Experience Living History with Iziko Museums of South Africa this heritage month
For media images and interview requests, please contact Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
CAPE TOWN – This September, Iziko Museums of South Africa invites the public to experience the high-energy in_herit FESTIVAL 2026. Guided by the theme Our Roots, Our Rhythm, Our Future, this month-long celebration invites everyone to reflect, revive, reclaim, and restore as we celebrate our living heritage and strengthen the ties that bind us.
The festival kicked off with a global milestone as South Africa hosts the prestigious Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC 2026) conference for the very first time on the African continent at various Iziko sites. International experts gather to explore biodiversity, digital preservation, and Indigenous knowledge, while public lectures dive into sub-Antarctic research on Marion Island and the conservation of our technological heritage.
Art and youth take centre stage across Iziko’s iconic venues. Visitors can experience Art Out Loud, a month-long showcase honouring Indigenous artists at Groot Constantia, alongside original artwork by local students at the Iziko South African National Gallery Annex. More students and staff also team up at the Iziko Slave Lodge to reimagine historic sites for a new, tech-forward era. Adding to this rich cultural backdrop, the Iziko South African National Gallery will welcome back Irma Stern’s masterpiece, Arab Priest, on loan to the public starting 24 September.
The Iziko Mobile Museum brings cultural heritage directly to communities, schools and audiences who may have limited access to traditional museum spaces. By taking exhibitions and educational programmes beyond museum walls enables greater access to South Africa’s rich history, science, art and heritage. The Iziko Mobile Museums will be on the road to bring interactive heritage programs directly to schools and public libraries in Khayelitsha, Athlone, Dunoon, Heideveld, and Lavender Hill.
Public Lecture Series | Iziko South African Museum
Join Iziko Museums, in collaboration with the Friends of the Iziko South African Museum on Saturday, 19 September 2026, for a stimulating public lecture series exploring architecture, environmental science and heritage conservation. The programme features Art Deco Cape Town: Facades and Fragments with architect, author and editor Ken McGillivray (10:00-12:00); Marion Island: A Window into the Southern Ocean with Abuyiselwe Nguna of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (12:00-13:00); and Conserving Our Technological Heritage with renowned science educator and museum specialist Prof. Mike Bruton (14:00-15:00). Open to the public, the lectures offer a unique opportunity to engage with experts on topics ranging from Cape Town’s architectural heritage and Antarctic research to the preservation of scientific and technological history. Attendance is free, booking is essential. RSVP online: in_herit Festival 2026: Public Lecture Series
The in_herit FESTIVAL 2026 runs from 1 to 30 September 2026, with main Heritage Day celebrations taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Entrance to the Iziko South African Museum, Iziko South African National Gallery, Iziko Old Townhouse, Iziko Slave Lodge, Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum as well as the Castle of Good Hope and Groot Constantia will be *FREE (Excluding Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome) on Heritage Day, 24 September only.
Festivities span a high-energy lineup kicking off the day with a special opening performance by the Helderkruin Primary School Majorettes & Cadets. Live music across four venues, including the Iphupho Marimba Ensemble at the Slave Lodge, Sama Yoyo with Band at the National Gallery, the Ghumba/Ghoema Band at the Bo-Kaap Museum, and the Usapho Creative Group at the Old Town House will take place. Visitors can also enjoy interactive Indigenous Games, live weaving with the Cape Guild of Weavers, craft workshops with the Handmade Trust, a live DJ set, and a special Umhlobo Wenene FM live broadcast from the Iziko Slave Lodge, National Gallery and South African Museum.
Families and science enthusiasts can dive into hands-on STEAM activities in the Iziko South African Museum’s Discovery Room, enjoy storytelling puppet shows, or catch immersive full-dome planetarium screenings. To view the complete month-long festival schedule and full event timings, visit www.iziko.org.za. Join the movement on social media using #InHeritFesr2026, #ReimagineHeritage, and #OurRootsOurRhythmOurFuture. Stay updated on upcoming news and events by subscribing to the Iziko Newsletter.
