Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) will return to Lagos from November 17–22, 2026, introducing a dedicated AI & Tech track, a new Capital Desk and expanded opportunities for founders, creatives and investors.
Marking its fifth anniversary under the theme Closing the Gap, the event aims to strengthen commercial opportunities across Africa’s creative economy through investment, partnerships and market access.
According to organisers, EWA has grown into a pan-African platform spanning what they describe as Africa’s $59 billion creative economy. Since its launch, it has welcomed more than 67,800 attendees across four editions.
Last year’s event drew 28,683 registered pass holders from more than eight countries and over 50 industries, hosting 61 conference sessions, 93 film screenings, 20 music showcases and nine fashion showcases. Organisers say it generated more than five million online engagements and over 800 million digital impressions across Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.
Entertainment Week Africa Expands AI & Tech Programme
Artificial intelligence and technology will play a bigger role at EWA 2026, with the introduction of a dedicated conference track and the return of the event’s Hackathon.
The Hackathon follows last year’s edition, where participants developed music-tech and fashion-tech ventures in under two days. Organisers say this year’s programme will focus on helping founders building products for the creative industries connect with investors, partners and new markets.
Another major addition is the EWA Capital Desk, which expands on the Deal Room introduced in previous editions. The 2025 Deal Room received more than 178 applications, with nine companies progressing to the accelerator programme and four startups, Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr and Sports Reels, attracting live investor interest.
Previous investment partners included Future Africa, Catalyst Fund, Consonance Invest, and Askya Investment Partners. Organisers added that the Capital Desk will create more direct pathways between tech-enabled creative businesses and investors, commissioners, distributors and platform partners.
EWA 2026 Will Bring Together Creatives, Founders, and Investors
Beyond its technology agenda, EWA 2026 will feature seven tracks covering Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Art & Animation, Live Events & Production and Creative Enterprise. The anniversary edition is also expected to welcome delegates from more than 18 African countries, with between 30% and 40% travelling from outside Nigeria.
The event is also expanding its international footprint through EWA Creative Connect, which launched in Los Angeles during Grammy Week before continuing in London during the Nigeria–UK state visit. According to organisers, the initiative has brought together executives from organisations including Warner Records, Adobe, Amazon, Dramabox, Afreximbank, Unilever, the British Film Institute, Diageo and NBO Capital.
“As we mark five years of EWA, this moment is deeply significant,” said Deola Art Alade, Convener of Entertainment Week Africa and Group CEO of Livespot.
“The work is no longer just about convening the industry; it is about building the systems that help talent meet capital, ideas meet opportunity, and culture become long-term economic power.”
Registration and speaker submissions for Entertainment Week Africa 2026 are now open. The event will take place in Lagos from November 17–22.
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