The Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) WKND 2026 has commenced in Lagos, bringing together leading African and diaspora creatives, investors, policymakers, and cultural figures for four days of conversations, deal-making, and industry-focused sessions. The event, hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) through its CANEX program, runs from November 5 to 8 under the theme "One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World."
This year's CANEX WKND program spans various sectors, including film and television, music, fashion, sport, literature and publishing, gastronomy, and visual arts, with a strong focus on finance, intellectual property, technology, skills, investment, and market access. The program aims to provide platforms for deal-making, industry dialogue, and sector-specific engagement, including the CANEX Deal Room, to turn creative talent and ideas into stronger businesses and commercial opportunities.
Afreximbank has committed to Africa's creative and cultural industries, initially committing $500 million in 2020, which was later doubled to $1 billion and then quadrupled to $2 billion. The bank's objective is to help African creators and businesses build scalable enterprises, strengthen ownership of intellectual property, and retain more of the economic value generated by African culture and creativity.
The opening ceremony features addresses by Ministers of Culture and Creative Industries from 11 African countries, as well as dignitaries such as George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State. The program brings together influential cultural and industry figures, including Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, Emmy Award-winning actor Uzo Aduba, and former professional footballers Didier Drogba and Jay-Jay Okocha.
The event includes performances and appearances from musicians such as Davido, Fally Ipupa, and Flavour, reflecting CANEX WKND's combination of industry engagement with live cultural programming. A high-level conversation titled "One Market, One Culture: Building the Creative Economy of Global Africa" will examine the steps required to convert the growing global influence of African culture into stronger creative businesses, exports, and investment.
Financing is a central theme, with the Creative Economy Finance Summit bringing financial institutions and investors together to examine how creative-economy transactions can be structured, financed, and de-risked. The CANEX Deal Room and Creative Pitch Sessions will connect creative entrepreneurs directly with financiers and investors considering opportunities across various sectors.
The program concludes with a Legends Football Match at Onikan Stadium on November 8, and a major concert on November 7 bringing together artists from across Africa and the diaspora. The event provides a platform for African creatives and investors to network, engage in deal-making, and explore opportunities for growth and development in the creative economy.
Key points
- CANEX WKND 2026 brings together leading African and diaspora creatives, investors, and policymakers to drive growth and development in the creative economy.
- The event features a range of industry-focused sessions, performances, and exhibitions across various sectors, including film, music, fashion, and sport.
- Afreximbank has committed $2 billion to support Africa's creative and cultural industries, aiming to help creators build scalable enterprises and retain more of the economic value generated by African culture and creativity.
