Open Book Festival

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Arts & CultureCape Town
DatesDates TBA · Usually SeptemberCheck locally before booking
DurationSpringEstimate from available data
Crowd-About 20,000 people
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsOpen Book Festival was founded directly by
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: ZAR
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Open Book Festival in Cape Town

Open Book Festival is Cape Town's annual literary festival, founded in 2011 by Mervyn Sloman of The Book Lounge bookshop and Ben Williams of the Books Live literary platform. Over five days it hosts more than 150 events with over 100 authors, focused on South African literature within an international context.

In 2011, Mervyn Sloman, owner of Cape Town's independent bookshop The Book Lounge, and Ben Williams, then running the literary website Books Live under the Times Live media umbrella, founded a new literary festival for the city.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Open Book Festival was founded directly by working figures in Cape Town's book trade, independent bookshop owner Mervyn Sloman and literary journalist Ben Williams of the Times Live-affiliated Books Live platform, giving it close ties to the city's actual literary community rather than a purely corporate festival structure

02

The mystery stays covered

Its programming, more than 150 events across five days featuring over 100 authors, deliberately balances a strong South African literary focus with international voices, including both Anglophone and Francophone authors, and spreads across an unusually wide set of venues beyond its main home, from the District Six Museum to the Slave Lodge and the National Gallery, tying the festival into Cape Town's own historical and cultural geography

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Open Book Festival continues Cape Town's role as a hub for South African publishing and independent bookselling

Water and renewal

Living ritual

anchored by figures from the city's own bookshop and literary journalism community rather than an externally imported festival model

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually September

Getting around

For Open Book Festival, plan transport around the exact Cape Town venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing for museum and theatre-style venues; Cape Town's climate varies by season, so checking festival dates against typical weather for that time of year is...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Open Book Festival, stay near the part of Cape Town you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

ZAR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map33.93 S, 18.42 EOpen in Google Maps

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Nearest airportCPT — Cape Town
TransportFor Open Book Festival, plan transport around the exact Cape Town venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Open Book Festival, stay near the part of Cape Town you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Cape Town via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Cape Town, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing for museum and theatre-style venues; Cape Town's climate varies by season, so checking festival dates against typical weather for that time of year is worthwhile.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for South Africa and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Open Book Festival?

Open Book Festival is listed for September · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Open Book Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Cape Town, South Africa. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLopenbookfestival.co.za
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually September
Source statusOfficial source linked
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