The 2026 Elevate Africa Convening is set to take place on October 28 and 29 at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The gathering will bring together African leaders, policymakers, investors, creatives, youth leaders, and members of the diaspora to explore Africa's next phase of economic integration and the growing role of its creative industries. The event will run under the theme "Africa: Defining Her Future".
The convening comes as African countries focus on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, which aims to create a single, unified market for African businesses. A World Bank report released in August emphasized the need for a shift from trade links towards regional production hubs. The AfCFTA Secretariat has also announced a $5.17 billion Digital Trade Corridor to strengthen digital infrastructure for intra-African commerce.
Accra, which hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat, will provide the setting for the discussions as Ghana positions itself as a centre for continental trade integration. The convening will focus on four key areas: Trade Governance and Economic Integration; Governance, Policy and Advocacy; Youth and the Creative Economy; and The Diaspora. These areas will guide discussions on trade, governance, youth, and the creative economy.
The creative sector will be a significant focus of the convening, with discussions examining film, music, fashion, gaming, and digital content. The programme will explore financing, intellectual property, infrastructure, trade, and access to international markets for African creatives. The event will also feature Threads of Africa, an Elevate Africa initiative celebrating African textile heritage, fashion, film, and storytelling.
The initiative includes fashion film awards aimed at highlighting the cultural and economic value of African textiles and creative expression. The event is hosted under the leadership of Their Royal Majesties Ogiamẹ Atuwatsé III, CFR, and Olorì Atuwatsé III, King and Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom. This will add a cultural dimension to the discussions.
According to Elevate Africa Convening Project Lead Joy Godwin, "Africa is moving into a new phase. The conversation is increasingly shifting from what the continent could become to how we build the systems, institutions, and partnerships that will make that future possible." The convening aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of Africa.
The convening will also examine diaspora investment, talent development, and the role of Africa's global community in the continent's economic and creative development. The discussions will aim to identify opportunities and challenges in these areas and explore ways to harness the potential of the diaspora.
Key points
- The 2026 Elevate Africa Convening will focus on trade governance, youth and the creative economy, and the diaspora.
- The event aims to explore Africa's next phase of economic integration and the growing role of its creative industries.
- The convening will feature discussions on diaspora investment, talent development, and the role of Africa's global community.
