The 2026 edition of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) has opened in Lagos, bringing together leading creatives, investors, policymakers and business leaders from Africa and the diaspora to explore opportunities in the continent’s creative industry.

The four-day event, hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), runs from Thursday to Sunday under the theme, ‘One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World’.

According to a statement on Thursday, the event features activities across film, music, fashion, sports, literature, gastronomy and visual arts. The programme is designed to promote investment, strengthen partnerships and expand market access for African creative businesses.

“The 2026 programme spans 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,” it said.

The programme will also feature the CANEX Deal Room, which will allow creative entrepreneurs to connect with investors and turn creative ideas into stronger business opportunities and partnerships.

Afrieximbank said its commitment to Africa’s creative and cultural industries had grown from an initial $500 million in 2020 to $2 billion, reflecting its efforts to help African creatives expand businesses. 

“That ambition reflects the evolution of Afreximbank’s commitment to Africa’s creative and cultural industries in 2020, subsequently doubling this to $1 billion before quadrupling the original commitment financing available to $2 billion,” the bank said.

Attendees included Afreximbank president George Elombi; trade and investment minister Olajumoke Omoniyi Oduwole; secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Wamkele Mene; and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The CANEX CreaThon, organised in partnership with technology company Gebeya, will also bring together creators, developers and innovators to develop projects in music, video and gaming, featuring a $50,000 prize fund.

CANEX WKND 2026 will conclude with a major concert that brings artists together across Africa and the diaspora, along with cultural excursions and gastronomy activities.