14/10/2026
Issued on behalf of Surf Expo Africa
Surf Expo Africa returns to Cape Town bigger and broader
From ocean conservation and marine science to swimming, skating, fashion, live music and family activities, Surf Expo Africa is inviting South Africans to experience the ocean from every angle.
There is a good chance that when you hear the words Surf Expo, surfing is the first thing that comes to mind. But as Surf Expo Africa returns to the Mother City from 6 to 8 November, organisers are keen to make one thing clear: you don’t have to be a surfer to find something worth exploring.
Africa’s first all-ocean sport and beach lifestyle trade show and expo is returning for its second edition, with organisers aiming to more than double last year’s attendance, while growing the exhibition from 50 exhibitors in 2025 to 70 this year, bringing together an even broader mix of brands, businesses, makers and organisations connected to the ocean and outdoor lifestyle.
Rather than reinventing the event, organisers are sticking with the format that worked for its inaugural show and expanding what happens within it.
“There's no point in messing with a winning strategy,” says co-founder and organiser Jason Cu***ng. “We saw how much people enjoyed the first event, so this year we’ve kept the format but grown the offering. We want more people to experience it and discover just how much there is beyond surfing.”
And there will be plenty to discover. The 2026 speaker line-up brings together 25 local and international voices from across the ocean and recreational blue economy, including Zandile Ndhlovu of the Black Mermaid Foundation, Dr Sara Andreotti of SharkSafe Barriers, Talitha Noble-Trull of Two Oceans Aquarium, Ant Stott of The Litterboom Project and Steve “Spike” Pike of Wavescape. Their collective experience spans ocean conservation, marine science, environmental action, inclusion, surf culture, photography, entrepreneurship and the business of the ocean lifestyle.
For visitors, however, the experience goes well beyond talks. There will be live product demonstrations, brand activations, swimwear fashion shows, live music and hands-on activities and challenges for both children and adults. Skateboarding areas will add to the action, while one of the more unusual attractions will be found in the shaping bay, where Safari Surfboards legend, Spider Murphy, will be shaping live for visitors to watch. It is the kind of experience that gives visitors a chance to see not just the finished product, but the skill and people behind it.
That idea of meeting the makers is central to Surf Expo Africa. With 70 exhibitors this year, visitors will be able to discover products and brands from South Africa and abroad, while meeting the entrepreneurs, innovators and small-business owners helping to shape South Africa’s recreational blue economy.
For families, there is plenty to keep younger visitors occupied too, with hands-on activities and challenges and children under 12 admitted free.
“Surf Expo Africa is about bringing the whole ocean community together,” says Cu***ng. “You might arrive because you surf, but you could leave having discovered open-water swimming, a new outdoor activity, a conservation project, an innovative product or a business you didn't know existed.”
Surf Expo Africa takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 6 to 8 November 2026. A range of ticket options is available, including one-day and multi-day passes, family and pensioner tickets, while children under 12 enter free.
Tickets are available on Howler https://www.howler.co.za/events/surf-expo-africa-2026-2fdd or through the Surf Expo Africa website - https://surfexpoafrica.com/
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