The Cape Town Photography Festival is returning in September to host a month-long celebration of photography. The second edition of the festival is scheduled for September 2 to 26, 2026.
The theme of this year's festival is TRUTH, which explores how photography shapes our understanding of history, memory, identity, and power. The program has significantly expanded compared to the first session, including 40 exhibitions featuring over 160 photographers in various locations across the city.
Instead of being confined to traditional gallery spaces, the festival will bring photography out into public and historical locations in Cape Town. New venues this year include the Castle of Good Hope and the Company’s Garden, with exhibitions also taking place at the Central Library and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation.
One of the central events is the outdoor exhibition 'Cape Rhythm: Goema, Klopse & Memory' in the Company's Garden, dedicated to the connection between Cape Town's music, its musical history, and the memories associated with the city.
The program will also introduce an international perspective by showcasing photographic works from Réunion Island, and it will host masterclasses from PICHA Stock, a platform from Nairobi specializing in African photography and visual storytelling. The international student photography exhibition has quadrupled compared to last year and showcases the work of emerging photographers in three locations.
In addition to viewing photographs, visitors can participate in various activities: talks with artists, seminars, workshops, demonstrations, film screenings, and guided photo tours, allowing for diverse engagement with the ideas and the photographers themselves.
The choice of theme is relevant in a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to perceive photographs literally. With the development of artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and image manipulation, the festival calls on the audience to think more critically about photographs: who created them, how they were made, what they show, and what might be missing.
Festival Director Heidi Erdman notes: 'We live in an image-saturated world. Instead of just asking if we can still trust photographs, we need to become more attentive viewers.'
For anyone interested in visual culture, history, cinema, or simply wants to see the city from a different angle, the festival offers numerous opportunities. The Cape Town Photography Festival will run from September 2 to 26, 2026, at venues throughout Cape Town. The full program and information are available on the website capetownphotofest.co.za.