Africa’s creative industries are heading to Lagos for four days of exhibitions, performances, business conversations and networking as the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026 prepares to bring together creatives, investors, policymakers and industry leaders from across Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora.
Scheduled for November 5–8, 2026, the event will take place at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, in Iganmu, Lagos.
Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), CANEX WKND will run under the theme “One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.”
The gathering is designed to connect creative talent with the people and businesses that can help take their work to wider markets.
Beyond celebrating African culture, the event will create opportunities for creators, entrepreneurs, investors, buyers and industry professionals to exchange ideas, explore partnerships and discuss the commercial potential of Africa’s creative economy.
From film and music to fashion, literature, visual arts, sports and gastronomy, CANEX WKND 2026 will bring multiple creative sectors together under one roof.
What to Expect at CANEX WKND 2026
The four-day event will feature a range of activities across the creative industries, combining entertainment and cultural showcases with professional development and business opportunities.
Here are some of the major programmes highlighted on the official CANEX WKND website.
1. Film Screenings and the CANEX Shorts Awards
The CANEX Film Factory will provide a platform for African and Caribbean filmmakers to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals and explore opportunities in production, financing and distribution.
One of the major highlights will be CANEX Shorts, the short-film competition featuring fiction, documentary and animation. The programme is expected to conclude with screenings of selected films and an awards ceremony during the event.
The film programme will also feature industry panels, conversations with filmmakers and practical masterclasses covering storytelling, production and access to international markets.
For emerging African animators and filmmakers, the programme offers an opportunity to discover work from across the continent and diaspora while engaging with professionals working to expand the reach of African screen content.
2. CANEX WKND Music Concert and Music Factory
Music will also take centre stage through the CANEX Music Factory and the event’s music concert, which will showcase artists from across Africa and the diaspora.
The Music Factory focuses on helping musicians, producers, managers and other music professionals understand the business behind their craft. Its programme includes industry discussions, music business masterclasses, artist conversations and live music production sessions.
Topics covered by the platform include music publishing, licensing, intellectual property, branding, management and digital distribution.
These activities are designed to help creative professionals build sustainable careers and connect with potential collaborators and industry partners.
3. CANEX Fashion Show and Fashion Business Opportunities
Fashion will feature through curated showcases, exhibitions and business-focused engagements designed to connect African designers with international buyers, retailers and distributors.
The CANEX Fashion programme includes the Fashion Show and Luxury Fashion Xchange, alongside masterclasses and industry discussions on brand development, production, distribution and entry into international markets.
The Luxury Fashion Xchange is intended to connect selected designers with buyers and retail partners, creating opportunities that extend beyond runway visibility to commercial relationships and market expansion.
4. CANEX Book Factory and Literary Programmes
Writers, publishers, booksellers and readers will have a dedicated space through the CANEX Book Factory.
The literary programme includes the CANEX Book Fair, author conversations and the CANEX Prize for Publishing.
The book fair is designed to connect publishers, authors and literary organisations while providing a marketplace for books and opportunities for industry networking.
The event will also feature the annual publishing prize ceremony. The CANEX Creative Writing Workshop is another part of the initiative supporting emerging African and Caribbean writers, although the 2026 workshop’s residential sessions are scheduled separately from the main weekend.
5. Gastronomy, Visual Arts and Sports
CANEX WKND will extend beyond film, music, fashion and literature to highlight other parts of the creative economy.
Its gastronomy programming celebrates African and Caribbean food culture through activities such as Jollof Wars and the Junior Chefs Competition, while creating opportunities to explore food entrepreneurship and culinary talent.
The sports programme focuses on the commercial potential of African sporting talent, businesses and partnerships. It connects athletes, sports executives, broadcasters, sponsors and investors through showcases and industry engagement.
Visual arts, crafts and design will also form part of the wider event, giving creative businesses and practitioners opportunities to display their work and connect with potential customers and partners.
CANEX Deal Room: Connecting Creatives With Investors
Beyond the showcases, one of the event’s business-focused features is the CANEX Deal Room.
The platform is designed to give entrepreneurs in Africa’s Creative and Cultural Industries an opportunity to present bankable projects to financiers and investors. It aims to help bridge the gap between creative ideas and the funding, partnerships and commercial relationships needed to grow them.
Networking opportunities, business-to-business (B2B) engagements and business-to-government (B2G) conversations will also be central to the gathering, creating space for creative entrepreneurs to meet potential partners and explore new markets.
For independent creators and small creative businesses, these opportunities could be particularly relevant for exploring distribution, investment, licensing, retail partnerships and other routes to commercial growth.
Who Can Attend CANEX WKND 2026?
CANEX WKND is intended for a broad cross-section of the creative economy, including:
- Filmmakers, animators, producers and other screen-content professionals.
- Musicians, recording artists, producers and music executives.
- Fashion designers, manufacturers, retailers and buyers.
- Writers, publishers, booksellers and literary organisations.
- Visual artists, craftspeople and design entrepreneurs.
- Athletes, sports businesses, sponsors and industry representatives.
- Chefs, food entrepreneurs and hospitality professionals.
- Investors, policymakers, distributors and other industry stakeholders.
The official website provides a visitor registration portal for people interested in attending. Businesses and creative brands that want to showcase their products or services can use the separate exhibitor registration process.
How to Register for CANEX WKND 2026
Visitor registration is free, according to the event’s official announcement. Interested attendees can register online ahead of the November gathering.
To register:
- Visit the official CANEX WKND website at wknd.canex.africa.
- Select Register Now to access the visitor registration form.
- Complete the requested personal and professional information, including your name, contact details, nationality and area of interest.
- Submit the form and follow any instructions provided by the organisers regarding your registration.
Register here: CANEX WKND 2026 Visitor Registration.
Creative businesses interested in exhibiting should use the dedicated Exhibitor Registration Portal to review the available stand packages and registration requirements. Exhibitor participation is a separate process from free visitor registration.
International attendees should also consult the official website page for travel and visa guidance.
Event Details at a Glance
- Event: Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026
- Dates: November 5–8, 2026
- Venue: Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre Complex, Iganmu, Lagos, Nigeria
- Theme: One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World
- Organiser: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
- Visitor registration: Free
- Official website: wknd.canex.africa
Although the official website has announced the major event highlights and sector-specific activities, a complete day-by-day timetable, including confirmed session times and individual speakers, was not available on the official sessions page at the time of writing.
Attendees should check the official CANEX WKND website for programme announcements and updates as the event approaches.
The organisers also provide an official mobile app designed to help registered participants access their digital badges, discover exhibitors, connect with other delegates and schedule meetings.
As Lagos prepares to host this year’s gathering, CANEX WKND 2026 is positioning itself as a meeting point for culture, creativity and commerce.
For African creators seeking new audiences, professional connections and access to wider markets, the four-day event will bring a range of opportunities together in one place.