Mindful living meets culinary magic in Cape Town as wellness extravaganza comes to town
Thousands of wellness enthusiasts, conscious consumers, foodies, and retail and foodservice buyers from South Africa, the continent and as far afield as Europe, Asia, the Middle East and more, will be treated to a three-day extravaganza of ‘better-for-you’-centred cooking, masterclasses, and next-generation wellness innovation at this year’s Good Life Show in Cape Town, the official Host City.
Now in its sixth year, the conscious living and wellbeing showcase will fittingly open in the country’s lifestyle mecca before moving on to Johannesburg, where it will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre for the first time later in the year.
Alderman James Vos, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, says:
“The City is excited to welcome The Good Life Show to our shores. Cape Town prides itself on its delicious and diverse culinary scene that celebrates our communities and the many cultures that call this home. Food and lifestyle are also one of the biggest markets within our travel industry and a major driver of jobs and investment. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this wonderful event.”
Says Heidi Warricker, Chief Events Officer at Live Events, the Show organisers:
“As the only event of its kind on the continent, the Good Life Show serves as a vital platform for businesses in the booming wellness market, connecting them with conscious consumers, influential buyers, and investors. It also gives visitors the opportunity to see first-hand how Africa’s wellness producers are revolutionising the good-living space and to taste, touch, smell, see, and take home all this innovation from a curated marketplace.”
Visitors to the May 29-31 event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre will be spoilt for choice at a bustling marketplace featuring more than 250 exhibitors, sponsors and strategic partners who will showcase an array of products unique to Africa, exciting new ingredients, sophisticated plant-based foods, functional beverage options, organic foods, sustainability-focused apparel, and the latest clean-beauty and eco-friendly home and lifestyle products.
In a major coup, Live Events has partnered with Ndarama Works, a Pan-African economic advisory consultancy that has come on board to pave the way for exhibitors to enter high-stakes wellness markets.
Ndarama Works founder and CEO Dr Golden Mahove says the Good Life Show reflects the growing intersection between food innovation, natural products and experiential wellbeing.
“What we are witnessing is the emergence of an integrated wellness economy that spans agriculture, gastronomy, hospitality, health products and cultural experiences. Our partnership with the Good Life Show reflects a growing recognition that wellness is no longer a niche lifestyle trend but a significant economic and cultural force across Africa.”
This year spotlights premium interactive experiences. At the Wild & Stirred Bar, guests can join a guided urban foraging journey to explore South African botanicals before crafting a bespoke cocktail with a professional mixologist. Complementing this, “Learning with Liquids” Masterclasses offer high-energy, hands-on sessions led by top culinary and drinks talent. Guests will master technical skills while exploring innovative, wellness-conscious serves.
And the stars have certainly come out to play at this year’s Theatre of Taste Culinary Arena, the event’s flagship attraction.
None other than Nigerian food-content sensation Tolani Tayo-Osikoya – better-known to her 7.8 million social media followers as Chef T of Diary of a Kitchen Lover fame – is one of several global headliners who have signed up for this year’s show.
Chef T is heralded for her minimally processed ingredients and home-style cooking that speak to Africa’s culinary tradition of resilient, non-waste food systems.
The Giggling Gourmet Jenny Morris — the first South African to host her own show on the Food Network — is a champion of the “Better-for-You” lifestyle. Her storytelling and passion for flavour make her the ideal guide for those looking to bring world-class innovation into their kitchens at home
Driving home the significance of health-conscious cuisine are South Africa’s farm-to-table movement pioneer Chris Erasmus, nomadic and heritage-based garden-to-plate advocate Chef Constantijn Handiek, and award-winning chef, forager and sustainability advocate, Gregory Henderson. Joining them is Roushanna Gray, the founder of Veld and Sea. An expert in seasonal foraging, she connects people to the edible landscape through immersive workshops that transform wild botanicals and seaweeds into sustainable, award-winning culinary experiences.
Chefs like Kevin Grobler will also use their sessions to introduce showgoers to the benefits of his “root-to-leaf / nose-to-tail” philosophy (minimising waste and using whole ingredients).
There is even more star power in the form of MasterChef SA judge Peter Goffe-Wood, Mount Nelson Executive Chef Luke Barry, Taj Cape Town, Executive Chef Somnathsingh Rakesh, 2020 IKA Culinary Olympics bronze medalist Executive Pastry Chef, Oscar Baard, and the founder of Perima’s Kitchen and creator of the innovative “All-in-one Masala” concept Solina Moodley.
The “Chocolatier Farmer”, Philippe Lelard, who promotes ethical bean-to-bar practices and the use of indigenous botanicals like fynbos in confectionery, pastry virtuoso Kyle Hickmore, and Executive Pastry Chef Ilhame Guerrah, known for bringing international technical mastery and artistic vision to the Veliche Gourmet brand, are also part of the incredible line-up.
“Mixology Maven” Roxanne Read will headline the beverage section of the show, teaching visitors how to fuse raw aromatics and sustainable ingredients into conscious mixology.
The Good Life Show has generated huge interest from South African and international role players.
Warricker says:
“Locally, strategic and supporting partnerships have been forged with the City of Cape Town, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, Culinary & Service Professionals of SA (CSP-SA), FEDHASA, Restaurant Association of SA, South African Organic Sector Organisation, Heart & Stroke Foundation SA, Diabetes SA, Beauty Without Cruelty SA, Physicians Association for Nutrition SA, ECOCERT SA, Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture, Participatory Guarantee Systems SA, SAMAC and Waste-ED.”
The event’s global impact is bolstered by prestigious advocacy partners, including SYMABIO, IIFOAM Organics International, Atlanta Black Chambers Global Opportunities Committee (GOC) and The Black Beauty Industry Initiative (BBII), powered by the Atlanta Black Chambers. Through the World Macadamia Organisation’s “Love Macadamia” campaign, audiences can discover the nutritional excellence of one of the world’s most premium ingredients. Chef’s Manifesto, a global network of over 1,900 chefs, joins as an advocacy partner, supporting dialogue and action on sustainable food systems and chef-led change.
Daniel Kotze, General Manager at Ecocert South Africa believes that the partnership with the show reflects a shared commitment to transparency, responsible production and informed consumer choices.
“The Show provides an important platform to connect purpose‑driven brands with consumers who care deeply about the impact of what they buy and how it is produced. As a certification body, our role is to bring trust and clarity to sustainability claims, and this partnership allows us to support businesses and consumers alike in making choices that contribute to a more resilient, ethical, and environmentally responsible food and lifestyle system in Africa.”
Warricker adds that the show will offer savvy consumers and industry leaders a unique opportunity to discover emerging trends and connect with the brands shaping a mindful future.
The Good Life Show Cape Town:
- Venue:
- Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC2)
- Dates & Times:
- Friday, 29 May 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00
- Saturday, 30 May 2026, from 10:00 to 18:00
- Sunday, 31 May 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00
- Tickets:
- General Admission Adult: from R150 (excluding booking fee)
- Weekend (Saturday & Sunday) Adult: from R230 (excluding booking fee)
- Youth (ages 12 – 16): R50 (excluding booking fee)
- *Child aged 12 under: FREE
- Bookings through Quicket:
- Be sure to secure your tickets now here.
*Children must be accompanied by a paying adult (maximum of 2 children per paying adult.
About the Good Life Show
Aimed at anyone with an interest in food, health, wellness, the environment or more conscious living as well as trade professionals (retail and foodservice) looking for innovative high-quality products, The Good Life Show will feature thousands of high-quality and innovative food, drink and conscious living brands and products available in South Africa right now.
Connect with the Good Life Show on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
Connect with The Plant Powered Show on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
About Ndarama Works
Ndarama Works is a business development and program leadership company offering outsourced management services to local and international clients. Led by internationally recognised leadership, the professional teams focus on transforming the continent and helping businesses expand their market reach and impact in sustainable living across Africa, Europe, Canada, and the US.
