Entertainment Week Africa Opens in Lagos on 17 November

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NIGERIA · CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Entertainment Week Africa opens in Lagos on Tuesday 17 November 2026 and runs until Sunday 22 November. For US visitors, several nights are free, starting with the opening night at 6 p.m. Lagos time.

The organiser, Livespot360, calls it a six-day meeting of Africa’s music, film, fashion and tech industries. Entertainment Week Africa ends with a ticketed concert called Livespot X Festival, which has paid tiers up to about US$150.

What Entertainment Week Africa Is and Why It Matters

Entertainment Week Africa, known as EWA, is the yearly meeting of Africa’s creative industries that Livespot360 stages in Lagos. The 2026 edition is the fifth and uses the theme “Closing The Gap”.

The week is built around seven industry tracks, from music and film to AI, fashion, art and creative enterprise. The organiser says the week also includes markets, labs, showcases and night events.

The organiser says the event started in Lagos as Entertainment Week Lagos and is now continental. Brand Times reports that the 2025 edition drew 28,683 pass-holders and that the first four editions together drew more than 67,800.

The organiser targets delegates from at least 18 African countries, and 30 to 40 percent should travel from outside Nigeria. For a US reader, that makes the week a useful meeting point for anyone doing business in African media, music or tech.

Livespot360 is led by convener and chief executive Deola Art Alade, with Darey Art Alade as co-founder and chief creative officer. The same company also runs the Detty December festival that closes the year in Lagos, after Entertainment Week Africa.

The Week Day by Day

The schedule opens on Tuesday 17 November with an evening Opening Night at the Livespot Entertarium, running until late. Music and enterprise sessions fill Wednesday 18 November, with film and content on Thursday 19 November.

Friday 20 November is given to fashion, art and animation, and Saturday 21 November to AI, tech and capital. Sunday 22 November holds the closing sessions and a finale showcase.

Jokes n Jollof, a comedy night, follows on Wednesday 18 November. The Runway Coterie, on Thursday 19 November, and Turn Up Lagos, on Friday 20 November, both start at 7 p.m.

Entertainment Week Africa ends with Livespot X Festival at 7 p.m. on Sunday 22 November. The organiser calls it the flagship music event of the week and promises some of Africa’s biggest artists.

Brand Times says Livespot Studios will premiere its first scripted feature, University of Side Hustle, during the week. The organiser has not yet put a date on that screening.

Dates, Tickets and Prices

Night events are sold through DOT TIX, a Lagos ticketing site that lists Livespot as a verified organiser. Entertainment Week Africa Opening Night on Tuesday 17 November and The Runway Coterie on Thursday 19 November both carry free general access.

Jokes n Jollof on Wednesday 18 November and Turn Up Lagos on Friday 20 November are listed as free with paid options. The Jokes n Jollof page shows an early-bird ticket at ₦25,000 (about US$18.75) and VIP at ₦120,000 (about US$90).

Livespot X Festival on Sunday 22 November has the widest range, including a free ticket. The paid tiers are Early Bird at ₦20,000 (about US$15), General Access at ₦50,000 (about US$37.50) and VIP at ₦200,000 (about US$150).

US$ figures here use ₦1,333 to the dollar, the mid-market rate on Wednesday 21 October 2026. DOT TIX says VAT is shown before you pay, and the free tickets may run out.

Delegate passes for the daytime summits, markets and labs are sold separately, and early-bird sales open in waves. No pass price is published yet, and student and group rates are promised.

The Venues and How to Get There

The FAQ names four venues for Entertainment Week Africa: the Livespot Entertarium, EbonyLife Place, the Landmark Centre and the Eko Convention Centre. Each session lists its own venue, so check the schedule before you book a car.

The organiser lists the Livespot Entertarium at 4 Oba Elegushi Beach Road in Ikate, in the Lekki area of Lagos. Its schedule puts Opening Night, Jokes n Jollof, The Runway Coterie, Turn Up Lagos and Livespot X Festival there.

EbonyLife Place stands at 1637 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, according to its own website. Landmark Africa lists its offices at 3 and 4 Water Corporation Road in Oniru, Victoria Island.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport is in Ikeja on the mainland, while these venues sit on the Victoria Island and Lekki side of the city. For the flight home, read <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/lagos-airport-december-travel-2026/”>Lagos Airport Asks Flyers to Arrive Up to 4 Hours Early</a>.

The organiser says a delegate shuttle links the official venues and partner hotels on event days, with times in its app. It also offers partner rates with select hotels and airlines, and invitation letters for confirmed delegates.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

Americans heading to Entertainment Week Africa need a Nigerian visa and must apply before they travel, the State Department says. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the arrival date and have one blank page per stamp.

Travellers older than nine months must show yellow fever and polio vaccination certificates on arrival. Any cash worth more than US$10,000 must be declared on entry and on exit.

The State Department rates Nigeria at Level 3, “Reconsider travel”, in an advisory issued on Friday 12 June 2026. It says violent crime is common and kidnappings for ransom happen often.

The advisory also warns that terrorists may target large public events, hotels, clubs and restaurants. Keep your phone and cash out of sight, and tell your hotel where you are going each evening.

On transport, it says ride-share apps are generally safer than traditional taxis and advises against hailing taxis on the street at night. Book your ride home before a night event starts.

The US Consulate General Lagos is at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, and the emergency number is 112. The State Department warns that Nigerian hospitals are generally not equipped to US standards and often want payment up front.

Nigeria’s national disease agency, the NCDC, runs a toll-free call centre on 6232 for health questions. Check the State Department’s Nigeria pages for any health notice shortly before you fly.

Other Lagos Dates Around the Week

Lagos Fashion Week runs from 28 October to 1 November, which is before this one starts. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/lagos-fashion-week-2026/”>Lagos Fashion Week guide</a> has the details.

Wizkid opens Detty December Fest in Lagos on Friday 18 December. Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/detty-december-fest-lagos-2026-december-18-30-wizkid-tickets/”>Detty December Fest guide</a> has the dates and prices.

Our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/expat-cities/lagos/”>Lagos city page</a> covers the wider picture for newcomers. The <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/what-to-do-in-lagos-in-october-2026/”>What to Do in Lagos in October 2026</a> guide lists what is on before the week starts.

Longer stays are covered in our <a href=”https://www.riotimesonline.com/nigeria-visa-residency/”>Nigeria visa and residency guide</a>. It explains the permits that go beyond a short business or event trip.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The organiser has not published prices for Entertainment Week Africa delegate passes, and says only that early-bird passes open in waves. It has not said which sessions need an upgraded pass, though it says the Deal Room and the markets are access-gated.

The Livespot X Festival lineup has not been named, and the page promises only some of the biggest artists in Africa. The prices for Turn Up Lagos are also not shown, and the organiser has not given a date for the film premiere.

Only the first-wave speakers are named, among them designer Mai Atafo and screenwriter Dami Elebe, and more are due in waves. The schedule lists most daytime sessions by the hour, but the start time of Jokes n Jollof differs between the organiser’s pages.

No capacity is stated for the Livespot Entertarium or the other venues. Rules for travellers can change quickly, so check official health and entry notices before the week starts.

Dates, tiers and venues can change, so check ewafrica.com and the DOT TIX page in the week before you travel. Every date, time and price here comes from the organiser’s own pages as read on Wednesday 21 October 2026.

More: Nigeria news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Entertainment Week Africa 2026 and where is it?

Entertainment Week Africa runs from Tuesday 17 to Sunday 22 November 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria. Venues include the Livespot Entertarium, EbonyLife Place, the Landmark Centre and the Eko Convention Centre.

Are there free events at Entertainment Week Africa?

Yes, the opening night on Tuesday 17 November and The Runway Coterie on Thursday 19 November have free general access. Other nights mix free and paid tickets.

Do Americans need a visa to attend?

Yes, US citizens must get a Nigerian visa before they travel, according to the State Department. Their passports must also be valid for six months beyond the arrival date.

Sources: Entertainment Week Africa, official site (dates, tracks, theme), accessed 21 October 2026; Entertainment Week Africa, FAQ (venues, passes, shuttle), accessed 21 October 2026; Entertainment Week Africa, schedule, accessed 21 October 2026; Entertainment Week Africa, experiences and lineup, accessed 21 October 2026; DOT TIX, Livespot events (official ticket seller), accessed 21 October 2026; DOT TIX, Livespot X Festival, 22 November, accessed 21 October 2026; DOT TIX, Jokes n Jollof, 18 November, accessed 21 October 2026; DOT TIX, The Runway Coterie, 19 November, accessed 21 October 2026; The Lagos Review, Entertainment Week Africa returns to Lagos for 5th edition, 13 August 2026; Brand Times, EWA Turns 5, 18 July 2026; EbonyLife Place, official website (address), accessed 21 October 2026; Landmark Africa, official website (address), accessed 21 October 2026; Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (helpline 6232), accessed 21 October 2026; US State Department, Nigeria International Travel Information, last updated 25 June 2026, accessed 21 October 2026; US State Department, Nigeria Travel Advisory, issued 12 June 2026, accessed 21 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief