcome address by Mrs Gugu Motlanthe, former First Lady of South Africa, followed by a keynote from Afrikan futurist Dr Njeri Mwagiru. Dominic Wilhelm of The Global Trust Project explores trust as a foundation for thriving communities and cities, while Nthakoana Maema of Future Proof Collective considers food systems and inclusive entrepreneurship. Learn Biomimicry founder Jess Berliner delivers a closing keynote on what nature can teach us about designing a thriving world.

2. Four Million Free Books And The Power Of Collaboration

South African non-profit Book Dash has distributed more than four million free children's books, created through a model that brings volunteer writers, illustrators and designers together to produce books from scratch in a single day.

On Day 2, Executive Director Thembalethu Shangase and co-founder Arthur Attwell join three collaborators to unpack the initiative's approach to radical creative collaboration. The conversation will explore how collective creativity can make meaningful social impact, offering lessons for organisations seeking to turn ambitious ideas into practical outcomes.

3. Three Hands-On Workshops Open To The Public

For those wanting to move from discussion to action, PADW offers three practical workshops that can be booked individually, without a conference pass. The Future Design Brief Lab on Day 1 explores what a thriving Afrika could look and feel like. Day 2's Ripple Effect Lab considers how decisions about products, services, places, policies and systems affect people beyond the immediate user. The final Future-Builders Lab examines the human capabilities and mindsets needed to navigate an unpredictable future.

Developed and co-facilitated by Mandisa Mbaligontsi, Suné Stassen and Nthakoana Maema, the workshops offer a progression from shared vision to responsible action and future-fit learning. Advance booking is required, and places are limited.

4. Design With Its Own Soundtrack

Music and performance bring another dimension to the programme. Celebrated South African singer Vicky Sampson will perform with Khayelitsha's Isibane se Afrika choir, while Friday evening's networking event features the KMA Marimba group from Hout Bay and dance group His Purpose. The performances promise to connect creative expression with the wider conversations about culture, community and belonging.

5. A Weekend For The Whole City

On Friday, 23 October, delegates, students, speakers and members of the public can connect at an evening of networking, refreshments and live entertainment. The following day, Uthando South Africa hosts a Community & Cultural Impact Tour introducing participants to Cape Town community initiatives, including its Waste to Wonder campaign, nominated for The Earthshot Prize in the Build a Waste-Free World category.

The tour highlights how local entrepreneurs and community leaders use creativity and resourcefulness to build opportunities for their communities. One hundred per cent of ticket fees goes directly to the projects visited, with advance booking recommended.

6. More Design To Discover Across Cape Town

PADW arrives during a busy period for the city's creative community. Design Week South Africa's Cape Town programme runs from 22 to 25 October, featuring exhibitions, studio tours, installations and product launches. Earlier in the month, Open Studios Cape Town takes place on 14 and 15 October, inviting the public into architecture and design studios across the city.

For those unable to attend in person, livestream access is available for the main conference sessions across all three days. Tickets, including livestream options, are available through Quicket, while the full programme can be found at the Pan Afrikan Design Institute's website.

With its mix of thought-provoking dialogue, practical learning, cultural expression and community engagement, Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 positions design as more than an aesthetic discipline: it is a tool for imagining and building futures in which people and places can thrive.