Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) 2026 is set to bring together leading voices in fashion, arts, culture, education, media and entrepreneurship as the annual Creative Panel Talks take place at the British Council Headquarters in London.
The event, scheduled for August 19, will provide a platform for influential figures across Africa’s creative industries to discuss the future of the continent’s creative economy.
The full-day programme will examine key issues shaping Africa’s creative sector, including the preservation of traditional craftsmanship, sustainability, international trade, technology and the development of stronger creative ecosystems.
The Creative Panel Talks will be hosted by Olori Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, founder of Africa Fashion Week London and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria.
She will be joined by Farai Ncube, Arts and Culture Director for Africa at the British Council; Bola Obileye, Creative Director of Africa Fashion Week London; and Anna Marie Benedict, AFWL’s Press and PR Director and producer of the Creative Panel Talks.
The programme will feature four panel discussions.
The first session, titled “The Importance of African Fashion in Higher Education,” will feature Gavin Douglas, Reader in Fashion Identity and Equity at Manchester Metropolitan University; Katie Greenwood, Lecturer in Fashion Design at Manchester Fashion Institute; and Nike Awoyinka, founder of Refounding and cultural strategist.
The panel will explore the growing role of African fashion in global academic institutions and the importance of incorporating African perspectives into fashion education.
The second session, “Creative DNA x Studio Smithfield: Nurturing the Next Generation of Creative Talent,” will be moderated by Helen Jennings, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Nataal magazine.
Nick Hartwright, Martha Mosse, Renata Brenha, Chido Kaseke and Bettydora Odhiambo will discuss collaboration, innovation and strategies for developing the next generation of creative talent.
The third panel, “Creativity Beyond Borders,” will focus on technology, sustainability, branding and international opportunities for African creatives.
Oliver Enwonwu, Ikanyeng Molemele, TemiladeSalami, Andrea Djan-Krofa and Tola Aladeto are expected to participate in the session.
The final panel, “The Future of African Fashion,” will be moderated by Bisi Akins and feature Dr Avis Ellis-Charles, Bidemi Olujimi, Bukky Asehinde and Joan Nantege.
The panel will examine the changing African fashion landscape and the opportunities available for the industry’s commercial growth.
The programme will end with a fireside chat titled “Heritage & Identity,” hosted by award-winning fashion designer Samson Soboye alongside multidisciplinary artist Àsìkò.
The conversation will explore the relationship between identity, memory and African cultural narratives.
Registration for the event will begin at 9:30 a.m., while the talks and drinks reception are scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the British Council Headquarters.
Now in its 16th year, Africa Fashion Week London has become one of the world’s longest-running and largest platforms showcasing African and African-inspired fashion and design.
Since its establishment, the platform has featured more than 3,000 emerging and established designers and exhibitors and attracted over 80,000 visitors, including buyers, retailers, industry professionals and international media.
AFWL has showcased designers and creative talent from 26 African countries and 67 countries globally, including members of the African diaspora across Europe, Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean and the Americas.
Beyond its annual fashion showcase, the platform has also delivered major cultural events such as the Southbank Centre’s Africa Utopia and Meltdown Festival, the Mayor of London’s Africa on the Square and the Africa Centre’s Summer Festival.
The 2026 edition of Africa Fashion Week London, scheduled for August 17 to 23, will continue the platform’s efforts to promote African creativity, support creative enterprises and create opportunities across the fashion value chain.
Through its programmes and initiatives, AFWL has directly and indirectly impacted more than 5,000 designers, SMEs, artisans, students, stylists, photographers, journalists, models, artists and other creative professionals.
