CANEX WKND 2026 to bring Global Africa’s creative economy to Lagos in November

The event will bring together creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, government representatives, financial institutions, policymakers and other industry stakeholders from Africa, the diaspora and the Caribbean for four days of business, investment, collaboration and cultural exchange.

The 2026 edition will be held under the theme, One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC 77 to CANEX 27.

CANEX WKND follows its 2024 edition in Algiers, Algeria, which attracted thousands of delegates and featured more than 21 live performances, 13 masterclasses, a fashion showcase and an exhibition marketplace.

Exhibition and marketplace

The CANEX Exhibition & Marketplace will provide creative businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products, connect with buyers, establish partnerships and access new markets.

Organisers expect more than 10,000 delegates from across Africa and the diaspora to attend the four-day event. The programme will also provide opportunities for business development and engagement with financial institutions, governments and Creative and Cultural Industries enterprises within Afreximbank’s ecosystem.

Registration is open to creative entrepreneurs, independent practitioners, media and content platforms and other industry stakeholders. Sponsorship opportunities are also available to organisations seeking to engage with the event’s participants.

Further information on registration, exhibition opportunities and sponsorship is available through the CANEX WKND website.

About Afreximbank

Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance, facilitate and promote intra- and extra-African trade.

The bank has operated for more than 30 years, providing financing solutions aimed at supporting Africa’s trade, industrialisation and regional economic integration. It has also supported the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In partnership with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which was adopted by the African Union as a payment and settlement platform for the implementation of the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank have also established a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries participating in the agreement.

At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank reported total assets and contingencies of more than US$48.5 billion and shareholder funds of US$8.4 billion. The bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.