There’s a specific kind of buzz hummed only by those who have spent a weekend in the Maluti foothills. Clarens Arts Festival board chairman Manie van Schalkwyk joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat to talk about their exciting festival program.

The programme includes theatre, literature, workshops, and kiddies events to ensure there is something for the whole family – all while being surrounded by the beauty of the Eastern Free State.

Forget the stiff galleries and the “hush-hush” atmosphere of traditional exhibits. The festival is shaping up to be less of a formal event and more of a town-wide takeover.

The Town is the Stage

One of the coolest things Manie shared, is how the festival doesn't just happen in Clarens; it becomes Clarens. Known as the “Jewel of the Free State”, the town’s streets and boutique corners turn into a living canvas.

Works of art seen at the 2025 Clarens Arts Festival.

Imagine walking from a soul-stirring jazz session by local virtuoso Josh Mokoena straight into a heated literary debate with the likes of Karyn Maughan or Bruce Fordyce, then finishing the afternoon with a wine tasting. It’s a sensory symphony where you can wander from a gallery to a garden concert without ever losing that small-town charm.

What’s on the Playlist for 2026?

The 2025 edition set a high bar with 5,000 visual arts visitors and a digital reach of over a million. 

Scenes from the 2025 Clarens Arts Festival.

This year is leaning even further into that “spark of inspiration” for the whole family. Here’s what we’re tracking on the radar:

• The Big Stage: Expect a mix of folk, satire (think Radio Kalahari Orkes vibes), and classical sublime.

• The Written Word: A huge focus on our multilingual heritage, featuring Afrikaans, English, and the beautiful cadence of Sesotho poetry.

• For the “Little Creatives”: This isn’t just for the grown-ups. The kiddies’ events are designed to get small hands messy and young minds dreaming.

• The ArtStart Initiative: This is the heart of the festival – partnerships with TUT and ATKV that ensure local youth aren’t just watching the art, but creating it.

“Grassroots development plays a very important role in our society... I will move mountains to get involved.”  – Lebona Moleli, Mahope Brew

Why You Should Make the Trek

Whether you’re a fellow Central South African, coming from the bustle of Joburg or the coast of Durban, there is something uniquely grounding about Clarens in April. With an 80% occupancy rate last year, the town pulses with a “cosmopolitan flair” that still feels like home.

It’s about finding what speaks to you, whether that’s a contemporary abstract canvas by Neil Moss or a cello performance in a hidden garden.

Get Your Spot on the Square                                                       

Tickets are already popping up on TixSA, and if last year’s numbers are any indication (over 2,300 tickets sold across 42 events!), you don’t want to wait until the mountain air hits your face to book your spot.

• When: 24–27 April 2026

• Where: Everywhere in Clarens!

• The Vibe: Fun, inclusive, and deeply creative.

So, turn up the volume on your creative life. Let’s make 2026 the year we don’t just look at art – we live it.