Entertainment Week Africa Celebrates Five Years with Its Biggest Pan-African Edition Yet

Africa’s premier creative economy platform is getting ready to make history. Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) returns to Lagos this November for its fifth anniversary edition, and organizers are pulling out all the stops for what promises to be the most ambitious gathering of African creatives, investors, and industry leaders yet. Running November 17-22, 2026, this year’s theme—”Five Years of Closing the Gap”—signals EWA’s evolution from cultural showcase to serious business marketplace.

The numbers tell a compelling story of growth. Over its first four editions, EWA has drawn 67,800+ cumulative attendees, with last year’s 2025 edition alone bringing in 28,683 pass-holders from eight countries and over 50 industries. That edition generated more than 5 million online engagements and achieved 800 million-plus digital impressions across Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. This year’s expanded pan-African edition expects to host delegations from 18+ African countries including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa, with 30-40% of delegates traveling from outside Nigeria.

What makes EWA 2026 particularly noteworthy is its seven-track programming structure covering Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Live Events & Production, Creative Enterprise, and the newly added Art & Animation vertical. The platform has become increasingly focused on tangible outcomes through initiatives like the EWA Deal Room, which received 178+ entries in 2025, advanced nine companies to its accelerator program, and connected four companies—Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr, and Sports Reels—with live investor interest. This year’s edition will host the world premiere of University of Side Hustle, the first scripted feature film from Livespot Studios, written by Dami Elebe and executive produced by Deola Art-Alade. The platform has also expanded internationally through EWA Creative Connect, hosting invitation-only gatherings in Los Angeles during Grammy Week and London during Nigeria’s UK state visit, drawing executives from Warner Records, Adobe, Amazon, the British Film Institute, Diageo, and other major players.

“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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