In a move to advance trade, talent, and culture across Africa, key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors convened in Lagos on 3 February 2026, ahead of the inaugural African Connected Through Trade, Talent & Culture Festival (ACFTA Fest).
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The ACFTA Fest is a landmark three-day Pan-African event aimed at showcasing the continent’s vibrant cultures, innovative minds, and sporting icons under one roof in Abuja, Nigeria. Guided by the vision of uniting Africa through trade, talent, and culture, the festival combines creative expression, entrepreneurial drive, and athletic excellence to create a dynamic platform for connection, collaboration, and celebration of African brilliance.
Scheduled to take place from 26 to 28 March 2026, the festival is projected to empower 1.5 million youths in entrepreneurship, arts, and sports, while facilitating over five billion dollars in trade deals and partnerships across Africa.
Speaking at the press conference in Lagos, the Project Lead of ACFTA Fest, Mandi Anyangwe, said the initiative is designed to strengthen intra-African trade and promote Africa as a single integrated market.
Anyangwe noted that the festival will deepen awareness of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area at the grassroots level to ensure wider participation, explaining that the project is also focused on mobilizing youths and creatives as key drivers of economic growth and development in Africa.
Football legend, Eyong Enoh, who was at the press conference, described the festival as a platform aimed at removing limitations and fostering unity across the continent, while emphasizing the need for inclusive innovation and collective action to drive meaningful transition.
Also present, Honorable member of the Lagos state house of assembly, Desmond Elliot said Africans are best positioned to tell their own stories and preserve their culture, while commending the festival for promoting African heritage. He furthermore called for collaborative actions that creates an enabling environment for the project.
The 2026 ACFTA Fest will serve as a platform to showcase businesses, arts, culture, and trade opportunities across the continent. Amplifying activities that aim to connect entrepreneurs with investors, cultural exhibitions, creative performances, as well as tributes and celebrations of African football legends.
For more info, visit www.acftafest.com to explore all the ways you can be part of this vibrant continental celebration, and secure your spot at the festival by choosing from a range of ticket options, from virtual access to regular, premium, or delegate passes that unlock access to concerts, exhibitions, workshops, networking sessions, and more across the three-day celebration of African excellence.
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