Save The Date: Fnb Art Joburg Is Back For Its 19th Edition This September

As the art world, once again, prepares to turn its gaze towards Johannesburg for a moment that defines contemporary African art, FNB Art Joburg is proud to announce that the fair is returning for its 19th edition. This year’s fair will take place from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, coinciding with Johannesburg’s 140th birthday.

FNB says:

“We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with FNB Art Joburg. Watching the fair grow into one of Africa’s most important contemporary art platforms has been inspiring. For us, this partnership reflects a fundamental belief that we hold, that when creativity is nurtured and given room to thrive, it can unlock opportunity, foster connection and drive meaningful societal change.”

Across its established platforms — gallery HUB, gallery LAB, ORG, AUX, INK, GIF and MAX — FNB Art Joburg has long cultivated multiple points of entry into contemporary African art. This year, that ecosystem expands with the introduction of a new section: ARC.

  • gallery HUB showcases Africa’s leading galleries, representing institutionally recognised artists shaping global narratives.
  • gallery LAB supports emerging and hybrid spaces that experiment with new modes of presentation and representation.
  • ARC expands how contemporary artistic practice is encountered at the fair. Dedicated to artists and works that challenge convention, it creates a space for discovery, dialogue and critical inquiry, foregrounding practices that reflect the immediacy, complexity and evolving concerns of contemporary African art.
  • ORG gives visibility to non-profit and artist-run initiatives driving cultural infrastructure and community building.
  • AUX offers talks, screenings and performances that invite audiences into meaningful conversations about art and its contexts.
  • INK (formerly ETC) celebrates print culture, spanning critical writing and art publications to artist books and limited-edition prints that acknowledge language and documentation as central to cultural legacy.
  • GIF focuses on photography as one of South Africa’s most significant artistic mediums, tracing both its histories and its futures.
  • MAX presents large-scale installations that reimagine scale, space and audience engagement.

Each section exists to provide multiple points of entry into art and its ideas. Together, they reflect FNB Art Joburg’s role as a living space that educates, connects and nurtures audiences while sustaining the commercial ecosystem that allows artists to thrive.

Running in parallel with the fair, Open City returns from 20 August to 14 September 2026, in partnership with Brand South Africa. The initiative transforms Johannesburg into an extended exhibition, connecting art, music, fashion, design, food and performances across the city. An access bridge into the fair, Open City demonstrates that what FNB Art Joburg does extends beyond the convention floor because it prioritises the entire city and its cultural workers, keeping Johannesburg’s cultural heart beating.

Founded in 1886 and turning 140 this year, Johannesburg remains the fair’s compass and muse: restless, abundant and unlimited.

Sibeko says:

“We are excited to welcome audiences back this September when our 19th edition will realise Johannesburg’s enduring role as a meeting place for cultural breakthroughs. Through inclusivity, inquiry and the incubation of new ideas, FNB Art Joburg continues to champion the innovation that is shaping the continent’s role in the future of the global ecosystem.”

Event Details:

  • Dates: Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026
  • Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
  • Tickets: Available from R200 online here

About FNB Art Joburg
FNB Art Joburg is Africa’s leading contemporary African art fair and the longest-running fair of its kind on the continent. Founded in 2008, the fair serves as a platform for galleries, artists, collectors, curators and cultural practitioners, fostering meaningful engagement with contemporary African art while strengthening the continent’s primary art market. Through its curated fair sections, public programme and city-wide initiatives such as Open City, FNB Art Joburg creates opportunities for dialogue, discovery and cultural exchange, positioning Johannesburg as a global destination for contemporary African culture.

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