WHEN CREATIVITY TAKES OVER CAPE TOWN: COUNTDOWN TO THE 48TH LOERIES BEGINS
Every year Cape Town transforms.
Not through new buildings, grand spectacles or seasonal change, but through ideas.
For one extraordinary week, coffee shop conversations become brainstorming sessions, theatre foyers become networking hubs and some of the most influential creative minds from across Africa and the Middle East gather in the Mother City to celebrate the power of imagination.
From 4 to 9 October 2026 Loeries Creative Week returns to Cape Town for its 48th year, bringing together industry leaders, emerging talent, global brands, agencies, marketers, designers, storytellers and innovators for the region’s largest celebration of creative excellence.
For nearly five decades, the Loeries has recognised the ideas that move industries forward, shape culture, challenge convention and redefine how brands connect with people. Yet the awards are only part of the story.
Loeries Creative Week has become a platform where creativity is shared, debated, celebrated and inspired.
And if last year’s winners are anything to go by, the bar for creative excellence has never been higher.
The 2025 Loeries celebrated some of the region’s most remarkable campaigns, with Joe Public taking home Agency of the Year, Publicis Groupe earning Regional Agency of the Year, and Chicken Licken being named Brand of the Year.
Grand Prix honours were awarded to Joe Public, Dentsu Creative Kenya, Dentsu Creative Design and Publicis Middle East, recognising work that demonstrated the power of bold ideas and exceptional execution.
From campaigns that made audiences laugh and think, to work that tackled social issues and inspired meaningful conversations, last year’s winners proved that creativity remains one of the most powerful tools for storytelling and change.
Their achievements now form part of the Loeries legacy, setting the stage for a new generation of groundbreaking ideas.
The question is no longer who won last year.
The question is: who will be remembered this year?
As anticipation builds for the 48th edition of the awards, Loeries Creative Week once again offers visitors the opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s brightest minds through an exciting programme of masterclasses, thought-leadership sessions and industry conversations.
This year’s programme explores the trends, technologies and cultural shifts shaping the future of creativity. Attendees can look forward to sessions such as:
The Future Creative – Human Ingenuity in the Age of AI, which examines how creativity and technology continue to evolve together, while Building Brands in the Age of Experience explores how memorable brand experiences are becoming increasingly valuable in today’s marketplace.
Other highlights include Spotify’s The Soundtrack to Your Strategy, Pinterest’s exploration of how discovery influences consumer behaviour, Bloomberg Media’s discussion on the new standard of thought leadership, and a range of conversations examining culture, creativity and audience engagement across multiple platforms.
These sessions offer more than industry insights. They provide a glimpse into where creative thinking is headed and how brands, businesses and creators can adapt in a rapidly changing world.
For Cape Town, Loeries Creative Week is more than an awards programme. It is a week where the city becomes a canvas for ideas.
A place where established industry leaders and aspiring creatives share the same spaces, exchange perspectives and imagine what comes next.
For 48 years, the Loeries has celebrated the people behind the work that captures attention, sparks conversation and leaves a lasting impact.
This October, Cape Town will once again play host to that celebration.
The trophies may be waiting at the finish line, but the real story lies in the ideas, conversations and moments of inspiration that happen along the way.
And somewhere among the thousands of creatives arriving in the city, the next award-winning idea is already taking shape.
