The 22nd Akwaaba African Travel Market officially opened on September 13, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The event runs through September 15 and is the largest and only travel expo in West Africa.
African Tour Operators’ Summit Returns After Eight Years
The 2026 Akwaaba edition brings back the African Tour Operators’ Summit after an eight-year gap since its first event in 2018. The summit connects tour operators from Nigeria and West Africa with peers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. It focuses on developing travel packages for football fans attending the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
This initiative leverages West Africa’s football reputation and East Africa’s tourism attractions, including wildlife and national parks, to promote cross-border tourism and economic collaboration. The summit encourages strategic partnerships and marketing of multi-destination itineraries combining AFCON attendance with leisure experiences in East Africa.
Africa Travel 100 Awards Recognize Tour Operators on September 14
The Africa Travel 100 Awards ceremony takes place on September 14, 2026, during the Akwaaba event. The awards honor African tour operators who have significantly promoted African destinations among African travelers. Eligibility requires at least five years experience selling outbound tours into Africa, selling tours to other African countries, and completing at least five tours in the
last 18 months. Nomination mandates endorsement by either a past winner or a tour operator from another country.
Event Scale and International Participation
Akwaaba African Travel Market 2026 hosts participants, exhibitors, and awardees from countries including The Gambia, Kenya, Benin, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Turkey, Namibia, Togo, India, São Tomé and Príncipe, Malta, the Netherlands, Bahrain, the Bahamas, Spain, and Morocco.
Key highlights feature the African Food Fair, Medical Tourism Expo, Africa Youth Tourism Bantaba, Wonders of Nigeria Expo, and the Aviation & Cargo Conference.
Event History and Industry Context
Since its inception, Akwaaba African Travel Market has become the leading tourism
marketing platform in West Africa. Its Africa Travel 100 Awards have recognized categories such as Top 100 Travel Companies in West Africa (2016), Women (2017, 2022, 2025), Tour Operators (2018), Global Personalities (2019), Under 40 (2023), and Global Leaders (2024).
Previous editions have hosted notable figures including Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Dawda Jawara, Sir Emeka Anyaoku, and Sir Alex Ekwueme. The event regularly attracts Ministers of Tourism, State Governors, Ambassadors, and High Commissioners from across Africa and beyond.
Program Activities Across September 13-15, 2026
The three-day program includes a broad array of activities such as the African Food Fair, African Medical
Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, destination wedding showcase, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, travel technology seminars, CHINET Aviacargo sessions, business-to-business meetings, exhibitions, and networking events.
