ArtsAbility Festival 2026 brings inclusive dance to Cape Town

Cape Town will welcome artists from across Africa this November as the ArtsAbility Festival returns with a programme celebrating inclusive performance, creative expression and the talent of women in the arts.

Presented by Unmute Dance Theatre, the three-day festival runs from 26 to 28 November at Youngblood Africa Art Gallery and selected venues across the city. The programme will bring together artists with and without disabilities from South Africa, Namibia and Uganda for performances, visual arts, film, dialogue and creative exchange.

Under the theme Celebrating Creative Excellence Beyond Labels, this year’s festival puts women artists at the centre of the conversation, creating space for their voices, leadership and contributions to the creative sector.

The festival’s launch took place on 30 September at Youngblood Art Gallery, offering an introduction to the artists and ideas shaping the 2026 edition.

ArtsAbility aims to challenge the traditional ways disability is understood in the creative industries, shifting attention towards artistic skill, originality and professional achievement.

For artists with disabilities, access to performance spaces, professional opportunities and industry recognition can remain a challenge. The festival seeks to address these barriers by creating a platform where artists can collaborate, lead and showcase their work on the strength of their creative abilities.

Founded in 2014 by Unmute Dance Theatre, ArtsAbility grew out of the experiences of artists navigating creative environments where accessibility and inclusion were often overlooked.

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Nadine McKenzie, co-founder and artistic director of Unmute Dance Theatre, said the festival was established to ensure artists with and without disabilities could create work and receive recognition for their artistry.

This year’s focus on women also highlights the importance of representation in an industry where opportunities for female leadership remain limited.

McKenzie said the festival would create space for women to speak, create, lead and influence conversations about the future of the arts.

As women of colour working in the sector, she and her colleagues understand the importance of visibility, particularly in spaces where decisions about creative opportunities and representation are made.

The 2026 festival features a mix of established performers and emerging artists, with dance taking its place alongside photography, painting, graphic design and other creative disciplines.

Among the international participants is Namibian contemporary dancer Ethan Philander, a recipient of the 2025 Best Newcomer award. Fellow Namibian dancer Olivia Hendjala will also bring her emerging artistic practice to the programme.

Ugandan multidisciplinary performer and choreographer Joseph Tebandeke will contribute work that explores ideas around ability through movement and visual art.

South African performers include Jabu Siphika, a dancer and choreographer associated with Durban’s FLATFOOT Dance Company, and Cape Town-based choreographer and performer Jamie Lee Jansen.

Professional dancer Mthokozisi Mkhwanazi, from Durban, will also participate, drawing on a career spanning leading South African dance companies.

Emerging performer Thimna Ndwe and Unmute trainee Jesse Jacobs are among the other South African artists featured. Jacobs brings experience across contemporary dance, modern dance, hip-hop, ballet and jazz.

Johannesburg-based choreographer Roseline Wilkens, who specialises in ballroom and Latin dance, adds another dimension to the festival’s performance programme.

The visual arts offering will feature documentary photographer Andile Bhala, whose work explores identity and contemporary African life, alongside multidisciplinary artist Tony Luza, whose practice includes painting, graphic design and music. Robyn Pretorius is also among the artists associated with the festival.

Together, the artists represent a range of disciplines and perspectives, reflecting the festival’s commitment to creative exchange across cultures, experiences and artistic traditions.

Beyond the performances, ArtsAbility 2026 aims to open up conversations about who gets opportunities to lead, create and shape the creative industries.

Sasha Fourie, head of training and education at Unmute Dance Theatre and the festival’s coordinator, said the programme would continue to prioritise accessibility for the disabled community while creating more space for female leadership.

She also highlighted the value of bringing artists from different disciplines and backgrounds together to exchange ideas and practices.

For Cape Town, the festival offers an opportunity to engage with contemporary African art while considering how cultural spaces can become more accessible and representative.

Its broader ambition is to help build a creative sector in which artists with disabilities are recognised as professionals and innovators, with opportunities to contribute to the cultural and economic life of their communities.

ArtsAbility Festival 2026 takes place from 26 to 28 November 2026 at Youngblood Africa Art Gallery and selected venues across Cape Town.

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Picture: Supplied

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