Africa’s creative industries are preparing for a major gathering as FAME Week Africa returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 (CTICC2) from 28–30 October 2026.
With 211 speakers confirmed, more than 80 buyers and commissioning editors expected, and international producers joining leading African talent, the event will create opportunities to pitch projects, explore partnerships and connect with decision-makers across film, television, music, fashion and the creator economy.
But FAME Week Africa is about more than what happens on stage. From screenings and networking sessions to market-floor meetings and unexpected introductions, the event brings the creative community together in a space where conversations can lead to new projects, business opportunities and international collaborations.
More Than 80 Buyers and Commissioners Head to Cape Town
For producers looking to get their projects in front of the right people, FAME Week Africa 2026 offers a valuable opportunity to connect with the industry.
More than 80 buyers and commissioning editors will join distributors, broadcasters, platforms, financiers and international producers in Cape Town.
Delegates can use ConnectMe to begin scheduling meetings before arriving. Curated networking, pitching opportunities and three days on the market floor will provide further opportunities to present projects and explore potential partnerships.
MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company, will also have a major presence at the event. One of its sessions will bring senior representatives from MultiChoice, CANAL+ and STUDIOCANAL together to discuss audience trends, commissioning priorities and what producers should understand when pitching to CANAL+ Africa.
For creators with stories ready to reach new audiences, these conversations could prove particularly important.
The Creative Voices Shaping the Conversation
FAME Week Africa 2026 will bring together established and emerging voices from across Africa and the international entertainment industry.
Among the names confirmed are Kim Jayde, Thando Thabethe, Thabo Rametsi, Flavia Motsisi and Mimi Bartels. They will join filmmakers, actors, musicians, content creators, producers and entertainment executives for conversations and industry engagement.
Women shaping the creative industries will also take centre stage. Discussions will explore creativity, leadership, representation and building sustainable careers.
Lorcia Cooper will deliver the keynote address at the African Women in Entertainment Breakfast, powered by RAY Content Hub.
These conversations will place the experiences, achievements and opportunities of women in entertainment within the broader discussion about the future of Africa’s creative economy.
France Takes Centre Stage
International collaboration will be a major focus in 2026, with France named as FAME Week Africa’s Destination Country.
French producers, buyers and distributors will meet their African counterparts to explore co-production, distribution and creative exchange. The French Pavilion will provide another meeting point on the market floor.
The programme begins on 27 October, ahead of the main event, with French Night at the Homecoming Centre. The evening will feature the African premiere of Le Fantôme de l’Opéra.
Jean Spiri, Head of Cooperation at the French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and Director of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), welcomed the opportunity to strengthen creative connections between the two markets.
He highlighted the African premiere as a significant opening moment and pointed to the potential for French and African professionals to explore collaborations across film, television, fashion, music and the wider creative industries.
The French focus adds another international dimension to an event designed to connect African creativity with global markets.
Two Milestones for South African Television
FAME Week Africa 2026 will also recognise two important milestones in South Africa’s screen industry: 50 years of SABC television and 10 years of Netflix in South Africa.
As Gold Sponsor, the SABC will reflect on five decades of broadcasting while looking towards the future of television and changing audience habits.
Maijang Mpherwane, Group Executive: Video Entertainment at the SABC, said the broadcaster’s history has been shaped by bringing local stories, news, entertainment and recognisable programmes into South African homes.
The SABC will also use its presence at FAME Week Africa to encourage producers, creators and distributors to help shape the next 50 years of television.
The broadcaster highlighted SABC1’s performance during the week of 21–27 September 2026, when it claimed 20 places among South Africa’s 30 most-watched terrestrial television programmes for viewers aged 15 and older.
Netflix will mark a decade in South Africa, reflecting on the impact of its productions and partnerships. Over the past 10 years, these activities have supported more than 8,000 jobs directly and indirectly and involved more than 30 local production companies.
South African stories have also reached audiences around the world through the platform.
Together, these anniversaries provide an opportunity to reflect on the industry’s progress and consider what the next chapter could hold for local storytelling.
AI, Intellectual Property and the Future of Content
The creative industries are changing rapidly, and FAME Week Africa will bring some of their biggest questions into focus.
Across three days, the programme will examine the challenges and opportunities shaping film, television, music, fashion and the creator economy.
Topics include artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property (IP), micro-drama, emerging content formats, financing, commissioning, international co-production, distribution, music rights and revenue.
Delegates will hear from industry professionals working at the forefront of these developments, with discussions exploring how creative businesses can adapt to changing markets and build sustainable careers.
For producers, creators and entertainment businesses, understanding these shifts is increasingly important as they navigate new ways of making, distributing and monetising content.
Beyond the Conference Theatres
Some of FAME Week Africa’s experiences will take place away from the main conference stages.
Special installations inspired by This Is How The World Ends and Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg will offer delegates additional creative experiences.
The RAY Content Hub Café will provide a place to meet over coffee or lunch, while Muziki Africa will focus on music rights, royalties, synchronisation, AI and monetisation.
The wider music programme will extend across Cape Town through Music Week, the Pretty Loud Summit and Music Exchange.
Fashion will also have a prominent place on the programme. The African Fashion Forum will examine the business and future of African fashion, while Tastes + Threads will bring fashion, food, music and storytelling together under the theme Threads of Africa: From the Streets to the World.
Representation on screen will receive its own spotlight through the Inclusive Lens Awards, powered by Earcandy and hosted by Siv Ngesi. The awards will celebrate outstanding LGBTQ+, disability and children’s representation on screen.
Together, these experiences will extend the conversation beyond traditional industry meetings, connecting creative disciplines and audiences through different forms of storytelling.
FAME Shorts Film Festival Continues the Celebration
The creative programme will continue after FAME Week Africa concludes at CTICC2.
The FAME Shorts Film Festival will take over The Rockefeller Hotel from 30 October to 1 November 2026, presenting 36 films across three days.
The festival’s four-year total will reach 129 short films screened, adding another platform for short-form storytelling to the wider FAME Week Africa experience.
For film enthusiasts and industry professionals, the festival offers another opportunity to engage with the stories and filmmakers contributing to the creative landscape.
Will You Be in the Room?
FAME Week Africa 2026 is supported by MultiChoice as Super Sponsor, MTN as Platinum Sponsor, SABC as Gold Sponsor, IDC and RAY as Silver Sponsors, and TV5MONDE and Earcandy as Bronze Sponsors.
With international buyers, commissioning editors, producers, creators and entertainment leaders expected in Cape Town, the event will provide a meeting point for the people developing, financing, distributing and sharing stories across the continent and beyond.
From industry discussions and pitching sessions to film screenings, fashion showcases and music events, the programme offers multiple ways to connect with the creative community.
For those planning to attend, preparation matters. Schedule the meetings, refine the pitch and make room for conversations beyond the diary.
Because the next project, partnership or opportunity could begin with a single introduction.
FAME Week Africa 2026 takes place from 28–30 October at CTICC2 in Cape Town, with the French Night programme beginning on 27 October and the FAME Shorts Film Festival running from 30 October to 1 November.
Ready to join the conversation? Register to attend FAME Week Africa 2026.
