Award-Winning Storyteller Napo Masheane Brings HerStory International Theatre Festival to Celebrate 70 Years of Women’s Stories

Read Time:1 Minute, 45 Second

This Women’s Month, the HerStory International Theatre Festival returns from 6 – 10 August 2026, transforming QwaQwa into a vibrant stage for theatre, music, poetry, dance, storytelling, heritage and international cultural exchange.

Held under the theme “Her Story • Her Voice • Her Stage | 1956 – 2026,” this year’s festival commemorates 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March, celebrating the resilience, creativity and leadership of women through a multidisciplinary programme that brings together local and international artists, cultural practitioners and audiences.

Hosted across the national heritage sites under SANPARKS including Basotho Cultural Village, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Joe’s Lifestyle and the Phuthaditjhaba Auditorium, the festival places QwaQwa firmly on the map as a destination where culture, heritage and tourism converge.

“HerStory is more than a festival; it is a cultural movement that creates space for women to tell their stories, preserve our heritage and shape the future through artistic expression,” says Napo Masheane, Founder and Artistic Director of the HerStory International Theatre Festival.

Over five days, audiences can experience theatre productions, dance performances, poetry, storytelling, visual arts exhibitions, creative dialogues, workshops and masterclasses featuring artists from South Africa, Lesotho, Kenya, Eswatini and Italy, highlighting the festival’s commitment to international collaboration and cultural exchange.

The programme concludes on 9 August, National Women’s Day, with the HerStory Concert 2026 at Joe’s Lifestyle, featuring headline performances by Maleh, Tamara Dey and Wanda Baloyi, alongside poetry, dance and special performances celebrating women’s artistic excellence.

Beyond the performances, HerStory also offers visitors the opportunity to explore the region’s rich cultural and natural heritage through experiences at the Basotho Cultural Village and Golden Gate Highlands National Park, reinforcing the festival’s contribution to cultural tourism and the creative economy.

As South Africa marks Women’s Month, HerStory invites music and theatre lovers to gather in QwaQwa to honour the past, celebrate the present and imagine the future through the power of storytelling.

Festival Details

Festival: HerStory International Theatre Festival 2026
Dates: 6 – 10 August 2026
Locations: Basotho Cultural Village, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Joe’s Lifestyle and Phuthaditjhaba Auditorium, QwaQwa
Theme: Her Story • Her Voice • Her Stage | 1956–2026