The African Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTACC 2026) will take place in Accra this December, with organisers saying the event will create investment opportunities, strengthen business partnerships and unlock the economic potential of Africa’s creative industries.
Symerre Grey‑Johnson, Director of the African Union Development Agency‑NEPAD (AUDA‑NEPAD), explained that the festival is being positioned as a Pan‑African platform to showcase African creative talent while generating economic activity across the continent.
Speaking to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie during a meeting in Accra, Grey‑Johnson said AFESTACC would go beyond celebrating cultural heritage to drive economic activity within the creative sector. “AFESTACC is much more than a Festival. It represents an important Pan‑African platform to celebrate Africa’s cultural heritage, showcase our creative talent, strengthen partnerships and, importantly, unlock the economic potential of our creative and cultural industries,” he said.
The 2026 edition will also bring together the festival and Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA 2026), creating opportunities to connect the creative economy with industrial skills development, entrepreneurship and youth employment.
Grey‑Johnson added that the ambition is to deliver an experience that not only celebrates Africa’s creativity and diversity but also produces meaningful partnerships, investment opportunities and lasting outcomes for the continent.
Tourism Minister Gomashie urged businesses and corporate organisations to support the festival through sponsorship and participation. She said the event presents an important opportunity for Ghana and the wider African creative industry, encouraging stakeholders to take advantage of the platform offered by AUDA‑NEPAD. “If you want to be a sponsor, or you want to just come and listen, please reach out to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and we’ll make sure that you are visible in the programme that we are doing,” she added.
Grey‑Johnson welcomed the inclusion of AFESTACC in Ghana’s official December calendar, describing it as an important step toward strengthening the festival’s visibility and positioning Ghana as a destination for Africa’s arts, culture and creative industries. With six weeks remaining before the event, he said preparations were moving from planning and coordination into implementation.
AUDA‑NEPAD hopes to establish AFESTACC as a sustainable continental platform beyond its inaugural edition in Ghana.
