Hospitality Meets Philanthropy: The Hummingbird Ball at Zeitz MOCAA

The Kay Mason Foundation’s first Cape Town ball brought 200 guests to Zeitz MOCAA to raise funds for education and the next generation of South African leaders.

Event · The Hummingbird Ball, 7 October 2026 · Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town

Cape Town’s hospitality and destination landscape was given a distinctly philanthropic twist on 7 October 2026, when the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) provided the setting for The Kay Mason Foundation’s Hummingbird Ball.

Bringing together 200 guests from the worlds of business, finance, culture and entertainment, the evening demonstrated the increasingly important role that the city’s leading cultural and hospitality destinations play in creating memorable experiences around major social and philanthropic occasions.

With its art, architecture, dining and distinctive event spaces, Zeitz MOCAA provided a fitting backdrop for an evening where exceptional hospitality and cultural experience met a much bigger purpose: investing in education and the next generation of South African leaders.

Combining an extraordinary mix of high-net-worth philanthropists, business leaders and international stars, the night brought together some of the country’s most influential figures in support of a common purpose.

Following the foundation’s London ball, which brought together an equally remarkable audience, including star actors and high society royalty, the inaugural Cape Town edition continued that momentum, creating a uniquely South African gathering in which philanthropic and cultural capital were brought together around a shared investment in the next generation.

Sponsored by Barclays, the invitation-only event functioned to support the Foundation’s work, raising funds through a live auction. The evening unfolded with many memorable moments, from glitzy red-carpet arrivals to performances by comedian Marc Lottering and magician Jacques le Sueur, who brought their own brand of humour and theatricality to the celebration.

Hollywood actress and KMF Patron Lesley-Ann Brandt delivered the opening video address, with hosts Founder Richard Mason and Dr Ziyana Lategan (University of Cape Town) introducing speakers Nav Singh (Head of International Markets for Barclays International Banking); Liesl Hartman (Head of Zeitz MOCAA’s BMW Centre for Art Education); and KMF graduate Dr Kevin Stoffberg. Their contributions highlighted the importance of investing not simply in education, but in what it enables: agency and long-term change.

The Zeitz MOCAA event saw an extraordinary line-up of experiences and coveted items go under the hammer, with auctioneer Ariella Kuper driving enthusiastic bidding among guests. Highlight items included Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons’ Bvlgari watch; a behind-the-scenes experience with the DHL Stormers; tennis at Wimbledon with adventurer Bear Grylls; and a London adventure with dinner at the Palace of Westminster.

Another high point was the star-studded video drop-ins by screen legends such as Joanna Lumley, Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Irons, Bear Grylls and Breaking Bad sensation Aaron Paul.

The Hummingbird theme was woven into the evening, with immersive décor and a crafted soundscape transforming the space into an evocative world of colour, movement and flight. But it was the presence of KMF students and alumni that provided the most compelling reminder of what the ball was ultimately about.

Beyond fundraising, The Hummingbird Ball highlighted the potential of Cape Town’s cultural and hospitality venues to bring together influential communities around meaningful causes. At Zeitz MOCAA, art, architecture, dining, entertainment and hospitality became part of an experience that connected guests not only with the city’s cultural offering, but with a wider conversation about philanthropy, opportunity and the future of South Africa.