Joburg to host Africa Live Entertainment Conference 2026

The event, which aims to strengthen collaboration and improve the commercial infrastructure supporting Africa’s live entertainment sector, has received endorsement from the National Council for Arts and Culture and the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Ninikanwa Olachi Okey-Uche (Consul General Nigeria, Johannesburg), Olivier Laouchez (Trace TV), Sipho Dlamini (gamma) and Mo Abudu (EbonyLife). Other confirmed speakers and panelists include Cuthbert Ncube (Africa Tourism Board), Annabell Lebethe (SAMRO), Bizzle Osikoya (The Plug), Dama do Bling (Mozambican artist), Amu Oraefo (Entertainment Executive), Usher Nyambi (ALEC) and Walter Wanyanya (Jacaranda Festival).

Organisers say the conference will focus on challenges affecting the sector, including touring infrastructure, artist mobility, visa access, financing and revenue systems across the continent.

“Africa's live entertainment industry is full of potential, but unlocking that potential requires more than talent, it requires structure, collaboration, and intentional investment,” ALEC founder & convener Anthonia Yetunde Alab said. “ALEC was created to bring together the people shaping the industry, not just to have conversations, but to drive real, long-term outcomes for the continent.”

Conference programme

ALEC 2026 will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, closed-door roundtables and a Women in Live Arts (WILA) brunch.

Planned sessions include:

• The State of African Live Entertainment — Infrastructure, Investment & Growth
• The Global Routing — Breaking African Artists into International Markets
• Festivals, Venues & the Fan Experience — Building World-Class Events on the Continent
• The Business of African Music — Rights, Royalties & Revenue
• Touring Without Borders: Mobility, Visas & Regional Cooperation
• The Johannesburg Commitments — Closing Roundtable

Organisers expect participation from stakeholders across several African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Senegal.

ALEC describes itself as a pan-African platform focused on strengthening the business infrastructure of live entertainment through partnerships, policy engagement and industry networking.

Read more about ALEC here.