Creative Market Turns 5 With Massive 5-City Global Activation

The Africa Creative Market (ACM) has unveiled its 2026 edition, celebrating five years of driving impact across the continent with a pioneering five-city global activation. The milestone year will be anchored by a six-day flagship event in Lusaka, Zambia, building on previous satellite activations in Cannes, Lagos, Johannesburg, and Kigali.

According to Ireporter Online, ACM has established a formal partnership with Zambia’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts, along with a range of local stakeholders, to host the continent’s most ambitious creative economy gathering in 2026. The Lusaka edition will coincide with the Creative Industry Business Summit and the Kwimbo National Arts Festival, positioning Zambia as a premier destination for film, culture, and creative investment while attracting global investors, creators, studios, platforms, policymakers, and cultural leaders.

Kangwa Chileshe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, emphasized the significance of the collaboration, stating, “Zambia is proud to host Africa Creative Market 2026. This partnership reflects our commitment to building a vibrant creative economy that creates jobs 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.”

Inya Lawal, Founder of ACM, highlighted the event’s focus on scaling African collaboration, saying, “ACM turns five in 2026, and this moment is about scale, substance, and legacy. Hosting our main event in Zambia, following a successful delegation 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.”

ACM 2026 will showcase a diverse range of creative sectors including film, games, animation, AR/VR/XR, fashion, art, music, dance, and digital media. The event will feature expert-led conference sessions and masterclasses, art, fashion, and digital exhibitions, finance and investment hubs, networking opportunities, awards, hackathons, innovation showcases, and exclusive VIP gatherings. Delegates from Africa, Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East are expected to participate, strengthening cross-border partnerships and market access.

A key focus of the Lusaka flagship is promoting creative tourism and positioning Zambia as a global film destination. The event will highlight the country’s landscapes, talent, culture, and infrastructure to attract international producers, studios, and investors, further solidifying Zambia’s role in the international creative economy.