The 17th Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival takes place nationwide from July to October, and schools and learners are invited to start registering now. Participation is completely free.
It is the largest spelling festival in South Africa. Schools and learners can participate in the following categories:
- Afrikaans: Grade 1 to 10
- English: Grade 4 to 9
- isiXhosa: Grade 5 to 8
The Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival is a flagship project of Words Open Worlds (WOW), an empowerment initiative of Stellenbosch University. WOW presents creative and educational programs and activities in schools aimed at the promotion of language, literature, and the arts.
Fiona van Kerwel, WOW Manager, says it is remarkable that the Spelling Festival is already in its 17th year. “Our mission with the Spelling Festival is to broaden the perspectives of learners and educators through words. We want to develop learners’ language skills so they can gain the necessary confidence to communicate effectively. Sharp language skills also helps them with better comprehension in other school subjects. It is truly wonderful to see how the Spelling Festival grows year after year.”
Learners must progress through three levels to qualify for the national final—circuit level, district level, and provincial level. The national final takes place on 3 October 2026 in Stellenbosch. Dates and venues for the circuit, district, and provincial levels will be communicated in due course. Keep an eye on WOW’s website, social media platforms, WhatsApp channel, and newsletter for announcements and arrangements.
Resources
Registration forms and online spelling tests are available on WOW’s website at https://wow.woordfees.co.za/en/wat-ons-doen/. Spelling lists will be made available online shortly.
Closing date
Registrations for the Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival close on 31 May 2026.
Enquiries
- Email: uswow@sun.ac.za
- Read more about WOW here.
