EWA AT 5: Entertainment Week Africa Unveils Expanded Pan-African Edition for 2026

Under the theme “Five Years of Closing the Gap,” EWA 2026 welcomes delegations from 18+ African countries and hosts the world premiere of University of Side  Hustle, the first scripted feature from Livespot Studios, as the platform evolves from cultural gathering into the marketplace where Africa’s creative economy does business. 

• Five years, one institution: EWA has convened 67,800+ cumulative attendees across its  first four editions, including 28,683 pass-holders in 2025, driving 5M+ online engagements and 800M+ digital reach and impressions last year. 
• A continental marketplace:The anniversary edition brings programming and delegations  from Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and more, targeting  18+ African countries, with 30–40% of delegates travelling from outside Nigeria. 
• The platform premieres its own IP: EWA 2026 will host the world premiere of  University of Side Hustle, the first scripted feature film from Livespot Studios. 
• Seven tracks: Art & Animation joins Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Live  Events & Production and Creative Enterprise. 
• A proven deal engine: the 2025 EWA Deal Room drew 178+ entries, advanced 9  companies to its accelerator, and saw 4 attract live investor interest in the room. 

Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) will return to Lagos from November 17 to 22, 2026 for its fifth anniversary edition, marking half a decade with its most ambitious chapter yet: an expanded pan-African edition built around deal flow,  capital access, talent development, intellectual property, and continental market access across  Africa’s creative economy. 

The anniversary edition runs under the theme “Five Years of Closing the Gap,” reflecting  EWA’s mission to convert African creative visibility into…