Organisers of the 2026 edition of African Marketplace 2026 have said the platform will continue to connect Afro-Caribbean excellence with global opportunities as preparations intensify for the event scheduled to hold in Dubai in October 2026.
According to a statement, the three-day event will take place from 10 to 12 October 2026 at the Conrad Hotel Dubai, following what organisers described as the successful debut edition in 2025.
The organisers said the event will bring together products, creatives, innovators and businesses from Africa and the Caribbean with global buyers, investors, policymakers, distributors and cultural enthusiasts.
The statement described African Marketplace as a pan-continental trade and cultural platform created to spotlight export-ready brands, small and medium-scale enterprises, and innovators from Africa and the Caribbean.
It added that the platform seeks to help participants scale internationally, attract investment and achieve global relevance.
The organisers said the 2026 edition would showcase African and Caribbean heritage alongside innovation in fashion, furniture, art, cuisine, music, technology, wellness and intellectual capital.
The Founder of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy and African Marketplace, Ibukun Awosika, said the maiden edition in Dubai demonstrated the global competitiveness of African and Caribbean businesses and creatives.
“African Marketplace 2025 was a proof of concept. What the world witnessed in Dubai was not potential; it was excellence in full expression,” he said.
Awosika added that the 2026 edition would expand the platform’s scale and commercial focus.
“For 2026, we are going even further. We are building on that foundation with greater scale, sharper commercial focus, and an even stronger declaration that Africa and the Caribbean are not waiting to be discovered. We are here. We are globally ready. And we are building our own tables. Dubai is where we invite the world to experience who we truly are,” Awosika said.
According to the organisers, the platform will feature curated exhibitions, business networking sessions, investment discussions, cultural showcases and strategic partnerships.
They added that African Marketplace has continued to position itself as a leading platform for connecting Afro-Caribbean excellence to global opportunity.
The organisers said the event serves as both a commercial gateway and a cultural platform by creating opportunities for trade, investment, collaboration and cross-cultural exchange.
They added that the platform remains committed to building an ecosystem where commerce, culture, innovation and identity converge.
