The 22nd edition of the Akwaaba African Travel Market began on September 13, 2026, at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria, running through September 15. The 2026 event centers on sports tourism, leveraging the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027) to stimulate intra-African travel, investment, and partnerships.
African Tour Operators’ Summit Revived After Eight Years
The African Tour Operators’ Summit returns to Akwaaba after an eight-year absence since 2018. It connects tour operators from West Africa, including Nigeria, with counterparts from East African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The summit’s goal is to jointly develop travel packages targeting football fans attending AFCON
2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Africa Travel 100 Awards Scheduled During Expo
On September 14, the Africa Travel 100 Awards will recognize African tour operators contributing significantly to promoting African destinations to intra-continental travelers. Eligibility requires nominees to have at least five years’ experience selling outbound tours into Africa, complete at least five tours in the last 18 months, operate from within Africa, and be nominated by past award winners or endorsed by tour operators from other African countries.
Akwaaba Remains West Africa’s Largest Travel Expo
The three-day Akwaaba African Travel Market is the largest and only travel exhibition in West Africa. The event includes the African Food Fair,
Medical Tourism Expo, Africa Youth Tourism Bantaba, Wonders of Nigeria Expo, and the Aviation & Cargo Conference. Participants represent numerous countries spanning Africa and beyond, including The Gambia, Kenya, Benin, Uganda, 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. Past editions attracted prominent figures such as Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Dawda Jawara, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Emeka Anyaoku, and former Vice President Sir Alex Ekwueme. Ministers of Tourism, State Governors, Ambassadors, and High Commissioners have regularly
participated in the event.
Leveraging AFCON 2027 to Foster Regional Tourism
The 2026 Akwaaba edition focuses on capitalizing on AFCON 2027 by uniting West Africa’s football prominence with East Africa’s tourism attractions such as wildlife, beaches, and adventure parks. The event aims to create multi-destination travel packages for football fans combining match attendance with leisure experiences across East Africa. This collaboration is expected to drive regional tourism growth, stimulate business for airlines, hotels, and tour operators, and reinforce the event’s role as a major platform for tourism integration across Africa.
