Food Indaba 2026 is a major event dedicated to sustainable food and culture in Cape Town, where traditions meet an emphasis on water resources, well-being, and community spirit. This annual event takes place from July 20 to August 2 and is organized by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust.
The event is aligned with the spirit of Mandela Day and the principle of Ubuntu. Instead of academic lectures, Food Indaba 2026 offers over 17 immersive events across the City Bowl, focusing on locally sustainable food. This year's central theme is ROAR (Water and Food Systems: Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers, and Precipitation).
As climate change intensifies, collective well-being is being tested. Food Indaba 2026 demonstrates how local communities, urban farmers, and leading chefs collaborate with nature to protect mental, physical, and social health.
Various experiences are offered to understand and support the invisible networks that feed the city, immersing participants in Cape Town's sustainable food cultures.
Walking Gastronomic Tours (July 21–23) are held in the Bellville, Langa, and Central Business District (CBD) areas. These tours differ from standard excursions: participants explore the vibrant informal economy of taxi ranks in Bellville, learn about community-led composting initiatives in Langa, and trace the ancient freshwater sources that sustained the first residents of the CBD.
At the MRKTPLC market (July 25–26) in Makers Landing, visitors can see Cape Town's live food culture before it becomes mainstream. This vibrant market features 15 young food entrepreneurs from lesser-known corners of the city, offering unique snacks, small-batch spices, and traditional pantry items.
Food is viewed not just as energy, but as a carrier of memory, culture, and medicine. Exclusive events explore how the wild South African landscape can contribute to improving our relationship with food consumption.
As part of a workshop at Wolfgat (July 23 at Makers Landing), Chef Kobus van der Merwe and his team leave Paternoester to conduct an intimate and rare lesson in the city. Participants will gain insight into how the menu at their world-renowned restaurant is determined by wild coastal ingredients, Strandveld succulents, and small-scale sustainable fishing.
The World of Mouth: Wetlands Within event (July 25 at Tauyaa Wine Room) is a multi-sensory, story-based dinner prepared by Li and Lerato Waters-Myn (Mpintshi Yum). The menu, created using carefully sourced ingredients and a traditional herbal tea ceremony, beautifully illustrates the journey of water through the earth, the human body, and collective memory.
High-energy workshops have been developed to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens, turning sustainability into a game.
At the WATERLESS Cooking Jam youth food fair (August 1 at Soute by Food Jams), forty teenagers will be challenged to create an incredible dish without using any water. Instead, they will study methods of perspiration, pressing, and steam capture to extract moisture directly from raw ingredients.
For children aged 6–12, there is an interactive WATER Lab (August 1 at Cape Town Science Centre) that makes water conservation tangible and edible. Children will learn how desert plants, coastal fog, and local knowledge help conserve water in challenging conditions.
For those who wish to feel more grounded and inspired, opportunities are provided to step away from screens and connect with those who grow our food. 'Tea with a Farmer' sessions (August 1 at Oranjezicht City Farm and Langa) invite conversation with passionate urban growers over freshly brewed herbal tea. This space is for discussing water-wise agriculture, local cultural knowledge, and the benefits of being on the land for mental health.
A panel discussion on regenerative agriculture (July 23–26) is designed for an in-depth exploration of well-being theory. These panels bring together soil specialists, ethical consumers, and food writers to discuss the real challenges of responsible sourcing and changing the world through narrative.
Food Indaba is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Mandela Day by interacting with the people who are making our food systems stronger, smarter, and more unified.
A large-scale public gathering will take place in Cape Town to honor Mandela Day, organized by Young Urbanists South Africa. This organization is transforming part of Bree Street into a giant Langtafel, which can accommodate up to 1600 people for a shared meal.
The event is scheduled for July 18th and aims to bring together people from different neighborhoods, cultures, and social strata around one large communal table. This reflects the spirit of unity and service inspired by Nelson Mandela.
Attendees can purchase food from participating restaurants along Bree Street or bring their own lunch. Organizers will also provide all attendees with bread and a surprise dessert.
The initiative has a strong social focus. For those who cannot afford a full meal, The Community Chest of the Western Cape, in collaboration with Studio H and other partners, will provide food, ensuring everyone can participate in this event.
In addition to the communal meal, organizers are calling on residents to participate in volunteering, helping with event preparations and supporting The Community Chest throughout the day. This call aligns with the tradition of Mandela Day, which encourages South Africans to dedicate time to improving their community.
Unlike traditional Mandela Day events, which often include charity drives or clean-up campaigns, this year offers something different—an opportunity to socialize with strangers over a shared meal in one of Cape Town's busiest public spaces. The concept emphasizes the potential of public spaces as venues for interaction, inclusion, and community building.
The event will take place on Bree Street opposite Rebecca Square on July 18, 2026. Anyone interested in attending or participating as a volunteer can find more information through Young Urbanists South Africa and its volunteer registration platform.
The Shoprite Group has reached a significant milestone in its long-term community garden program, transforming household food waste into fresh vegetables in the Western Cape. The retail chain now boasts 300 sites, among which the garden in the Zero Organic Waste to Landfill project near Bredasdorp is considered iconic.
This initiative is the result of a partnership between the Cape Agulhas Municipality and the South African Zero Waste Association (Zwasa). The project, which began in 2021 with the aim of diverting biodegradable waste from landfills and turning it into nutrient-rich compost, has evolved into a thriving food production system over time.
By 2024, the project has gone beyond simple composting and functions as a circular system that integrates organic waste, healthy soil, and food production into one continuous cycle. Waste from approximately 800 local households is collected, sorted, and composted on-site, after which the compost is returned to the soil for growing vegetables just a few meters away, and the fresh produce is sold to local residents.
Due to the garden's location near a large informal settlement, fresh organic vegetables travel a very short distance from the ground to the table, making nutritious food more accessible to the local community. The garden is maintained weekly by a team of eight people under the guidance of Zwasa farm manager, Anine Swart. Currently, about 700 square meters are actively cultivated on the five-hectare site.
In addition to growing vegetables, the project serves as a learning center. Monthly workshops provide community members with practical agricultural skills. Further steps are planned, including the creation of a nursery for growing seedlings and redesigning beds for better protection of crops and soil against erosion and increasing extreme weather conditions.
For over ten years, the Shoprite Group has supported community gardens across South Africa, helping to strengthen food security, create local opportunities, and improve access to fresh produce. The retailer's support includes not only funding but also agricultural training, mentorship, irrigation systems, farming tools, and water collection infrastructure. These measures aim to increase production while reducing the burden on municipal water supplies.
Sanjiv Ragubir, Director of Sustainability at the Shoprite Group, noted that reaching the 300 community garden mark signifies an important stage in the retailer's commitment to supporting communities. He emphasized that the support for each garden site is tailored to its specific conditions and the needs of the local population. In Bredasdorp, local collaboration and regenerative thinking help transform what was considered waste into a valuable resource, thereby strengthening food security in a practical and long-term manner.
For the Cape Agulhas Municipality, this project demonstrates how unused land can be transformed into productive spaces while simultaneously addressing waste management challenges. Municipal Manager Wessel Rabbets stated that this project is a tangible and inspiring example of how partnerships can turn difficulties into benefits for both people and the environment.
The Bredasdorp project serves as a practical illustration of how interaction between the private sector, local government, and civil society organizations can reduce food waste, restore soil, enhance food security, and create jobs for local residents. The Shoprite Group stated that it will continue to invest in programs that strengthen communities through sustainable food production and locally managed solutions, now having 300 community gardens across South Africa.
As part of an initiative aimed at preserving cultural identity and bridging the generational gap, students from Darbyn will participate in a practical immersion into the history of South Africa's liberation during the winter holidays.
The 1860 Heritage Centre, located on Derby Street, will host its important 'Day in the Museum' event on Tuesday, July 7th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The program invites students aged 8 to 18 to explore carefully curated exhibits that trace the country's journey from the indenture system to full democracy.
This centre has become a significant cultural institution in KwaZulu-Natal, preserving histories that might otherwise be forgotten while promoting dialogue about South Africa's diverse heritage and shared future. Its core idea is that understanding one's past helps in better understanding the present.
The institute is not merely a repository of the history of contract Indian workers; it comprehensively documents the broader multi-racial struggle in South Africa for freedom and social justice. The Centre's Director, Selvan Naidu, stated: 'We want to go beyond a static museum and present the heritage in a unique, innovative way.'
He added that in the modern world, children need to know how to identify and assert their heritage in a pluralistic society, and this opportunity allows youth to connect with a rich history that was often inaccessible to them.
Through its galleries, young visitors will confront the harsh reality faced by contract workers, as well as the role of women in the fight for liberation and the intersecting legacies of iconic figures such as Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Chief Albert Luthuli. Furthermore, the tour extends beyond political history, highlighting sporting achievements, including special exhibitions dedicated to the Kerry fountain and the golf legend Papwa Segolum.
Speaking on South Africa's journey 32 years after achieving democracy, Naidu emphasized the need for fresh and engaging methods of preserving historical memory. This includes a unique tactile addition to the curriculum, where students will participate in a live demonstration of preparing traditional indenture dishes, namely spices (bhaji) and roti.
Naidu noted that bhaji and roti formed the staple diet of contract Indian workers—a simple yet nutritious meal that sustained them for generations. He added that many young people no longer eat these heritage dishes, and this provides a practical opportunity to learn these skills, understand the country's rich past, and continue this tradition.
The initiative allows participants to physically interact with historical artifacts and engage in oral storytelling, taking the learning process beyond school textbooks so they can grasp the country's diverse roots. Naidu expressed hope that local children will participate in this unique cultural opportunity in large numbers.
Organizers reported that parents can either leave their children or accompany them on the tour, but a strict RSVP protocol is maintained for catering purposes. Attendance at the event is completely free, although advance registration is required due to limited space. To book a spot, contact Yatin at 072 331 4017.
