Cape Town named among world’s 20 best cities for art and culture
Cape Town has been ranked among the world’s 20 best cities for art and culture in the latest Time Out report.
Black News 
Cape Town has been ranked among the world’s 20 best cities for art and culture in the latest Time Out report.
- Cape Town has been ranked among the world's top 20 cities for art and culture by the latest Time Out report.
- The city received high scores from locals for its vibrant and affordable arts scene, with festivals and live music being major highlights.
- Key cultural institutions include Zeitz MOCAA, the Norval Foundation, City Hall, The Labia, and major theatres like Baxter and Artscape.
- Large events such as the Investec Cape Town Art Fair and First Thursdays support a dynamic cultural calendar, which is set to grow with new experiences in 2026.
Cape Town has been ranked among the world’s 20 best cities for art and culture in the latest Time Out report.
The publication set out to identify today’s global cultural capitals, cities where art, theatre, music, and cultural experiences are not only vibrant but also accessible and relatively affordable for both residents and visitors.
Cape Town performed strongly, with locals giving the city an 84% approval rating for its arts and culture scene and a 60% score for affordability. Respondents highlighted festivals and live music as standout strengths, cited by 57% and 59% of participants respectively.
Museums and events drive culture scene
The city’s cultural landscape is described as diverse and constantly evolving. Key institutions such as Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval Foundation anchor the contemporary art scene, while venues like City Hall host performances by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Independent cinema continues to thrive at The Labia, while theatre and comedy remain strong at the Baxter Theatre Centre and Artscape Theatre Centre. Seasonal events such as the Investec Cape Town Art Fair—Africa’s largest art fair—and the monthly First Thursdays art walk further reinforce the city’s cultural appeal.
In 2026, Cape Town’s cultural calendar continues to expand with new experiences, including immersive digital installations like LUMENOCITY and high-profile collaborations such as Veuve Clicquot’s Emotions of the Sun project with Magnum Photos, underscoring the city’s growing global cultural profile.
To compile the ranking, Time Out surveyed about 24,000 people across more than 150 cities, asking locals to assess the quality and affordability of their city’s cultural scene and highlight what it does best, from comedy and carnivals to live music and literature.
The responses were then combined with insights from Time Out’s global network of editors, writers, and culture experts, who voted for cities they consider the most exciting cultural destinations at present. Only top-performing cities from each country were included to ensure global balance.
