Ever admired a handmade bowl, wondered what goes on inside a design studio or wished a Joburg street were easier to walk along?

 

Design Week South Africa returns to Johannesburg from 8 to 11 October 2026, with exhibitions, workshops, studio visits and discussions spread across the city. The programme is now available, so you can choose an outing that suits your interests and budget. 

 

This year’s theme, The Shape of Us, considers the connections between design, identity and how we live. Here are a few ways to explore it. 

 

Step inside an imagined home

 

At Maison Bottega in Kramerville, The Art Vanguard SA’s IN HABIT brings together art, furniture, lighting, textiles and sound in an interior designed to be experienced as a whole.

 

Running from 8 to 11 October, it offers a chance to consider how the things we surround ourselves with influence the feel of a room. 

 

• Explore IN HABIT and its visiting details.

 

Try making something yourself

 

On Friday, 9 October, the Kim Sacks School of Ceramics offers a three-hour beginners’ clay workshop at 153 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood.

Participants will explore construction and surface techniques. The session costs R1,000 per person, including materials and firing. Booking is essential, and places are limited.

 

• View the clay workshop and booking information.

 

Look at the city from street level

 

Joburg on Foot, on Saturday, 10 October, explores the route from Park Station towards Gandhi Square along Joubert Street.

 

Led by artist Hannelie Coetzee, the walk looks at improvements under way and plans for more welcoming pedestrian spaces. It runs from 10:00 to approximately 11:30, with security accompanying the group. Check the meeting arrangements and RSVP before joining. 

 

• View the walking route, meeting points and RSVP details.

 

Join a conversation about Joburg’s future

 

Can Design Fix Joburg? brings questions about mobility, public spaces and a more liveable city into the discussion.

 

The session takes place at Kohi, 44 Stanley, on Sunday, 11 October, from 09:00 to 10:30. It is open to the public, with registration required.

 

• View the discussion and register.

 

Before You Go

 

• Festival dates: 8–11 October 2026.
• Venues: Across Johannesburg, including Kramerville, Rosebank, the Parks and the CBD.
• Bookings: Check each event’s entry requirements, prices and availability.
• Plan your route: Use the programme’s date and district filters to choose nearby activities and allow time between venues. 
• Browse the official Johannesburg programme.

 

The Bottom Line

 

You do not need to work in design to find something worth exploring. Choose a workshop, visit an exhibition or join a walk. You might leave with a new skill, an idea for your home or a different way of looking at a familiar Joburg street.