Nigeria is set to host the inaugural AfCFTA FEST from March 26-28, 2026, in Abuja, with organisers targeting over $5 billion in trade deals and partnerships. This first-of-its-kind festival represents a significant opportunity for businesses looking to expand across Africa's 1.3 billion-person market.
What Is AfCFTA FEST?
The African Continental Free Trade Area Festival is an annual event designed to translate the AfCFTA agreement into tangible business opportunities. Unlike traditional trade conferences, AfCFTA FEST combines business matchmaking with cultural celebration, featuring trade exhibitions, investment forums, and even a football gala match featuring African legends like Kanu Nwankwo and Jay-Jay Okocha.
The festival aims to create a transparent and legitimate investment environment that encourages global finance to invest capital into African ventures. It also seeks to integrate 1.5 million Nigerian youths into the global economy through entrepreneurship, arts, and sports.
The AfCFTA Opportunity
The African Continental Free Trade Area is the world's largest free trade zone by number of countries, covering 54 African nations with a combined GDP of roughly $3.4 trillion. When fully implemented, it will eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods traded between member states, creating unprecedented opportunities for cross-border commerce.
For Nigerian businesses, AfCFTA offers access to markets that were previously difficult to penetrate due to trade barriers. Products manufactured in Nigeria can now reach consumers in East Africa, Southern Africa, and North Africa with reduced tariffs and fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
Priority Sectors for Investment
According to festival organisers, the primary sectors being targeted include access to finance for SMEs, agricultural value chain development, and sustainable renewable energy solutions. These sectors align with broader African development priorities and offer significant growth potential.
The festival will employ a bottom-up approach where grassroots beneficiaries help shape project priorities, ensuring that investments create maximum social impact rather than benefiting only large corporations.
How to Participate
Businesses interested in participating in AfCFTA FEST 2026 should begin preparations now. The festival will feature exhibition spaces for companies to showcase products and services, B2B matchmaking sessions to connect with potential partners across Africa, investment forums to pitch to continental and international investors, and networking events with government officials and industry leaders.
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry has confirmed its support for the initiative, noting that the festival aligns with its mandate to promote enterprise development and facilitate trade and investment, particularly for MSMEs looking to scale across borders.
Beyond the Festival
AfCFTA FEST is designed to be more than a one-time event. Organisers envision it as a platform for establishing long-term partnerships and creating sustainable trade relationships. The Public-Private Partnership approach ensures that solutions developed during the festival can attract financing from international financial institutions.
For businesses that have been waiting for the right moment to expand into other African markets, AfCFTA FEST 2026 offers a concentrated opportunity to make connections, learn about market requirements, and establish the relationships necessary for successful cross-border trade.
The festival represents a shift from policy discussions to practical action, turning the promise of African economic integration into real business opportunities.
Sources: Vanguard, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, AfCFTA Secretariat