CANEX WKND 2026 brings Global Africa’s creative economy to Lagos this November

Held under the theme One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World: From FESTAC ’77 to CANEX ’27 CANEX WKND 2026 will convene creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, government leaders, financial institutions, policymakers and industry players from across Global Africa, the diaspora and the Caribbean for four days of business, investment, collaboration and cultural exchange.

Building on the momentum of its 2024 edition in Algiers, which attracted thousands of delegates and featured more than 21 live performances, 13 masterclasses, a flagship fashion showcase and a thriving exhibition marketplace, CANEX WKND 2026 is set to deliver an expanded programme, increased international participation and greater commercial opportunities across Global Africa’s Creative and Cultural Industries.

A Marketplace for Global African Creativity

The CANEX Exhibition & Marketplace is the commercial heartbeat of CANEX WKND, where Global African creative businesses showcase their products, connect with buyers, forge partnerships and access new markets. The four-day event is expected to engage more than 10,000 delegates from across Global Africa and the diaspora, while offering significant opportunities for media visibility, brand exposure, business development and engagement with Afreximbank’s ecosystem of financial institutions, governments and Creative and Cultural Industries enterprises.

With Lagos set to host this landmark gathering, CANEX WKND 2026 will offer a platform for Global Africa’s creative industries to strengthen connections, unlock investment, build new markets and collectively shape the future of Global African creativity for global audiences. Delegate registration is open to creative entrepreneurs and independent practitioners, media and content platforms, among others. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations seeking to engage with a high-value Global African audience of creatives, investors, decision-makers and cultural influencers.

For more information, including registration, exhibition opportunities and sponsorship enquiries, visit wknd.canex.africa or email us at moc.suxenacirfaevitaerc@ofni.

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About Afreximbank:

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance, facilitate, and promote intra and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative instruments to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa.

A stalwart supporter of the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the AFCFTA Secretariat, launched a pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement. The AFCFTA Secretariat and the Bank have created a $10bn Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA.

At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over $48.5bn, and its shareholder funds amounted to $8.4bn. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), Moody's (Baa2) and S&P Global Ratings (BBB+). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com.