Now in its 32nd year, the Cape Town International Kite Festival returns to Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery on 24 and 25 October 2026, inviting South Africans to #ColourTheSky while helping to shine a brighter light on mental health.
AS THE EARLY BIRD TICKET SALE ENDS 31 AUGUST, take a look at WHY DO WE FLY?
Hosted by Cape Mental Health, the festival is a celebration of hope, connection and community – but it is also an opportunity to have conversations that too often remain unspoken. Because mental health affects far more people than we may realise. South Africa Stress and Health (SASH) study has estimated that 16.5% of adults experienced a common mental disorder within a 12-month period, while around 30.3% experienced one during their lifetime. South African Mental Health Conference (SAMHC) held in Johannesburg in April 2023 noted that common mental illnesses are estimated to have increased three- to seven-fold since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019. Yet access to support remains a significant challenge, with stigma, limited resources and other barriers preventing many people from getting the help they need.
- Globally, the picture is equally urgent. The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people live with a mental health condition, while most do not receive adequate care. WHO also identifies stigma and discrimination as persistent barriers to people seeking and receiving support.
This is why the conversation matters. Mental health is not something that belongs behind closed doors or only enters the conversation when someone reaches crisis point. Talking openly about emotional wellbeing can help challenge misconceptions, encourage people to seek support earlier and create communities where asking for help is seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
And this is where the kite becomes so powerful. A kite does not rise because the wind is absent. It rises because it learns to work with the wind. It bends, pulls, dips and climbs – and somehow finds its way upwards.
That is the spirit behind this year’s #ColourTheSky theme.
WHAT: Cape Town International Kite FestivalÂ
WHERE: Youngsfield Military Base, Ottery, Cape Town 7700
WHEN: 24 and 25 October 2026
BOOKING: EARLY BIRD TICKET SALE ENDS 31 AUGUST,
INFO:  VISIT or follow @CTKiteFest on social media |  See Cape Town Green Map | See Cape Town International Kite Festival – #ColourTheSky
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