The 22nd edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from 13 to 15 September 2026. The three-day exhibition is set to convene tourism and travel stakeholders across Africa at West Africa’s largest travel expo.
African Tour Operators Summit Returns for Second Edition
The event will host the second African Tour Operators’ Summit, a follow-up to its inaugural 2018 meeting. The summit will focus on integrating sports and tourism industries, featuring collaboration efforts centered on the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Linking AFCON 2027 Hosts with Tourism Opportunities
AFCON 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The summit aims to connect tour operators from East
and West Africa to design travel packages that combine football match attendance with visits to leading East African tourist destinations. This approach leverages West Africa’s status as a football powerhouse and East Africa’s established tourism appeal.
Summit Features Business Networking and Strategic Discussions
Planned activities at the summit include business-to-business meetings, networking sessions, and discussions on promoting cross-border tourism through sports. Participating tour operators will collaborate on creating joint travel offers to attract visitors attending AFCON 2027.
Africa Travel 100 Awards to Recognize Intra-African Tourism Promotion
The Africa Travel 100 Awards will be presented on 14 September 2026 during the Akwaaba event. These awards celebrate African tour operators who have significantly contributed to promoting travel within
the continent, highlighting efforts to boost intra-African tourism.
Akwaaba’s Position and Past Recognition
Akwaaba African Travel Market has become the largest travel and tourism exhibition in West Africa and ranks among Africa’s top five travel expos. In 2022, the Nigerian Government and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) awarded Akwaaba an Award of Excellence in Tourism, recognizing its role in advancing the continent’s tourism development.
International Participation and Side Events
The annual exhibition routinely attracts exhibitors, buyers, and tourism stakeholders from over 20 countries, including The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey, and the UAE. The 2026 edition will feature several side events
such as the Africa Food Fair, African Medical Tourism Forum, African Tourism Conference, Destination Wedding showcase, African Youth Tourism Bantaba, Travel Technology forum, CHINET Aviacargo exhibitions, and various networking sessions.
