Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) will open its fifth anniversary edition with the world premiere of University of Side Hustle, the first scripted feature from Livespot Studios, written by Dami Elebe and executive produced by Deola Art Alade.
Scheduled to run from November 17 to 22 in Lagos, this year’s edition marks five years of the pan-African creative economy platform under the theme, Five Years of Closing the Gap.
The programme will feature seven industry tracks: Film & TV, Music, Fashion & Beauty, AI & Tech, Art & Animation, Live Events & Production, and Creative Enterprise. New for this year’s edition is the Art & Animation track, while the event will also offer pitch sessions, closed-door industry conversations, talent development programmes and market access opportunities.
Since its launch, EWA says it has attracted more than 67,800 attendees across four editions, including 28,683 pass holders in 2025. Last year’s event featured 93 film screenings, developed six projects through its Story Lab and generated more than five million online engagements alongside 800 million digital impressions.
The platform’s Deal Room also received 178 applications, advancing nine companies into its accelerator programme while attracting interest from investors including Future Africa, Catalyst Fund, Consonance Invest and Askya Investment Partners.
Beyond Nigeria, EWA has continued to expand its international footprint through EWA Creative Connect, which held events in Los Angeles during Grammy Week 2026 and in London during the Nigeria-UK state visit.
Reflecting on the milestone, EWA Convener and Livespot Group CEO Deola Art Alade said the platform has evolved beyond bringing industry players together.
“As we mark five years of EWA, this moment is deeply significant. EWA started with a simple but urgent belief: African creativity deserves stronger platforms, better access and greater value. Today, the work is no longer just about convening the industry; it is about building the systems that help talent meet capital, ideas meet opportunity, and culture become long-term economic power.”
Livespot Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Darey Art Alade added that the focus for the fifth edition is creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation of African creatives.
“Entertainment Week Africa has always sat at the intersection of creativity, culture and opportunity. As EWA enters its fifth year, we are focused on creating an experience that is not only inspiring, but useful. The next generation of African creative talent needs access, learning, platforms, community and real pathways into work and enterprise. EWA 2026 is about building those bridges with intention.”
With its expanded programme and international reach, EWA 2026 aims to strengthen its position as a marketplace connecting African creatives with investors, commissioners, policymakers, brands and global industry stakeholders.
