African Marketplace (AMP), a pan-continental trade and cultural platform will return for its second edition in Dubai from October 10 to 12, 2026, as organisers seek to deepen global market access for export-ready businesses from Africa and the Caribbean.
The three-day event will be bringing together a diverse mix of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), creatives, innovators, investors, distributors, policymakers and cultural enthusiasts.
Organisers said the 2026 edition builds on the momentum of AMP’s inaugural event in 2025, which showcased African and Caribbean products and services to an international audience in one of the world’s leading trade and logistics hubs.
African Marketplace is designed as a commercial and cultural platform that highlights export-ready brands across a wide range of sectors, including fashion, furniture, art, cuisine, music, technology, wellness and intellectual capital.
The initiative aims to help participating businesses scale beyond their domestic markets, attract investment, and establish a stronger presence on the global stage.
Speaking on the forthcoming edition, Ibukun Awosika, founder of African Marketplace, said the successful launch of the platform last year demonstrated the global competitiveness of African and Caribbean enterprises.
“African Marketplace 2025 was proof of concept. What the world witnessed in Dubai was not potential, it was excellence in full expression,” she said.
She added that the 2026 event would be larger and more commercially focused.
“For 2026, we are going even further. We are building on that foundation with greater scale, sharper commercial focus, and an even stronger declaration that Africa and the Caribbean are not waiting to be discovered. We are here. We are globally ready. And we are building our own tables. Dubai is where we invite the world to experience who we truly are,” Awosika said.
According to the organisers, the event will feature curated exhibitions, investment discussions, business networking sessions, cultural showcases and strategic partnership engagements.
These activities are expected to create opportunities for trade, financing, collaboration and cross-cultural exchange between Afro-Caribbean entrepreneurs and international stakeholders.
Beyond serving as an exhibition, AMP positions itself as a gateway for businesses looking to expand internationally while also celebrating the richness of African and Caribbean heritage and innovation.
Organisers said the platform remains committed to building a sustainable ecosystem where commerce, culture, innovation and identity intersect, helping businesses from both regions achieve broader global relevance.
