Every year, the Cape Flats Book Festival brings stories and people together in a celebration of reading, writing, and imagination. In 2026, the festival returns 31 January – 1 February at West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, and it’s free for everyone to attend — making it one of the Cape Flats’ most exciting cultural events of the year.
Table of Contents
What is the Cape Flats Book Festival?
The Cape Flats Book Festival started as a way to build a stronger culture of reading, where access to books and literary events has traditionally been limited. Over time, it has grown into a much-loved annual celebration where local and nationally known authors, poets, storytellers and readers of all ages gather. This year’s festival continues that mission, welcoming writers and book lovers from across South Africa.
READ to RISE, the non-profit organisation behind the festival, works to promote literacy in under-resourced communities through classroom programmes and book donations. The book festival is an extension of this work — a space where young people can meet authors, engage in creative activities, and feel seen in a world of stories and ideas.
What’s on the Weekend’s Agenda?
Author Discussions and Panels
More than 90 writers, poets and speakers are expected to participate in the Cape Flats Book Festival this year. The line-up includes established literary figures, emerging voices, and diverse storytellers representing a range of genres and perspectives.
Writing Workshops
Aspiring writers can attend the following workshops at the Cape Flats Book Festival, focused on different aspects of writing, including:
- Creative Writing Workshop: 31 Jan | 10:45 to 12:20
- True Crime Writing Masterclass: 31 Jan | 13:30 to 14:10
- Finding rhythm and music in your writing: 31 Jan | 15:20 to 16:00
- Publishing Workshop: 1 Feb | 10:00 to 10:40
- Romance Writing Workshop: 1 Feb | 10:55 to 11:35
- Memoir Workshop: 1 Feb | 10:45 to 12:20
- Flow: Writing the river of your life: 1 Feb | 11:50 to 13:25
These workshops are designed to be hands-on and inspiring, whether you’re just beginning or have been writing for years.
Fun Activities for Children
Kids are more than welcome at the Cape Flats Book Festival — there’s a whole section just for them:
Storytelling Sessions
Children can enjoy story time with engaging narrators and children’s authors who bring books to life.
OAKY Puppet Show
One of the highlights for younger visitors is the lively puppet show featuring OAKY, a beloved character from Read to Rise’s programmes.
Face Painting and Mascots
Kids can get creative with face painting and meet friendly mascots around the festival grounds.
Why Attend the Cape Flats Book Festival?
- 1. It celebrates diversity of thoughts and stories. The Cape Flats has a rich cultural fabric, and this festival showcases voices that reflect that depth.
- 2. It builds literacy and passion for reading. Through workshops, live readings and author interactions, attendees can grow confidence in their creative skills and enjoy literary discovery.
- 3. It brings the community together. People from all backgrounds converge at West End Primary School to share experiences, perspectives and ideas through words and storytelling.
Lucky Draws and Goodie Bags
Each day at noon, there will be a lucky draw where attendees have a chance to win prizes. These draws act as punctuation points in the schedule — moments where curiosity shifts into anticipation as names are called out. ([NovaNews][3])
People who attend multiple sessions and have their programme stamped receive a goodie bag from the READ to RISE stand, while supplies last.
Food Vendors and Book Stalls
Food vendors are ready with tasty treats that appeal to all ages. From quick snacks to substantial bites, there are options to satisfy every appetite while you explore sessions or relax with a story.
Independent booksellers and publishers will have stands throughout the venue, where you can explore novels, poetry collections, children’s books and more.
Event Details at a Glance
- Host: Read to Rise
- Location: Mitchells Plain, Cape Town (Check the official website for specific venue maps)
- Highlights: Open Mic sessions, Facepainting, Lucky Draws, and over 40 guest speakers.
Cape Flats Book Festival Programme
Friday, 31 January 2026
09:30 – 10:30
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Opening Ceremony
10:45 – 11:25
- Venue 1 (Adults): Stories From Our Ancestors – Patric Mellet (Conversations with my Ancestral Mothers) & Eleanor Damon (Van Toeka tot nou).
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): In Other Stories (Flash Fiction) – Kerry Hammerton, Megan Roussouw, Petros Isaakidis, Chantal Stewart & Bongani Kona.
- Venue 3 (Children): Samantha Adams (Whiskers, Wobbles and Wild Ideas) and Lulu Fellowes (Russ the High Flyer).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Memoir Workshop: Writing Your Story – Melinda Ferguson.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Open Mic.
- Venue 6 (Afrikaans/Poetry): Creative Writing Workshop (Afr) – Skryf met mý toolbox by Gaireyah Fredericks.
11:20 – 11:40 (Overlap/Short Sessions)
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Poets Vannie Kaap – Krotoa.
11:40 – 12:20
- Venue 1 (Adults): True Crimes Unraveled – Nicole Engelbrecht (Bare Bones) & Julian Jansen (The Murder of Deveney Nel).
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Fantasy for Youth – Craig Japhta (The Cynewards and the Serpent Trials) & Kyle Jantjies (The G.L.O.A.T – The Search for Mokole-Mbembe).
- Venue 3 (Children): Bianca Flanders (Pumpkin and the Hidden Heroes).
12:20 – 12:40
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Lucky Draw and Oaky Mascot appearance.
12:35 – 13:15
- Venue 1 (Adults): Snake – Tracey Farren in conversation with film director Meg Rickards.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): The Good Ol’ Days – Collatin Hendricks (The Hills Are Alive: It’s Festive) & Vanessa van Rooy (Onnie: Memoirs of a Cape Town Teacher).
- Venue 3 (Children): Diana Ferrus (The Boy Who Loved to Dance) and Karen Singh (Mama’s Garden of Hope).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Your Book is Better Than a Business Card – Kyle Jantjies.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Sarah Uheida (Not This Tender) and Sanah Ahsan (I Cannot Be Good Until You Say It).
- Venue 6 (Afrikaans/Poetry): Lewe en Duisternis – Faeed Amardien (Life is ‘n biets) and Jeremy Dames (Voetspore in die donker).
13:30 – 14:10
- Venue 1 (Adults): The Deal – Mandy Wiener in conversation with Lester Kiewit.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Getting to Know Me – Pam Newham (My Three Names) & Andile Cele (Braids and Migraines) in conversation with Nancy Richards.
- Venue 3 (Children): Lisa Witten (My World, My Way) and Yumnah Jones (Aisha’s Ears).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): True Crime Writing Masterclass – Nicole Engelbrecht.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Waneer Grense Bloei – Mengelmoes Digters: Diana Ferrus, Merle Danhouse, and Theresa Carstens.
- Venue 6 (Afrikaans/Poetry): Klokke, Skimme & Skerpioene – Deon Meyer (Skorpio), Bettina Wyngaard (Knal) & Martin Steyn (Skimme en Spoorsoekers).
14:25 – 15:05
- Venue 1 (Adults): Political Cartoonists – Jonathan Shapiro ‘Zapiro’ (What Else could go Wrong) & Brandon Reynolds (Brandan’s 2024) in conversation with Solly Moeng.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Stepping up to the Impossible – Sheryl and Sandy James (Unbridling) in conversation with Beryl Eichenberger.
- Venue 3 (Children): Lauren o’Connor (Dream House Adventures).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Workshop by The Plainsman.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Thandiwe Nqanda (No Time to Mourn) and Zizipho Bam (Sunflowers for My Lovers).
- Venue 6 (Afrikaans/Poetry): Unknotting Masculinity Through Poetry – Jadrick Pedro (Lostoor-ing) & Ryan Pedro (Prins).
15:20 – 16:00
- Venue 1 (Adults): In the Line of Duty – Jonathan Morris (Confessor Cop) & Jeremy Vearey (Into Dark Water: A Police Memoir) in conversation with Ryland Fisher.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): I Will Survive – Sharmie Vee (I CANcervive) & Aashiqah Van Schalkwyk (Gracefully Broken Purposely Restored) in conversation with Nancy Richards.
- Venue 3 (Children): Paulvin Webster (Captain AK and Krotyla) and Eleanor Damon (The Mouse King).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Finding Your Rhythm and Music in Your Writing – Chris Ferndale.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Heal the Hood Project – Afrocation – Creating Solutions (Book) by Emile YX?
- Venue 6 (Afrikaans/Poetry): A Poetic Life – Chantal Stewart (Let’s Be Legends) and Kobus Moolman (Fall Risk).
Sunday, 1 February 2026
10:00 – 10:40 AM
- Venue 1 (Adults): Betrayal or Bethrotal: Nuhaa Bardien and Sumi Singh (Moderated by Beryl Eichenberger).
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Teen Books: Leila Alexander, Zeta Jonkers, Theolla Langenhoven, and Haroldene Tshienda.
- Venue 3 (Children): Oaky in the Playground by Read to Rise.
- Venue 4 (Workshops): From Dream to Done: A publishing workshop by Liezel Snyman.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Tribute to Late Crystal Donna Roberts for her role as Krotoa by Elzana October.
10:55 – 11:35 AM
- Venue 1 (Adults): Rising From the Cape Flats: Trevor November and Kennethea Jackson Williams.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): English Alive: Kirsten Deane and Twanji Kalula.
- Venue 3 (Children): Alicia English (A Star Called Ally) and Devine English (Friends Forever).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Writing Romance Novels Workshop by Sarah Bullen.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Afrocation Teaching Aids – Heal The Hood.
11:50 AM – 12:30 PM
- Venue 1 (Adults): Journeys of Belonging: Anwar McKay and Zubayr Charles (In conversation with Faraaz Fakier).
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Power (Short Stories): Joanne Hichens, Kamva Majo, Tanya Farber, Cynthia Kistasamy, and Nadia Cassim.
- Venue 3 (Children): Subi Bosa (Wrong!) and Liz Sparg (Zanele Situ: My Story).
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Flow: Writing the river of your life – A WOMAN ZONE workshop.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Heal The Hood Compilation Album Launch (Kids Performances).
12:30 – 12:45 PM
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Lucky Draw
12:45 – 1:25 PM
- Venue 1 (Adults): Soul Food: Fehmz and Kim Bagley (Moderated by Gadija Sydow).
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Life on the Cape Flats: Andrew Brown and Trevor Pedro (Moderated by Stanley Jacobs).
- Venue 3 (Children): Sue Adams (What’s Happened to our Water?) and Sindeka Mandoyi (A Trip to the Tap).
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Cape Cultural Collective – Chris Ferndale, Vusumuzi Mpofu, Helga Jansen, and Eugenia Zantoto.
1:40 – 2:20 PM
- Venue 1 (Adults): Book Launch: Making a Black Noise Part 1 by Emile Jansen.
- Venue 2 (Young Adults/Adults): Messy Relationships: Nadia Cassim and Qaanitah Hunter (Moderated by Joy Watson).
- Venue 3 (Children): Oaky the Happy Tree Puppet Show by Read to Rise.
- Venue 4 (Workshops): Pathways to Publishing: Liezel Snyman, Karina Szczurek, and Alicia English.
- Venue 5 (Poetry): Poetry From the Heart: Thabo Leholo, Latifah Jacobs, Quinton Leonard, and Haroldene Tshienda.
Exhibitors on Site
Be sure to visit the stalls between sessions:
- Bargain Books
- Exclusive Books
- Shofar Books
- Read to Rise
- The Plainsman
- Heal The Hood
- Theart Press
- Blue Weaver
How to Get Involved
Whether you’re a lifelong bibliophile or a curious neighbour, there’s a place for you at CFBF 2026.
- Attend: Bring the whole family! Entry is designed to be accessible to all.
- Sponsor: Visit the Sponsor a Book page to help us reach our goal of gifting books to thousands of children.
- Spread the Word: Share the official 2026 poster (available on the website) on social media using the hashtag #CFBF2026.
Author: Editorial Team
About The Author
