Design Week South Africa, presented by Pinterest, returns to Cape Town from 22–25 October 2026 under the theme The Shape of Us. Bringing together designers, architects, artists, makers and creative practitioners, the four-day programme explores how design reflects our identities, the spaces we inhabit and the ways we live together.
A key highlight is UNBUILT, presented by Design Week South Africa and sponsored by dhk Architects. Hosted at Shortmarket with the Mission for Inner City Cape Town, the exhibition opens on 23 October, showcasing projects and ideas exploring public space, mobility, urban infrastructure and the future of South African cities.
Architecture And Spatial Design
Architecture and spatial design also take centre stage, with SAOTA reflecting on 40 years of practice, MŪVEK and CVN exploring the relationship between architecture and furniture, and dhk Architects leading a tour of Conradie Park in Pinelands. Meanwhile, The MAAK and The Otto Foundation introduce Dream Library at Dryden Street Primary School, a project developed in partnership with the school’s learners.
Elsewhere, established local design names bring new collaborations to the programme. Weylandts introduces The With, an expression of good living and connection, while Haldane and NØDE unveil the il Noir Edition, a sculptural reinterpretation of the Galapagos outdoor kitchen island. Pedersen + Lennard hosts The Industry Dialogue, bringing local design brands and creative leaders together to reflect on the country’s creative landscape.
The programme also welcomes an international perspective. Dubai-based Objects by Eight (OBE) collaborates with TSL on a collectible design exhibition featuring independent artist-designers and makers from Africa and the Middle East. Italian heritage brand Molteni&C opens its Cape Town showroom to South African artists and makers, while London- and Accra-based Sun Stories presents David Obeng Adane’s In My Family House series at Curación Gallerie.
The Central Conversation
Conversations remain central to the week through Design Week South Africa’s Cape Town Morning Sessions, featuring speakers including Pinterest’s Eoin Carrigan, designer Atang Tshikare and Tanya Slater of Artclub and Friends. Across the city, new collections, independent creative practices, guided tours and workshops invite visitors to engage directly with the people and ideas shaping contemporary design.
Pinterest Predicts 2026: Local Creativity, Global Inspiration
As title sponsor, Pinterest brings its annual trend report, Pinterest Predicts, to life through a series of activations with local designers, crafters and makers in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The programme connects global design trends with distinctly South African interpretations, creating opportunities for audiences to experience inspiration through hands-on creative projects.
Among the highlights is a collaboration between Cape Town artist Koooooos and Nammu Ceramics. Drawing on the ancient tradition of collaboration between potters and painters, the project introduces a collection of vessels alongside a new mural by Koooooos at Nammu’s East City studio. Commissioned by Design Week and inspired by Pinterest Predicts 2026, the mural brings together earthy khaki tones and the artist’s signature cool blues.
Cape Town fashion label Good Good Good also celebrates a decade of locally made design with A Decade of Inspiration: 10 Years of Good Good Good. The three-day rotating exhibition invites nine collaborators and creative leaders to share Pinterest boards reflecting the references behind their work. Participants include Jana Hamman, Kgabo Mametja of Saint Rose, Shaun Hill, Karabo Poppy, Russell Abrahams of Yay Abe and Wanda Lephoto.
Together, these experiences position Design Week South Africa as more than a showcase of finished objects. It is an opportunity to explore the relationships between people, place and creative practice, while celebrating the ideas and collaborations shaping the future of design in South Africa.
Design Week South Africa 2026 takes place from 22–25 October in Cape Town. Explore the full programme Here
