Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Elevated experiences celebrating the culture through dance and rhythm
Africa’s creative economy is getting a major platform expansion. Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) has announced its fifth anniversary edition, set to take over Lagos from November 17-22, 2026, with a bold pan-African vision that transforms the event from cultural gathering into a full-fledged business marketplace for the continent’s booming creative industries.
The numbers tell a compelling story of growth. Over its first four editions, EWA has drawn more than 67,800 cumulative attendees, with last year’s event alone bringing in 28,683 pass-holders from eight countries. The 2025 edition generated over 5 million online engagements and reached audiences totaling 800 million impressions across Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. Now, under the theme “Five Years of Closing the Gap,” the 2026 edition is expanding to include delegations from 18+ African countries—with Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa among the participating nations. Between 30-40% of delegates are expected to travel from outside Nigeria, cementing EWA’s status as a truly continental platform.
This year’s edition introduces Art & Animation as a seventh core track, joining Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Live Events & Production, and Creative Enterprise. But perhaps the most exciting development is EWA’s evolution into IP production itself. The platform 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 2026 program emphasizes structured commercial opportunities through the EWA Deal Room, Content and Music Markets, the EWA Capital Desk, Creators Hub, and LABSPOT. Last year’s Deal Room received 178+ entries, with nine companies advancing to the accelerator program and four—Aktivate, FriendnPal, Growwr, and Sports Reels—attracting live investor interest. “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. Registration and speaker submissions are now open at ewafrica.com.
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