Africa’s creative economy is taking centre stage once again as the African Creators Summit (ACS) 3.0 prepares to return to Lagos in January 2026. Scheduled for January 29, 2026.
The summit will hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, bringing together creators, innovators, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors from across the continent and beyond.
Positioned as one of Africa’s most influential creative economy gatherings, ACS 3.0 is expected to deepen conversations around sustainability, monetisation, and global competitiveness for African creators working across multiple sectors.
A Platform Built to Power Africa’s Creator Economy
The African Creators Summit is an annual gathering designed to spotlight, support, and connect content creators within Africa’s rapidly evolving creative landscape.
First conceptualised in 2023 by Oladapo Adewunmi and Unique Kings Obi, the Summit has since grown into a major Pan-African platform.
From 2024, full leadership and coordination of ACS transitioned to Oladapo Adewunmi, convened through the Apollo Creators Foundation, marking a new phase of structure, scale, and long-term vision.
In just two editions, ACS has evolved from a bold idea into a continental movement where culture meets commerce, attracting creators and stakeholders across fashion, film, music, media, technology, food, and digital innovation.
What to Expect at ACS 3.0
The 2026 edition is designed to move beyond inspiration and into execution.
Attendees can expect a carefully curated programme that combines insight, opportunity, and access.
The summit will feature high-impact panel sessions with leading African creators, brand executives, and policymakers, alongside keynote addresses from industry pioneers shaping Africa’s creative future.
Beyond conversations, ACS 3.0 will host pitch sessions and brand activations, giving creators direct opportunities to present ideas, products, and businesses to potential partners and investors.
Fashion showcases, live performances, exhibitions, and interactive creator showcases will further highlight the depth and diversity of African creativity.
Dedicated networking lounges and live Q&A sessions are also planned, creating space for meaningful connections, collaborations, and deal-making.
Measurable Impact Across the Continent
Since its debut, the African Creators Summit has delivered tangible results.
Across its first two editions held in Lagos in 2024 and 2025, ACS has engaged over 4,500 creators, with participation from more than 15 African countries.
Over ₦600 million has been invested into the execution of the summit and related initiatives, reflecting growing confidence from partners and stakeholders.
Through its wider ecosystem, including the Apollo Creators Academy, ACS has actively managed and supported 500+ creators, while distributing an estimated $6 million in value to African creators through partnerships, opportunities, and ecosystem support.
The summit has also recorded strategic engagement with Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, reinforcing its role as a bridge between creative talent and policy development.
Powered by the Apollo Creators Foundation
ACS is backed by the Apollo Creators Foundation, a talent accelerator and digital development platform focused on helping African creators generate income, access new markets, and scale sustainably.
Managing a growing network of creators across the continent, the Foundation provides the operational backbone that allows ACS to function not just as an event, but as a year-round ecosystem.
Through training, mentorship, brand partnerships, and market access, Apollo Creators Foundation continues to build systems that support long-term creator growth rather than short-term visibility.
Why the African Creators Summit Matters Now
With over 70 percent of Africa’s population under the age of 30, the continent represents one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing creative workforces.
As global audiences increasingly turn to creator-driven content, African stories, ideas, and innovations are becoming central to global culture.
However, gaps in infrastructure, access to capital, and sustainable business models still limit growth for many creators.
ACS addresses these gaps by focusing on structure, connection, capital, and visibility.
Through regional initiatives, policy conversations, and ecosystem-building projects such as 36+FCT, the summit is actively redefining how African creativity is produced, valued, and monetised.
Building on Four Core Pillars
At the heart of ACS is a clear framework built around Trade, Talent, Tech, and Trust.
These pillars guide the summit’s programming and partnerships, ensuring that creators are equipped not only with visibility, but with the tools, systems, and credibility needed to compete globally.
As ACS 3.0 approaches, expectations are high for another milestone edition that pushes Africa’s creative economy forward not just through conversation, but through action.
More details about registration and participation can be found via the official summit website: www.africancreatorssummit.com.
With Lagos set to host creators from across the continent once again, African Creators Summit 3.0 signals a continued commitment to building a creative ecosystem that is bold, inclusive, and built to last.
Would you be attending African Creators Summit 3.0 this January in Lagos?
If you’re serious about building, scaling, and monetising your creative work, this is one room you may not want to miss.
🔗 Register here: https://africancreatorssummit.com/acs-2026/
Drop a YES in the comments if you’re coming, or tag someone who should be in the room