Opening the event, Founder of Africa Creative Market, Dr. Inya Lawal, described Zambia as the ideal host for this year’s gathering, pointing to the country’s growing commitment to the creative economy. Those remarks established the central theme that echoed throughout ACM 2026: Africa possesses extraordinary creative talent, but sustained investment, enabling policies, stronger institutions and deeper collaboration will determine the future of the continent’s creative economy. As the curtains closed on the Lusaka edition, organisers described Africa Creative Market as far more than an annual event. It has become a continental platform where policy meets enterprise, culture intersects with commerce and partnerships evolve into long-term opportunities capable of shaping Africa’s creative future. Africa’s creative economy is no longer defined solely by its cultural richness but increasingly by its capacity for innovation, investment and economic transformation.