Now in its fourth year, Contra.Joburg continues to lead the way in reimagining how we see, experience, and connect with contemporary art. From its inception, Contra has pushed the boundaries of engagement — placing artists and audiences in direct, often unexpected, conversations. This year, the festival offers a deeper, and more immersive dive into Joburg’s vibrant art scene, underlining the essential role that culture plays in our lives. Rather than polished gallery spaces, Contra invites you into the working studios of Johannesburg’s most exciting creatives. Here, art is not merely on display — it’s alive, in motion, and in conversation. By spotlighting the art that surrounds us daily, Contra invites you to slow down, take notice, and be inspired.

Set to take place on 30–31 August 2025, this year’s edition asks: What if art interrupts you? The question underscores a renewed commitment to disrupting the expected — by placing creativity directly in the paths we walk, the streets we cross, and the spaces we often overlook. More than 170 artists, designers, and makers will activate 12 galleries and studio spaces across the inner city, transforming Johannesburg’s CBD into a living, breathing experiment in artistic engagement. From sonic interventions and spontaneous performances to collaborative installations that defy classification, each moment is crafted to surprise, provoke, and inspire.

Contra.Joburg is built on the belief that culture should be encountered, not contained. In this spirit, the 2025 programme deepens the festival’s founding values: putting artists first, inviting the public into authentic and working spaces, and providing real access to the cultural life of the city. 

Every studio opened, every wall repurposed, every conversation sparked is a step toward reinvigorating Johannesburg’s urban heart — not as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the creative process.

“This year’s programme … Every artist, every location, and every moment is chosen for its ability to surprise you — to feel like it could only happen here and now,” says Festival Founder, Sara Hallatt.

Designed as a curated collision of spontaneity and spectacle, Contra.Joburg 2025 presents the best opportunity to start your art collection or add to it, with a range of works that will fit just about every taste, from a beer to a bubbly budget. In 2025, this ethos is amplified through a new partnership with Africa Collect, a financing platform that allows buyers to purchase artworks and pay them off over 12 months — making collecting more accessible than ever before.

Through our partnership with Stephan Welz & Company (SWELCO), we are building new pathways — from the suburbs to the City, from the streets to art as a luxury. SWELCO will host the Vintage Vanguard exhibition. The SWELCO office in Waverley will serve as a “park-and-ride” easy starting point for visitors.  

Civic advocates Jozi My Jozi, who recognise the power of creativity to energise Johannesburg’s future, are supporting this year’s Contra.Joburg, allowing the event to be both a celebration and a way of making space, building trust, and mapping new pathways between art and everyday life across the city. 

The festival is also an engine for the creative economy. Since its launch, Contra.Joburg has facilitated nearly R3-million in direct art sales, enabling working artists to grow their practices and collectors — new and seasoned — to build meaningful collections. 

Because here, in the heart of Joburg, art doesn’t wait to be discovered — it finds you.

Mark your calendars — this is not an exhibition. Not a performance. It’s something else.

Festival Dates: 30–31 August 2025
Website: https://contra.joburg | Instagram: @contrajoburg | Facebook: ContraJoburg

For past event images click here. Photographs are by Ogorogile Nong and Siyabonga Vilakazi  © Contra.Joburg