Africa’s creative economy will take a decisive step forward in February 2026 as Johannesburg hosts the continent’s first fully integrated creative industries summit.

Africa Cinegear World Expo will debut its Integrated Creative Summit from 9 to 11 February 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, bringing together podcasters, content creators, filmmakers, broadcasters, producers and emerging technology innovators under one roof for the first time.

Positioned in the heart of Sandton, the summit is designed to connect Africa’s rapidly evolving creative value chain, from idea development and production to post-production, distribution and the fast-growing creator economy. Organisers say the event fills a long-standing gap in the market by unifying sectors that have traditionally operated in silos, despite collectively shaping the continent’s cultural and economic future.

Cinegear World will run four major verticals simultaneously: Africa’s first dedicated Podcast Summit, a Content Creator and Social Media Summit, a Film Industry Dialogue, and a Broadcast, Gear and Technology Expo. This cross-industry format is intended to encourage collaboration between audio storytellers, short-form creators, broadcasters, filmmakers, production houses and technology companies, including those working with artificial intelligence and virtual production tools.

The programme will explore themes such as the future of African storytelling across podcasts, short-form content and film, as well as the role of AI and emerging technologies in creative production. Attendees can expect live podcast recordings, expert-led masterclasses, technology demonstrations, interactive brand showcases and curated networking sessions designed to spark partnerships and new projects.

“Africa has never had a single platform where podcasters, content creators, filmmakers, broadcasters and the tech community stand under one roof, until now,” said the event’s director. “Cinegear World is the convergence point where the entire creative ecosystem finally meets to shape a shared African future.”

Registration for the inaugural summit is now open, with organisers inviting creators, media professionals, broadcasters, producers, students and industry stakeholders to take part in what they describe as a landmark moment for Africa’s creative industries. www.cinegearworld.com