Open Call for ICA Live Art Festival 2026 Seeks Experimental Performances in Cape Town
The University of Cape Town's Institute for Creative Arts has announced an open call for the ICA Live Art Festival 2026, encouraging artists to propose innovative live artworks. Taking place from 14 to 17 October 2026 in Cape Town, the festival will showcase a curated selection of performances spanning various disciplines, including visual art and dance. Submissions should reflect a robust conceptual basis, address current issues, and be appropriate for live presentation. Both South African and international artists can apply, with the ICA team evaluating proposals on their artistic value and contribution to experimentation and critical dialogue. Applications are due by 30 April 2026, submitted online via the ICA platform, as email submissions are not permitted. For questions, reach out to ica@uct.ac.za with the subject line LAF 2026.
Key facts
- Open call for ICA Live Art Festival 2026 announced by Institute for Creative Arts at University of Cape Town
- Festival dates: 14 to 17 October 2026 in Cape Town
- Eligibility includes South African and international artists working in live art and interdisciplinary forms
- Proposals require strong conceptual framework and engagement with contemporary issues
- Selection based on artistic merit, conceptual strength, and contribution to experimentation
- Application deadline: 30 April 2026
- Submissions must be made online via ICA platform; no email applications accepted
- Festival is a flagship programme of Institute for Creative Arts, focusing on non-commercial, boundary-pushing work
Entities
Institutions
- Institute for Creative Arts
- University of Cape Town
- ICA Live Art Festival
Locations
- Cape Town
- South Africa