11 Must-Do Moments at Food Indaba 2026
As climate change intensifies and pressure mounts on rivers, oceans, aquifers and rainfall systems, urgent questions arise: How do we feed ourselves in an increasingly water-scarce world? What can the lessons of Day Zero teach us about resilience? How do communities, farmers, chefs and innovators work with water, rather than against it, to build healthier and more sustainable food systems?
All these questions, and many more, will be explored, debated and brought to life at the annual Food Indaba, taking place from Monday, 20 July to Sunday, 2 August 2026 in Cape Town. Food Indaba 2026 explores the theme of Water Systems and Food Systems: Rivers, Oceans, Aquifers, and Rainfall (ROAR).
Through 17 events, including walking tours, chef-led dining experiences, a conference, workshops, market experiences, and conversations with farmers, writers, and researchers, this year’s Indaba brings together growers, chefs, scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and curious food lovers.
Here are 10 standout events you won’t want to miss:
- Global South Webinar – Water and the Food System
20 Jul 2026 · 11:00 – 12:30 | Zoom Online Conference
Kicking off Food Indaba, this free online panel brings together experts from across the Global South to discuss how communities navigate water scarcity for food production. Hear diverse perspectives on stacking bulk infrastructure with community solutions. Ideal for policy wonks and water activists, the 90-minute webinar offers big-picture insights you can join from anywhere.
Who should attend: policy thinkers, researchers, water practitioners, and anyone interested.
(Tip: It’s free but limited, so register early and log in from a quiet space.)
- Walking Food Tours: Bellville, Langa & Cape Town CBD
21–23 Jul 2026 | Various times & locations
This year, Food Indaba’s walking tours take on a water lens, exploring how water has shaped Cape Town’s food systems, neighbourhoods and communities across the city.
In Bellville (21 Jul 2026 · 10:00 – 12:00), discover the informal taxi-rank food economy and pioneering regenerative initiatives that transform food waste into compost, improve soil health, and advance circular food systems in response to water scarcity.
In Langa (22 Jul 2026 · 14:00 – 16:00), explore a thriving township food economy where community-led waste management, regenerative growing practices and local innovation are creating more resilient food systems while reducing environmental impact.
In the Cape Town CBD (23 Jul 2026 · 10:00 – 13:00), trace the city’s origins through the story of water and food, from freshwater springs and rivers that sustained the earliest inhabitants and later colonial settlers to the markets, gardens, and street-food culture that shape the modern city.
Across all three walks, expect tastings, storytelling, and local insights that reveal how water shapes how Cape Town grows, trades, eats, and imagines its food future.
Who should attend: Curious food lovers, history enthusiasts and urban explorers.
Tip: Wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle, and come slightly hungry.
- Inside Wolfgat – A Food System Masterclass
23 Jul 2026 · 15:00 – 17:00 | Makers Landing: Mint
Hear from the team behind Wolfgat, the world-famous Paternoster restaurant, in an intimate masterclass. Chef, forager and award-winning restaurateur, Kobus van der Merwe and his team will share how wild coastal ingredients, small-scale fisheries and Strandveld ecosystems inspire their cooking. This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of South Africa’s most celebrated sustainable restaurants.
Who should attend: chefs, foragers and serious food thinkers.
(Tip: Very limited seats, book early.)
- Why Regenerative Agriculture? A Conversation Panel
23 Jul 2026 · 11:30 – 13:00 | Makers Landing: Lavender
This SOLVE@Waterfront panel explores how regenerative farming can transform our food system. Hear from regenerative agriculture specialists and urban food leaders about the challenges of scaling soil-friendly farming and sourcing responsibly in the city.
Who should attend: farmers, chefs, buyers and food system practitioners.
(Tip: Arrive early for networking and refreshments.)
- Water and the Food System Conference
24 Jul 2026 · 09:00 – 17:00 | Two Oceans Aquarium Conference Centre
A full-day signature conference at the Two Oceans Aquarium Conference Centre explores what Cape Town’s Day Zero experience teaches us about water and food resilience. Researchers, city officials, activists and innovators share practical solutions across fisheries, groundwater, urban systems and climate adaptation.
Who should attend: practitioners and policymakers in water, agriculture, and urban planning, as well as anyone interested.
Includes lunch, coffee and networking opportunities.)
6. MRKTPLC
25–26 Jul 2026 · 10:00 – 17:00 | Makers Landing
Discover the food culture that most of Cape Town never experiences. MRKTPLC brings together 15 youth-led food entrepreneurs under-the-radar innovators creating bold, distinctive products from hard-to-reach corners of the city, including Bellville CBD, Langa and other neighbourhoods often overlooked by the mainstream food scene. From inventive snacks and condiments to unique pantry staples, this is your chance to taste, buy directly from producers, and hear the stories behind a new generation of food businesses. More than a market, MRKTPLC is a rare window into Cape Town’s vibrant, living food culture before it is co-opted or commercialised.
Who should attend: food lovers and supporters of local enterprise, as well as restaurants looking to expand their black supply chain and wholesalers looking for new products
(Tip: Come hungry and bring payment options.)
7. World of Mouth: Wetlands Within
25 Jul 2026 · 18:30 – 21:00 | Tauyaa Wine Room
A multi-sensory chef-led dining experience at Tauyaa Wine Room by Leigh and Lerato Waters-Maine of Mpintshi Yum. The menu and herbal tea ceremony trace water’s journey through land, body and memory using foraged and fermented ingredients.
Who should attend: adventurous diners and cultural explorers.
(Tip: Limited seats, book early.)
8. Between the Lines: Conversation with Food Writers
26 Jul 2026 · 15:00 – 16:30 | Makers Landing: Lavender
A lively literary panel at Makers Landing exploring how food is written, remembered and imagined. Cookbook authors, memoirists and fiction writers discuss storytelling through food and the cultural meanings behind what we eat. Who should attend: readers, writers and food lovers.
Who should attend: readers, writers and food culture enthusiasts.
(Tip: Bring a favourite food book.)
9. Tea with a Farmer: Urban Farm Experiences (OZCF & Langa)
1 Aug 2026 · 10:00 – 11:15 | Oranjezicht City Farm
1 Aug 2026 · 14:00 – 15:15 | 16 on Lerotholi Gallery, Langa
A shared experience across two iconic sites, Oranjezicht City Farm and Langa urban growing spaces, where visitors join farmers for herbal tea, guided farm walks and conversations about water-wise growing, indigenous knowledge and urban food systems. From seed to soil to community markets, this is a grounded, hands-on encounter with Cape Town’s living food landscapes.
The two sessions are intentionally scheduled to allow participants to attend both, with ample time in between to enjoy lunch and travel from the city centre to Langa.
Who should attend: families, gardeners and urban food enthusiasts.
(Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and expect outdoor walking.)
10. Hack the Kitchen: Teens WATERLESS Cooking Jam
1 Aug 2026 · 14:00 – 16:30 | Soute by Food Jams
A high-heat culinary jam where 40 teens work without taps, using sweating, pressing and vapour-capture techniques to extract moisture directly from ingredients. A “zero-water” cooking experiment at the edge of constraint, turning scarcity into creative innovation.
Who should attend: curious teens and young food innovators.
11. Hack the Kitchen: Kids WATER Lab
1 Aug 2026 · 10:00 – 12:00 | Cape Town Science Centre
Children aged 6–12 explore where water really comes from, from desert plants and underground bulbs to coastal fog and indigenous knowledge systems. This hands-on science-meets-kitchen experience turns water discovery into something edible, tangible and memorable.
Who should attend: children and families.
(Tip: Bring curiosity.)
About Food Indaba
The Food Indaba is a nonprofit initiative launched in 2014 to connect people across the food system and spark dialogue, learning, and collaboration to build more just, sustainable, and resilient food futures. Since its inception, it has brought together farmers, researchers, policymakers, activists, chefs, entrepreneurs, educators and citizens through conferences, dialogues, exhibitions, food experiences and public events.
The Food Indaba is hosted by the SA Urban Food & Farming Trust, with co-host and sponsor SOLVE@Waterfront, and co-sponsored by the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security.
Partners for the 2026 programme include, Two Oceans Aquarium, United Nations Development Programme, Makers Landing, Cape Town Science Centre, UNESCO Chair in Science and Education for African Food Systems and Daily Maverick.