Entertainment Week Africa Returns for Fifth Anniversary with Expanded Pan-African Vision

Africa’s creative economy is getting its biggest marketplace yet. Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) has announced its fifth anniversary edition, set to transform Lagos into a continental hub for music, film, fashion, and creative enterprise from November 17-22, 2026. Under the banner “Five Years of Closing the Gap,” the event is positioning itself as more than a festival—it’s becoming the business nerve center where African talent meets global capital.

The numbers tell the story of EWA’s explosive growth. Over four editions, the platform has drawn more than 67,800 cumulative attendees, with last year’s edition alone bringing 28,683 pass-holders from eight countries across 61 sessions, 20 music showcases, and generating over 800 million digital impressions. For 2026, EWA is expanding to include delegations from 18+ African countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa, with 30-40% of delegates traveling from outside Nigeria. The platform now spans seven core tracks: Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Art & Animation, Live Events & Production, and Creative Enterprise.

What sets EWA apart is its focus on tangible outcomes. The 2025 EWA Deal Room processed 178+ entries, advanced nine companies to its accelerator program, and saw four companies—Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr, and Sports Reels—attract live investor interest. For 2026, the platform is doubling down on commercial infrastructure through the EWA Deal Room, Content and Music Markets, the EWA Capital Desk, Creators Hub, and LABSPOT, creating direct pathways between creatives, investors, commissioners, and distributors. The anniversary edition will also host the world premiere of University of Side Hustle, the first scripted feature from Livespot Studios, written by Dami Elebe and executive produced by Deola Art-Alade. Meanwhile, EWA Creative Connect has extended the platform’s reach internationally with invitation-only convenings in Los Angeles during Grammy Week and London, drawing executives from Warner Records, Adobe, Amazon, the British Film Institute, and major brands into direct engagement with Africa’s creative economy.

“EWA started with a simple but urgent belief: African creativity deserves stronger platforms, better access, and greater value,” said Deola Art Alade, Convener of Entertainment Week Africa and Group CEO of Livespot360. “Today, 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 EWA 2026 are now open at ewafrica.com.

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