South Africa, Oct. 13 -- Established in 2003, the festival has grown from a platform for Afrikaans arts and culture into a multicultural event spanning theatre, music, dance, literature, visual arts, comedy, food and lifestyle experiences.

Its 2026 edition presented 156 productions across 261 performances, issuing 36,511 tickets - an 11% increase on 2025. Sixty-nine performances sold out, 73% of available tickets were sold, and cash revenue increased by 20%.

But the festival's economic significance extends beyond ticket sales.

It created 3,680 temporary employment opportunities for artists, technicians, cleaners, security personnel and other workers, supporting an ecosystem that also includes production companies, hospitality businesse...