Askham – Organisers have announced that this year’s Kalahari Arts and Heritage Festival will take place at Erin Farm near Askham in the Northern Cape from 3 to 5 December 2026.
The festival, the sixth event so far, is expected to be the biggest and will bring together Khoi and San artists from South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Visitors can enjoy traditional music and dance, arts and crafts, local food, storytelling, workshops, and guided walks with San trackers during the day.
Evening activities will include bonfire performances, DJ sets and stargazing sessions that combine astronomy with San cultural knowledge. There will also be sand-dune skateboarding and 4×4 experiences.
The event comes at a time when South Africa’s tourism sector is growing strongly. International visitor numbers reached record levels in 2025 and have continued to rise in 2026.
Much of this growth is being driven by travellers from other African countries, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The festival arrives as South African tourism is on a record run.
According to South African Tourism, international arrivals reached 10.48 million in 2025, a 17.6% increase from the previous year and the highest annual total on record.
The momentum has carried into 2026. More than 7.5 million international arrivals were recorded between January and August, and UN Tourism ranked South Africa the strongest-performing African destination in the first half of the year.
While tourism is growing, most of the increase is coming from African countries rather than overseas markets.
Visitors from SADC countries now make up 76% of international arrivals, while overseas visitor numbers are still almost 8% lower than they were in 2018.
This matters for the Kalahari Arts & Heritage Festival because it takes place near the Botswana and Namibia borders and brings together artists and visitors from across the region.
Tourism remains an important part of South Africa’s economy, supporting about 1.8 million jobs.
Domestic tourism also plays a major role, with millions of South Africans travelling around the country each year.
Festival Director Helena Steenkamp noted that the festival aims to ensure artists benefit more directly from tourism.
“What we have is cultural treasure, and this is both our currency and our pride,” Steenkamp said.
“The festival gives us a platform to celebrate and showcase that treasure, but our ambition goes much further.
“We want to create opportunities for artists to access markets, develop their businesses and generate income beyond the festival itself.”
Steenkamp said many Khoi, San and other marginalised artists have valuable cultural knowledge but are often excluded from the formal creative economy.
To address this, the festival is developing a digital platform that will connect artists with audiences, buyers and collaborators throughout the year.
It is also creating opportunities for cultural exchange between artists from the three countries.
Funding from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the National Lotteries Commission and the National Arts Council has made it possible for the festival to offer free entry.
Festival information
- Dates: 3 to 5 December 2026
- Venue: Erin Farm, Andriesvale, near Askham, Northern Cape
- Entry: Free
- Travel: About 90 minutes from Upington on a fully tarred road
- Accommodation: Camping on site, nearby lodges and homestays in Andriesvale
- What to bring: Light clothing and mosquito repellent, as December temperatures in the Kalahari can be very high
For more information, visit www.kahf.co.za.
