International Mother Language Day 2026

INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY 2026

Join us for a vibrant festival that celebrates the beauty of linguistic diversity! Our festival brings together voices from across the globe, featuring German, Portuguese, Sesotho, Austrian German, isiZulu, British English, French, Soweto Language, Polish, Flemish, Dutch, SiSwati, Spanish, Italian, Korean, isiXhosa, Mandarin and Kiswahili.

Discover the richness of languages through exciting activities: crash and flirt courses, our interactive speak-dating game, an engaging panel discussion with esteemed panellists, storytelling, colourful face painting, food trucks, and live music with VUYO VIWE.

Vuyo Tshwele (aka vuyo viwe) is a 25-year-old flautist, composer and vocalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Freshly-minted in the jazz scene, she has shared the stage with various classical and jazz acts, including Kujenga, Internet Athi, The Brother Moves On, ft. Hymnself and Sisonke Xonti.

Vuyo viwe’s sound is a mix of South African traditional song form, orchestral folk, with alternative vocal melodies, blending electronic sounds with classical instruments with the rawness of uhadi sensibilities and ngoma time signatures and dissonance.

Take part in our quiz and stand a chance to win fantastic prizes!

This special day is more than a celebration – it is a powerful reminder that every language carries history, identity and connection. Language connects – let us celebrate the diversity of languages together!

The host for this event is the Goethe-Institut South Africa in partnership with the Austrian Cultural Forum of the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria, the German Embassy in Pretoria, the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg, the Embassy of Portugal - Camões IP Education Department, the British Council, The Alliance Française the Johannesburg, the Zulu Aunty, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Delegation of Flanders in Southern Africa, the Colegio Español, the Dante Alighieri Society, the DAAD, Ambani Africa, BK Publishing, the Japanese Language Club, Wikimedia and Swahili Afrika.

Should you require further assistance, please contact [email protected].