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The four-night showcase, running from 9–12 April 2026, marks the continent’s first dedicated celebration of light-based art, Cape {town} Etc reports.
A new experience for the Mother City
Organisers describe LUMENOCITY as a journey through 20-plus large-scale artworks that invite touch, movement, and interaction.
In the months leading up to the launch, the Museum and National Gallery will become part of the canvas, with well-known Cape Town illustrator and multidisciplinary artist Yay Abe leading projection-mapping installations across the buildings.
One of the headline attractions will be a 10-metre-high light tower featuring a 5×5m LED cave designed for full visual immersion. Another feature, the Beam of Hope, will send a visible column of light into Cape Town’s skyline throughout the festival period.
Speaking about the vision behind the event, founder and creative producer Gareth Hadden says: ‘LUMENOCITY is about igniting wonder, that electric moment when imagination feels real.’
He adds that the goal is to remind visitors that creativity is the driving force behind Cape Town’s next chapter, not just a display.
The festival will unfold from dusk until late, with glowing pathways, illuminated trees, ambient performances, and sound-responsive art scattered throughout the Gardens. Families can expect food trucks, multi-sensory zones, and dedicated spaces designed for younger visitors.
Timed to coincide with the Two Oceans Marathon, LUMENOCITY is expected to draw thousands of festival-goers, travellers, and art enthusiasts who are looking for new reasons to explore the city during autumn.
While the 2026 edition marks the official debut, organisers say it forms part of a broader five-year plan. The long-term vision includes expanding installations across the Gardens, developing light trails through the CBD, and eventually creating a projection-mapping experience across Table Mountain.
‘Cape Town is a city shaped by light, from its mountains and oceans to its people and stories. LUMENOCITY celebrates that light, and amplifies it,’ Hadden notes.
Beyond the artistic draw, LUMENOCITY is also expected to generate creative and economic opportunities for emerging talent.
The festival’s producers say the event will create jobs, attract visitors, and offer new platforms for artists working across digital, visual, and immersive media.
As the Mother City leans into its growing reputation for innovation and creative expression, LUMENOCITY looks set to become a signature annual event, one that brings communities together and pushes the boundaries of what public art can look like in South Africa.
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