LAGOS, November 5, 2026 – The Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026 opens today in Lagos, bringing together creative entrepreneurs, investors, financiers, policymakers and industry leaders from Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora for four days of business, collaboration and cultural exchange.
Running from November 5–8 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, the event is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), hosted by the Nigerian Government, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Under the theme, “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World,” CANEX WKND will spotlight opportunities across film, music, fashion, literature, visual arts, crafts, design, gastronomy and sports.
A major attraction is the CANEX Deal Room, which will connect creative businesses with financiers and investors to pitch commercially viable projects and explore funding and partnership opportunities. Other highlights include fashion showcases, exhibitions, masterclasses, film screenings, music performances and business-to-business meetings.
The 2026 edition builds on the success of CANEX WKND 2024 in Algiers, which attracted nearly 4,000 participants from 81 countries and facilitated deals valued at more than US$540 million.
Afreximbank has committed US$2 billion to supporting Africa’s creative industries between 2024 and 2027, reflecting its ambition to transform the continent’s cultural influence into sustainable businesses, jobs, exports and investment opportunities.
The Lagos gathering also provides a platform to strengthen intra-African trade in creative goods and services, with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) featuring as part of efforts to facilitate cross-border transactions.
Beyond celebrating Africa’s cultural influence, CANEX WKND 2026 aims to address persistent challenges facing the sector, including access to finance, intellectual property protection, market access and infrastructure.
For Africa’s creative entrepreneurs, the four-day event offers an opportunity to move beyond visibility and talent towards commercial scale, investment and global market access.