National Arts Festival announces new CEO
The National Arts Festival announced the appointment of Palesa Kadi as its new chief executive officer from next month.
The announcement was made after this year's successful edition at Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, which drew robust audiences to a packed programme of local and international work from emerging and established artists across eleven days.
Kadi said the province was rich in talent and culture and described the festival as an epicentre where the world can engage with the diversity and texture that creatives bring.
We are proud to announce the appointment of Palesa Kadi as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Festival. She takes up the position on 1 August 2026. Welcome Palesa, a new chapter begins! pic.twitter.com/U6BSh8ScNI
— NationalArtsFestival (@artsfestival) July 4, 2026
The National Arts Festival marked its 50th anniversary in 2024.
According to the Arts Festival website, the first edition of the festival was held in July 1974 and ran for 13 days (8-20 July), with 64 events, including exhibitions, lectures, performances, and guided tours.
“At the time, many countries were boycotting South Africa, withholding plays from being performed under the apartheid regime. This sparked the creation of local works and the emergence of names like Athol Fugard, Winston Ntshona, John Kani, Phyllis Klotz and Smal Ndaba, and Pieter Dirk-Uys who began to present work at the National Arts Festival.”
This year’s Arts Festival took place from 25 June to Sunday, 5 July.
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