African art and music are set to meet in one vibrant celebration as South African singer-songwriter Msaki headlines the 2026 Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair.
Taking place at Waterfall City Park at Mall of Africa on Saturday, 10 October, the fair will bring together contemporary African art, live music, fashion, food and creative experiences.
Msaki will be joined on stage by the three-time Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and R&B artist Elaine, creating a live music line-up to accompany the unveiling of this year’s Absa L’Atelier Art winners.
The celebration also marks a major milestone: 40 years of Absa L’Atelier Art.
Msaki Leads a Powerful Musical Line-Up
Msaki brings more than her distinctive voice to the fair.
Her connection to the visual arts runs alongside her music. She has studied fine art, graphic design, film photography and curatorial practice, making her a natural fit for an event where music and visual creativity share the same space.
The Soweto Gospel Choir will bring its distinctive voices, colour and movement to the stage.
Elaine will then close the show. The R&B artist first made her breakthrough with her independently released EP, Elements.
Together, the three acts will provide the musical backdrop to a celebration centred on African artistic talent.
12 Finalists. Four Winners. One New Chapter.
While the music takes centre stage, visual art remains at the heart of the fair.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see work by the competition’s 12 finalists, offering a glimpse into the ideas and perspectives shaping contemporary African art.
The winners’ announcement will mark a new chapter for four artists.
Three will be named Absa L’Atelier Ambassadors.
Each will receive:
- Masterclasses
- Four months of mentorship
- A two-month art residency in South Africa in 2027
- The opportunity to stage a solo exhibition within two years
- Up to R100,000 towards exhibition materials
The fourth winner will receive the Gerard Sekoto Award.
That prize includes a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris in 2027, followed by a solo exhibition in Johannesburg in 2028, with up to R100,000 towards materials and framing.
Celebrating 40 Years of Opening Doors
The 2026 fair is more than a showcase of new work. It also celebrates four decades of Absa L’Atelier Art.
Over its 40-year history, the platform says artists across Africa have benefited from more than 21 mentorship programmes and 70 international art residencies.
It has also supported more than 100 solo exhibitions.
Those opportunities form part of a long-term focus on helping emerging artists develop their practices and build lasting careers.
Dr Paul Bayliss, Senior Specialist, Art and Museum Curator at Absa Group, says the 40-year legacy will be reflected throughout the fair.
“At the Art and Lifestyle Fair, we present the finalists’ work beyond the rigid walls of a gallery, inviting visitors to engage with it as part of a shared experience,” says Bayliss.
For him, the fair creates an opportunity for visitors to stop, consider the stories behind the works and engage with how artists interpret the world around them.
“That is what excites me about the fair: the art becomes part of a conversation,” he says.
Art Beyond the Gallery
The Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair is designed to take the experience beyond a conventional gallery setting.
Special installations and exhibitions will honour the competition’s 40-year history, while the finalists’ work will offer visitors an opportunity to encounter contemporary African art alongside live performances and other creative experiences.
The programme will also include fashion showcases, food and beverage stalls, wine tasting and interactive creative spaces.
Families are included too.
A supervised area will offer creative activities for children aged 12 and under.
A Day of Art, Music and Culture
The gates open at 10:00, with musical performances scheduled from 11:30 to 17:00.
Tickets cost R350 through Howler, while children aged 12 and under enter free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The outdoor fair will be cashless, with food and beverages sold separately. Visitors are also welcome to bring picnic blankets.
For Absa L’Atelier Art, the 2026 fair brings together four decades of artistic opportunity with a new generation of African creative voices.
For the 12 finalists, the day represents a chance to share their work.
For four artists, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter.
And for audiences, it offers a day where art, music, culture and creativity come together beyond the walls of a traditional gallery.
