Zeitz MOCAA Announces 2026 Gala Collateral Programme A Three-Day Immersive Cultural Experience By the Footsteps of the Beloved — عَلَى خُطَى الحَبِيب

 Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) announces its 2026 Gala Collateral Programme, a three-day itinerary  of exchange, reflection, and celebration presented under the curatorial theme By the Footsteps of the Beloved — عَلَىخُطَىالحَبِيب. The programme is anchored by the Zeitz MOCAA Gala on Friday, 20 February and extends through Sunday, 22 February. It invites Gala guests to participate in a series of events and engagements that deepen connection with the museum, the broader Cape Town art ecosystem, and the relationships that sustain it.

Powered by Explore Sideways and curated by Hamzeh Alfarahneh, the programme brings together artists, cultural practitioners, partner organisations, and patrons through guided exhibitions tours, studio visits, collector engagements, and moments of hospitality across Cape Town and the Winelands. Developed by the late Koyo Kouoh and open exclusively to Gala guests on a first-come, first-served basis, the programme pioneers a new institutional model and extends the cultural activity of the museum.  

By the Footsteps of the Beloved — عَلَىخُطَىالحَبِيب draws on an idiomatic expression from Arabic literary and devotional traditions to reflect on continuity, custodianship, and the collective labour of institutional building. In Islamic and Sufi thought, “the Beloved” evokes reverence, guidance, and devotion. Engaged here metaphorically, the framework recognises that a mantle has been passed, not as a call to imitation, but to becoming; to forging paths forward, creating space for others, standing for what is right, and sustaining a shared vision across generations. 

“Echoing the spirit of previous editions that foreground intentionality, collaboration, and cultural exchange, the 2026 iteration extends Zeitz MOCAA’s commitment to building an ecosystem rooted in radical generosity, kinship, and excellence. It is an act of remembrance and renewal that honours those who have carried the light of this institution, while affirming the collective responsibility to sustain its future through shared purpose and collaborative stewardship,” says Alfarahneh. 

The opening day unfolds at Zeitz MOCAA with a focus on the BMW Centre for Art Education and curator-led exhibition tours, culminating in the evening with the museum’s annual fundraising Gala dinner. The second day extends into Cape Town’s wider cultural landscape through visits to galleries, sister institutions, and artist studios. The weekend draws to a close with a communal moment of respite and celebration at the Hazendal Sunday Brunch gathering in the Winelands.

“The Gala Collateral Programme is one of a kind; no other museum in the world undertakes a programme that extends their Gala into a multi-day itinerary that activates the city and brings artists, partners, and patrons into close proximity with its work. This approach reflects Zeitz MOCAA’s belief that institutions are built through hospitality, shared responsibility, and sustained relationships,” affirms David Green, Zeitz MOCAA Co-founder and Co-chair. 

The Fundraising Gala brings together local and international artists, curators, patrons, and cultural luminaries with Honorary Awards presented to Abdoulaye Konaté with laudatory remarks by Fatima Bintou Rassoul SY,Dr Anita Blanchard and Martin Nesbitt to be lauded by Siddhartha Mitter, and Justice Albie Sachs set to receive a laudation by Gavin Jantjes. The evening will be hosted by Emmy Award–winning storyteller Thando Dlomo alongside a distinguished Gala Host Committee featuring Acha Leke, Vanessa September, Roger Ross Williams, and Jo-Ann Strauss. The styling of Gala hosts will be curated by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Thebe Magugu. Award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer Zoë Modiga will wow guests with an exclusive musical performance. The night culminates in an After Party on the Level 6 dance floor where curated beats meet Cape Town’s signature after-dark allure in a finale of effortless sophistication.

This annual fundraiser plays a vital role in ensuring that Zeitz MOCAA remains a vibrant civic space where contemporary art empowers communities and amplifies African and diasporic voices on the global stage. Proceeds from the event directly sustain the museum’s curatorial and education programmes, artist-focused research initiatives, and innovative learning platforms that deepen access and promote engagement.

The Zeitz MOCAA Gala Collateral Programme 2026 was made possible through the generous support of BMW South Africa, Bloomberg, Hazendal Wine Estate, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Goodman Gallery, Liza Essers, Southern Guild, Peffers Fine Art, 21 Nettleton, Magugu House, The Silo Hotel, and Igshaan Adams Studio, with special thanks to Hamzeh Alfarahneh, Between Us, Southern Guild, Pumla Maswanganyi, and Thebe Magugu.

The Zeitz MOCAA Gala 2026 is proudly supported by BMW South Africa, Hazendal Wine Estate, YourLuxury Africa, Condé Nast, and Ocular Lounge & Events Space.

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