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Lagos will host CANEX WKND 2026 from November 5 to 8, bringing together African and diaspora creatives, investors and businesses to explore investment and market opportunities.
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The event will build on the legacy of FESTAC ’77 ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2027 and the success of the 2024 Algiers edition, which facilitated more than US$540 million in deals.
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Afreximbank has committed US$2 billion to Africa’s creative industries between 2024 and 2027, while the Lagos edition will serve as a test run for IATF2027.
November 02, (THEWILL) – Lagos will host the 2026 edition of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) from November 5 to 8, bringing together African and diaspora creatives, investors and businesses to explore investment opportunities, strengthen partnerships and expand access to global markets.
The event, organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position in Africa’s creative economy by connecting cultural influence with commercial opportunities.
The Lagos edition will also draw inspiration from FESTAC ’77, the landmark cultural festival that brought together artists, writers, musicians and cultural leaders from across Africa and the diaspora. Nigeria is preparing to commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2027.
CANEX WKND 2026 will build on the achievements of its 2024 edition in Algiers, Algeria, which attracted nearly 4,000 participants from 81 countries and facilitated and agreed deals worth more than US$540 million.
Afreximbank has committed US$2 billion to supporting Africa’s creative industries between 2024 and 2027, underscoring the sector’s contribution to trade, enterprise development and employment.
The Lagos gathering will also serve as a test run for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), scheduled to hold in Nigeria in November 2027.
Registration is open at https://wknd.canex.africa/.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
