Design Week South Africa, organized by Pinterest, will return to Cape Town from October 22 to 25, 2026, under the theme 'The Shape of Us'. The program is designed for four days and will bring together designers, architects, artists, artisans, and creative professionals to explore how design reflects people's identity, the spaces they live in, and ways of coexisting.
One of the key events will be the UNBUILT exhibition, presented by Design Week South Africa with sponsorship from dhk Architects. This exhibition will take place in Shortmarket in collaboration with Mission for Inner City Cape Town and opens on October 23. It will showcase projects and ideas dedicated to public spaces, mobility, urban infrastructure, and the future of South African cities.
Architecture and Spatial Design
Architecture and spatial design will also take center stage. SAOTA will present reflections on 40 years of its practice, while MŪVEK and CVN will examine the connection between furniture and architecture. dhk Architects will conduct a tour of Connardie Park in Pinelands. Furthermore, The MAAK and The Otto Foundation will present the Dream Library project at Dryden Street primary school, which was developed in collaboration with the school's students.
Local renowned designers will also present new collaborations. Weylandts will present The With as an expression of good living and connection, while Haldane and NØDE will unveil il Noir Edition—a sculptural interpretation of the Galapagos island kitchen unit. Pedersen + Lennard will organize The Industry Dialogue, gathering local designers and creative leaders to discuss the country's creative landscape.
The program also includes an international perspective. Objects by Eight (OBE) from Dubai collaborates with TSL to host a collection design exhibition featuring independent artist-designers and artisans from Africa and the Middle East. Italian brand Molteni&C will open its showroom in Cape Town for South African artists and artisans, and Sun Stories from London and Acre will present David Obenga Adane's series 'In My Family House' at Curación Gallerie.
Central Dialogue
Dialogues remain an important part of the week through the morning sessions of Design Week South Africa in Cape Town. Speakers include Eoin Carrigan from Pinterest, designer Atang Tshikare, and Tanya Slater from Artclub and Friends. Visitors are invited throughout the city to actively participate in shaping contemporary design through new collections, independent creative practices, tours, and workshops.
As the title sponsor, Pinterest presents its annual trend report, Pinterest Predicts, through a series of activities with local designers, craftspeople, and artisans in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The program connects global design trends with unique South African interpretations, giving the audience an opportunity to find inspiration through practical creative projects.
Among the highlights is the collaboration between Cape Town artist Koooooos and Nammu Ceramics. Based on the ancient tradition of interaction between potters and artists, this project presents a collection of vessels alongside Koooooos' new fresco in the Nammu studio in the East City. The fresco, commissioned by Design Week and inspired by Pinterest Predicts 2026, combines earthy khaki tones and the artist's signature blue hues.
Cape Town fashion label Good Good Good also marks a decade of local design with the event 'A Decade of Inspiration: 10 Years of Good Good Good'. A three-day rotating exhibition invites nine collaborators and creative leaders to share Pinterest boards reflecting the sources of inspiration for their work. Participants include Jana Hamman, Kgabo Mametja from Saint Rose, Shaun Hill, Karabo Poppy, Russell Abrahams from Yay Abe, and Wanda Lephoto.
The combination of these events positions Design Week South Africa not merely as a showcase of finished products, but as an opportunity to study the relationship between people, place, and creative practice, while celebrating the ideas and collaborations shaping the future of design in South Africa. The Design Week South Africa 2026 events will take place from October 22 to 25 in Cape Town.
