Design Week South Africa 2026: Johannesburg Becomes One Big Design Destination

Johannesburg is about to become one big design destination. From 8 to 11 October, Design Week South Africa, presented by Pinterest, returns to the city with a programme that moves beyond traditional exhibition spaces and into studios, shops, galleries and neighbourhoods across Joburg.

This year’s theme, The Shape of Us, explores the many forms South African creativity can take, bringing established names and emerging talent into the same conversation. And plenty is happening: talks, exhibitions, installations, workshops, performances, studio visits, product launches, and social events will unfold across Braamfontein and the CBD, Rosebank and surrounds, The Parks, and Kramerville and the Northern Suburbs.

The programme offers plenty of reasons to move around the city. Start the day with one of the Morning Sessions at Kohi at 44 Stanley, hear Wanda Lephoto present Between History and Now, join Young Urbanists for a conversation around why Sandton is so difficult to navigate on foot, or head to Pedersen + Lennard’s new Parkhurst store for The Industry Dialogue.

Doors are opening behind the scenes too. Bumba Souled Ceramics, BCKRDS and dhk Architects will host open studios, while visitors can get an early look at the new KRAM space in Kramerville. There are workshops at The Kim Sacks School of Ceramics, a Joburg on Foot inner-city tour and a walkabout of JCAF’s REVERSE FUTURES exhibition. Product launches from local names including 23 by Noah, Inomusainkosi, Pattern Lab and ballo add another reason to browse.

Pinterest is getting involved beyond its role as title sponsor, working with South African creatives to interpret trends from Pinterest Predicts 2026. Among the highlights is The Things We Love, an exhibition curated by Simone Schultz that brings together objects from the homes of local creative practitioners to explore our personal relationships with design, craft and materiality.

There’s music, fragrance and plenty more in the mix too. Ultimately, Design Week South Africa makes a convincing case for discovering Johannesburg through the people making, designing and imagining its future – and perhaps finding a few new favourite corners of the city along the way.