Johannesburg’s cultural calendar is set to come alive as FNB Art Joburg, Africa’s leading and longest-running contemporary art fair, returns for its 18th consecutive year. The fair will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from Friday, 5 September to Sunday, 7 September 2025, showcasing the very best of the continent’s artists, galleries, and cultural innovators.
“FNB’s longstanding partnership with Art Joburg reflects our unwavering belief in the power of African creativity and our commitment to nurturing the continent’s creative economy,” says Faye Mfikwe, Chief Marketing Officer at FNB. “Through our Grassroots to Greatness sponsorship strategy, we go beyond banking by opening global markets to African artists, ensuring they can share their work on an international stage.”
Since its inception, FNB Art Joburg has become a cornerstone of the African art ecosystem — a meeting place for artists, collectors, galleries, writers, and thinkers. This year’s edition extends beyond the fair with Open City (28 August – 11 September), transforming Johannesburg into a city-wide celebration of contemporary culture.
“Johannesburg is not just a city; it is the cultural engine of the African continent,” says Mandla Sibeko, Managing Director of FNB Art Joburg. “Our role is to champion the ideas, practices, and partnerships that sustain contemporary African art and to contribute to an economy where culture drives growth, imagination, and possibility.”
This year’s edition continues FNB Art Joburg’s tradition of innovation, with curated sections that spotlight Africa’s diverse creative voices:
gallery HUB: The fair’s central showcase of the continent’s most influential galleries, including BKhz, blank, Eclectica Contemporary, Everard Read, First Floor Gallery Harare, Gallery MOMO, Goodman Gallery, Kalashnikovv, Stevenson, and Afriart Gallery.
gallery LAB: A platform testing new ideas and models for the art market, featuring 16/16, Modzi Arts Gallery, ORA LOAPI, Wunika Mukan Gallery, Windsor Gallery, Galerie MALABO, Kianda Contemporary Art Project, and more.
MAX: Large-scale works and installations by Ibrahim Khatab, Georgina Gratrix, Angus Taylor, Mikhael Subotzky, and a Johannesburg Art Gallery project conceptualised by Thebe Ikalafeng.
ETC: A vibrant marketplace of books, prints, catalogues, and zines with Artist Proof Studios, Jonathan Ball/Exclusive Books, Loft Editions, ArtThrob, Fresco Gallery, and the BMW Reading Lounge.
ORG: A space for institutions like Zeitz MOCAA, DIKAN Centre, and Exhibition Match to reimagine public engagement with art.
AUX: Conversations, talks, screenings, and lectures featuring Kenneth Montague, Sam Nhlengethwa, Greer Valley, and other leaders in contemporary art.
GIF: A cross-continental, intergenerational presentation of photography and film, featuring Natalie Paneng, Tatenda Chidora, Robin Rhode, and Artist As First Responders.
At the heart of the fair lies the FNB Art Prize, continuing the tradition of spotlighting one outstanding African artist and offering them an international platform to grow and shine.
“As a bank deeply invested in the creative economy, our aim is to make art accessible — not only as a form of appreciation but as a pathway to economic opportunity,” adds Mfikwe. “With FNB Art Joburg, we celebrate African artistry while helping to propel it onto the global stage.”
FNB Art Joburg 2025 promises a weekend where art, culture, and commerce converge — reaffirming Johannesburg as the epicentre of African contemporary art.