ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE: The countdown is on, and the preparations are underway. The African Fashion & Arts Award (AFAA) is set to welcome Africa’s creative community to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for three days of fashion, visual arts, culture, football, networking, celebration and recognition at the sixth edition of the African Fashion & Arts Conference and Awards, taking place from 6–8 November 2026.
Anchored on the theme “AFRICA BEYOND BORDERS: Unifying Creativity, Unlocking Opportunities”, AFAA 2026 is designed to bring African creativity closer to new audiences, encourage meaningful relationships across national borders, and create opportunities for creatives to connect with potential collaborators, businesses, institutions and international markets.
With Abidjan serving as the host city, the event promises an engaging experience for fashion designers, visual artists, creative entrepreneurs, industry professionals, cultural enthusiasts and distinguished guests travelling from across Africa and beyond.
For the convener, Kingsley Amako, AFAA is about more than an awards ceremony. It is about building a platform where African talent can meet, exchange ideas, showcase excellence and explore the opportunities that become possible when the continent’s creative communities come together.
Background: The Nigerian press has previously named Amako as AFAA’s founder, including a 2023 Blueprint report on calls for stronger intra-African trade in fashion and the arts, and a 2025 New Telegraph report on expected continental participation for AFAA 2025.
The 6th African Fashion & Arts Conference and Awards runs 6–8 November 2026 in Abidjan, with the awards gala at Azalaï Hotel Marcory on 8 November.
A Personal Welcome from the Convener
“As we prepare to welcome Africa to Abidjan, my message to every designer, artist, entrepreneur, cultural leader and creative enthusiast is simple: come ready to connect, experience, collaborate and celebrate the extraordinary talent our continent has to offer.
“AFAA was created to provide a platform where African creativity can receive greater visibility, where relationships can develop beyond borders, and where our creative industries can find new pathways to growth. This year, we are bringing that vision to Abidjan for three days of shared experiences, meaningful encounters and celebration.
“I warmly invite you to be part of AFAA 2026. Whether you are coming to exhibit your work, explore collaborations, meet fellow creatives, discover African culture or celebrate excellence, there is a place for you in this experience.
“Welcome to Abidjan. Welcome to AFAA 2026. Let us continue to build an Africa where creativity opens doors and opportunities know no borders.”
Kingsley Amako, Convener, AFAA 2026
Three Days, One Continent, Countless Opportunities
Friday, 6 November 2026: Arrival, Welcome and Creative Networking
AFAA 2026 begins with the arrival of participating creatives, delegates and invited guests in Abidjan. The opening day gives participants a chance to settle in, reconnect with colleagues, and prepare for the experiences ahead.
The highlight of Friday will be the AFAA Welcome Reception, scheduled for the evening at Azalaï Hotel Marcory. Bringing together participating creatives, partners, invited dignitaries and members of the AFAA community, the reception will provide a relaxed setting for introductions, conversations and relationship-building.
Beyond the welcome, the evening offers participants an opportunity to begin building connections that may lead to future collaborations, creative projects, business relationships, and cross-border partnerships. Filmed conversations and interviews may also provide a platform to capture participants’ stories, ideas and perspectives on the future of Africa’s creative economy.
For those arriving from other African countries, Friday represents the beginning of a shared experience in one of West Africa’s most vibrant cultural and commercial destinations.
Saturday, 7 November 2026: Discover Abidjan: Culture, Creativity and Football
Saturday will take participants beyond the conventional event setting, offering an opportunity to experience Abidjan’s cultural atmosphere and the spirit of African connection.
Explore Abidjan
The day will begin with planned cultural visits, giving participants an opportunity to discover aspects of the city’s cultural and artistic landscape. The experience is intended to encourage cultural appreciation, interaction and a deeper understanding of the creative environment of the host city.
For visiting creatives, exploring a new city can be as valuable as attending a formal industry gathering. It creates opportunities to discover artistic influences, exchange perspectives and build relationships in a more relaxed setting.
AFAA × Five Stars Africa Creative Football Cup
In the afternoon, the spotlight will turn to the AFAA × Five Stars Africa Creative Football Cup, bringing a sporting dimension to the three-day programme.
Football is one of Africa’s most powerful shared languages, connecting people across nationalities, professions, and backgrounds. By bringing sport into the AFAA experience, the initiative celebrates the connections between creativity, community, teamwork and African identity.
The tournament is expected to add energy and friendly competition to the programme while creating another environment for participants to interact beyond fashion runways, art exhibitions and formal networking spaces.
Saturday’s activities will give delegates a chance to experience the social and cultural dimensions of AFAA before Sunday’s highly anticipated awards celebration.
Sunday, 8 November 2026: AFAA 2026 Awards Gala: The Grand Celebration
Sunday marks the centrepiece of the three-day experience: the AFAA 2026 Awards Gala, scheduled for 6:00 PM at Azalaï Hotel Marcory, Abidjan.
The evening will bring together fashion, visual arts, cultural expression, and the celebration of African creative achievement in an atmosphere designed to honour talent, originality, professional excellence, and contributions to the creative industries.
Guests can look forward to a red-carpet experience, the awards ceremony, fashion showcases, and the chance to meet the people and ideas shaping Africa’s creative landscape.
The gala will also give participating designers and artists a platform to gain visibility, present their work, and engage with an audience that includes creatives, entrepreneurs, cultural stakeholders, and invited guests.
For award recipients, the occasion will be a moment of recognition. For emerging and established creatives, it will be an opportunity to celebrate peers’ achievements, build relationships, and draw inspiration from the diversity of African talent.
The AFAA After-Party
As the formal gala concludes, the celebration will continue with an after-party, giving guests a chance to unwind, socialise, and extend the evening’s conversations in a celebratory atmosphere.
The after-party will complement the gala by creating more space for informal interactions, new introductions, and celebrating the people who make Africa’s creative industries dynamic and exciting.
Together, the gala and after-party will bring the three-day AFAA experience to a memorable close.
More Than an Awards Ceremony: A Platform for Connection
At the heart of AFAA 2026 is a commitment to bringing African creatives into closer contact with opportunities across the continent.
For fashion designers, the event offers visibility and the chance to meet fellow professionals, explore collaborations and introduce their brands to new audiences.
For visual artists, it offers a chance to share creative perspectives, connect with other practitioners, and engage with people who appreciate African artistic expression.
For entrepreneurs and industry professionals, the gathering provides an environment for conversations about business development, partnerships, market access, and the commercial potential of Africa’s creative industries.
For cultural institutions, diplomatic representatives, businesses, and other stakeholders, AFAA offers a meeting point for creative talent and a platform to explore initiatives that support cultural exchange and economic participation.
The value of such gatherings extends beyond the scheduled activities. A conversation over a welcome cocktail, a shared cultural visit, a meeting between designers or a new introduction at the gala can become the starting point for a partnership that continues long after the event.
That is the opportunity AFAA seeks to encourage: not simply bringing Africans into the same room, but helping them discover what they can build together.
Abidjan: The Meeting Point for African Creativity
Hosting AFAA 2026 in Abidjan reinforces the importance of creating opportunities for African creatives to engage across linguistic, cultural and geographical boundaries.
As a major commercial and cultural centre in Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan offers a fitting setting for an event focused on creative exchange, enterprise and continental collaboration.
The gathering also invites visiting participants to experience the city beyond the event venue, engage with its cultural atmosphere, and build their own connections with the local creative community.
For AFAA, choosing Abidjan reflects the wider ambition behind the theme “Africa Beyond Borders”: to encourage a creative ecosystem where talent can travel, relationships can grow, and opportunities can emerge across African markets.
Readers who want to learn more about the city’s fashion scene can start with our profile of Ivorian designers taking African fashion to the global stage.
A Continental Invitation
As the event draws closer, AFAA invites African designers, artists, entrepreneurs, cultural professionals, partners, and guests to join the experience.
Whether you’re attending to celebrate an award recipient, explore creative collaborations, discover new artistic perspectives, enjoy the cultural programme, or simply connect with people who share a passion for Africa’s future, you are invited to make the most of the three days.
AFAA 2026: Africa’s Creative & Cultural Experience in Abidjan invites you to meet, discover, celebrate, and build.
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Event Information
Event: 6th African Fashion & Arts Conference and Awards (AFAA 2026)
Dates: 6–8 November 2026
Location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Awards Gala: Sunday, 8 November 2026, at 6:00 PM
Venue: Azalaï Hotel Marcory, Abidjan
Theme: Africa Beyond Borders: Unifying Creativity, Unlocking Opportunities.
Tickets: Available through Tikerama: https://tikerama.com/en/evenements/afaa-2026-african-fashion-arts-award-6aaaffbbdfd58
Contact: afaaward@gmail.com
Website: www.afaawards.org, events@afaawards.org, +2347055445987, +2250768030577
