Robben Island hosts medal event on 31 October 2026

Robben Island in Cape Town is due to host a medal event on 31 October 2026, linked to the museum's Wall of Remembrance project.

Robben Island is due to host a medal event for former political prisoners on 31 October 2026, bringing a new public focus to the historic site near Cape Town. The event is part of the Robben Island Museum's work to preserve the names and stories connected with South Africa's liberation history.

Robben Island medal event is planned for 31 October

More former political prisoners are expected to receive medals for their contributions at the event on 31 October 2026. The date and location were reported by Mail & Guardian in a report about the museum's memorial work.

The ceremony follows the development of the Wall of Remembrance, which records the names and stories of political prisoners held on the island. The report describes the planned medals as part of the museum's continuing effort to honour people whose contributions have not always received broad recognition. It does not publish a timetable for the event or state whether a separate public programme will run alongside it.

The Wall of Remembrance connects the event with the island

The Wall of Remembrance stands at the museum alongside the former prison and other heritage features. It was unveiled in September 2025 and draws on the Robben Island Museum's Memories Project and its Ex-Political Prisoners Database. The database covers people imprisoned on the island for political reasons between 1961 and 1991.

Lusiba Esdras Ntloko is among the people named in the memorial project. He was arrested after student activism in 1976, served a prison sentence on the island and later held organising roles in the Azanian People's Organisation and Azapo. His name now appears with those of thousands of other former political prisoners. The October event therefore links a present-day act of recognition with the memorial landscape that visitors encounter during the island tour.

The Robben Island Museum manages the site as a national estate and World Heritage Site. Its stated work includes conservation, education, tourism development, research and archiving, placing the Wall within a wider programme rather than treating it as a separate visitor attraction.

Visiting Robben Island: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The medal event is scheduled for 31 October 2026 at Robben Island in the Cape Town area.
• The event concerns the museum's recognition of former political prisoners. The available announcement does not confirm a change to ordinary island access or a special visitor entrance.
• Ferries to the island depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town, according to the museum.
• The visit combines a ferry journey with guided heritage sections on an island that includes the former prison and memorial sites. The terrain and route should be treated as a walking visit rather than a single indoor museum stop.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Robben Island

When does the medal event take place at Robben Island?

The event is scheduled for 31 October 2026 and is expected to recognise former political prisoners.

What is the Wall of Remembrance at Robben Island?

It is a memorial displaying names and stories of political prisoners, drawing on the museum's Memories Project and database.

Where is Robben Island and how do you get there?

The island lies off Cape Town in South Africa. Ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront.