Ghana is set to host two major continental events focused on Africa's creative economy, industrial development, and skills training in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026. The African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC) 2026 and Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 are being jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
The events aim to drive Africa's creative economy and TVET development, and have been included in Ghana's official December in GH calendar. The core programme will run from December 9 to 11, bringing together government officials, creatives, cultural practitioners, industry leaders, investors, development partners, training institutions, young people, women, and members of the African Diaspora.
AFESTACC will focus on promoting Africa's cultural identity and strengthening the contribution of creative industries to tourism, investment, employment, and enterprise development. The festival will feature cultural showcases, exhibitions, fashion, gastronomy, investment discussions, youth and women's enterprise platforms, as well as engagements among creative industry stakeholders.
The gathering will conclude on December 12 with a public wellness walk. Alongside the festival, ISWA 2026 will focus on the skills needed to support Africa's industrialization and employment growth. It will be held under the theme, "Building Africa's Industrial Future Through Demand-Driven Skills Development and Strategic Partnerships."
ISWA 2026 will bring together policymakers, employers, regulators, researchers, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions to discuss how training can better respond to labor-market needs. Key areas include digital and green skills, entrepreneurship, technology and engineering education, workforce readiness, and cooperation between governments, industry, and training institutions.
The programme is also expected to feature the launch of the Africa TVET Regulators Association and discussions on Africa-Europe cooperation in skills development. The organizers say bringing the two events together will highlight the relationship between creative enterprise and industrial growth, with both sectors requiring investment, skilled workers, and stronger partnerships.
In a joint statement, the Government of Ghana and AUDA-NEPAD said the gathering would provide "a continental platform where culture meets enterprise, creativity meets industry, and skills meet opportunity". The statement also called on African Union member states, regional bodies, investors, development partners, businesses, and the African Diaspora to participate in the events.
Key points
- The events are expected to attract visitors and participants to Ghana during the festive season.
- The programmes will reinforce Ghana's position as a destination for cultural exchange, tourism, investment, and Pan-African engagement.
- The gathering will provide a continental platform for culture, enterprise, creativity, industry, and skills to meet opportunity.
