Africa Creative Market Marks Fifth Year with Ambitious Global Expansion
The Africa Creative Market (ACM) has officially unveiled plans for its 2026 edition, commemorating five years of significant impact through an innovative five-city global activation strategy. This milestone celebration will be highlighted by a six-day flagship event scheduled to take place in Lusaka, Zambia, following successful satellite activations in major international cities including Cannes, Lagos, Johannesburg, and Kigali.
Strategic Partnership with Zambian Government
Building on the momentum from a productive Zambian delegation's participation in ACM events held in Nigeria last year, ACM has now entered into a formal partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts of Zambia, along with numerous local stakeholders. This collaboration aims to bring Africa's most comprehensive creative economy gathering to Zambia in 2026, fostering job creation, investment attraction, and positioning the country as a premier destination for film and cultural innovation.
Kangwa Chileshe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts in Zambia, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "Zambia is proud to host Africa Creative Market 2026. This partnership reflects our commitment to building a vibrant creative economy that creates jobs especially for our youth, attracts investment, and positions Zambia as a destination for film, culture, and innovation. We look forward to welcoming the world to Lusaka."
Integration with Local Creative Events
The Lusaka edition of ACM 2026 is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Creative Industry Business Summit and the Kwimbo National Arts Festival. This integration will enhance Zambia's profile as a leading creative and film hub, drawing global investors, creators, studios, platforms, policymakers, and cultural leaders to explore opportunities within the region.
Inya Lawal, Founder of Africa Creative Market, emphasized the significance of this expansion, saying, "ACM turns five in 2026, and this moment is about scale, substance, and legacy. Hosting our main event in Zambia, after an incredible delegation experience in Nigeria, signals the future of African collaboration. From Cannes to Lusaka, Lagos to Johannesburg and Kigali, ACM 2026 is Africa showing up globally, together."
Comprehensive Program and Global Reach
ACM 2026 will feature a diverse array of activities aimed at amplifying Africa's creative voice on the international stage while fostering cross-border partnerships and market access. Key sectors in focus include:
- Film, Games, and Animation
- AR/VR/XR Technologies
- Fashion, Art, and Music
- Digital Media and Dance
The event will deliver a high-impact mix of conference sessions, expert-led masterclasses, art and fashion exhibitions, finance and investment hubs, and specialized networking opportunities such as the Women in Film and TV Africa Conference and Awards.
Additional highlights will include:
- B2B and B2G networking and deal rooms
- VIP lounges and curated receptions
- Launches, cocktail gatherings, and bilateral meetings
- Hackathons, game centres, and innovation showcases
With delegates expected from across Africa, Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, ACM 2026 is strategically designed to connect, create, and catalyse Africa's creative future. A major focus of the Lusaka flagship will be on creative tourism and film destination positioning, showcasing Zambia's landscapes, talent, culture, and infrastructure to global producers and investors.
Transformational Impact for Zambia
Abel Silungwe, Zambian Partner for ACM, highlighted the transformative potential of hosting the event, noting, "Bringing ACM to Zambia is transformational. It opens our creative ecosystem to the world, creates real market access for Zambian creatives, and positions the country as a serious player in film, digital media, and the wider creative industries."
As a pan-African creative economy platform, ACM connects creators, investors, governments, and global partners through markets, conferences, showcases, and deal-making platforms. It drives trade, skills development, investment, and policy alignment across Africa's creative sectors. ACM 2026 promises to be the most ambitious edition yet, uniting five cities in a six-day celebration in Zambia, symbolizing a unified global African creative movement.
