General
Plenary and cross-cutting discussions on policy, investment, IP, digital innovation, financing, exports and public-private partnerships.
Registration now open
Malawi Creative Economy & Investment Forum 2026
Unlocking opportunities in Malawi’s creative economy through innovation, investment and strategic partnerships.
Performer with the crowd at the Forum launch
Countdown to the Forum
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Four tracks. One creative economy.
Cross-cutting plenaries plus dedicated sector tracks for film, fashion and music — each pairing masterclasses and bootcamps with panels on rights, markets and finance.
Film
Project packaging, budgeting, co-productions, distribution and market access for filmmakers and content creators.
Fashion
Product development, branding, pricing, sourcing, production, exports and value chains for designers, tailors and textile makers.
Music
Music business development, copyright, royalties, digital distribution, financing and market readiness.
Plenaries, panels & fireside chats
Policy, IP, finance, exports and digital opportunity — with lessons from across Africa.
Masterclasses & bootcamps
Hands-on track sessions, from scriptwriting and styling to pricing, release planning and the business of music.
Intellectual property sessions
Copyright, licensing, ownership and royalties, with in-person support for practical IP decisions.
Exhibition & marketplace
Visual arts, photography, crafts, literature, film, fashion and heritage displays from Day 2.
Showcases & networking
Welcome reception, film awards gala and a Pan-African film showcase.
One of the objectives for the investment forum is to promote financing and investment for the creative industries and learn from other countries on models that have worked to unlock financing and investment for the sector
Hon. Alfred Gangata
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture
Programme overviewThree days
Three days
at BICC
Arrival, badge collection and networking.
Cultural performances and national anthem · welcome remarks (UNDP) · keynote: Investing in Africa’s creative economy — CANEX lessons for Malawi (Afreximbank) · remarks from Standard Bank · ministerial address · guest-of-honour remarks.
Literature, publishing, heritage products, responsible commercialisation and community benefit.
BreakLunch
Audience building, creator revenue, platforms and the ethical use of AI.
Reading a screenplay, finding your fit on set, spotting a character’s core motivation and managing vocal tone.
How styling and modelling tell a brand’s story.
Live conference-song concept and lyrics.
Gaming ecosystem, revenue models, youth opportunities and a live demonstration.
Finding unique story sources and developing multi-layered characters.
With the Paul Smith Foundation (virtual participation, to be confirmed).
Splits, credits, ownership and registration, with COSOMA.
Wrap-up of the day across all tracks.
Proposed; subject to confirmation.
- Draft programme. All speakers and facilitators are proposed until independently confirmed; sessions may change.
- Only a lunch break (12:30–13:30) is scheduled each day. Acoustic, musical and dance performances are programmed as interludes between sessions.
- A creative economy exhibition and marketplace runs alongside the Forum from Day 2 — a separate programme will be provided.
- There is no formal investor pitching, buyer matchmaking or guaranteed financing.
The launch
Moments from the unveiling
Creatives, partners and performers came together in Lilongwe to unveil the Forum.
Why it matters
Malawi has the talent. Our collective responsibility is to create the conditions for that talent to thrive economically.
Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Malawi
We want to be part of the journey of our youth creating opportunities for themselves through music, fashion, film, digital content, visual arts and many other forms of expression.
Chief Financial & Value Management Officer, Standard Bank Malawi
Speakers & facilitators
All speakersVoices shaping Africa’s creative future
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Keynote[Photo]
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General[Photo]
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Film[Photo]
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Music[Photo]
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FashionCall for Papers is open
Share research, case studies and position papers on investment in Malawi’s creative industries.
Your seat at the table starts here
Places are limited. Registration closes [DEADLINE].
CreativeCreative enterprises, startups, SMEs and independent artists in film, fashion, music and beyond.Register as creative →ExhibitorRequest exhibition space to showcase products, collections or services to buyers.Apply to exhibit →Investor, financier or partnerInvestors, financial institutions, development partners, government and media.Register interest →
01Register onlineAbout 10 minutes
02ReviewOrganising team assesses
03Get notifiedApproval by email
04Show upBadge check-in at BICC
Lilongwe, Malawi
The Forum venue
Bingu International Convention Centre hosts three days of plenaries, track rooms, exhibitions and showcases. Room allocations and directional guides will be published ahead of the Forum.
Location
Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), Lilongwe
Dates
Wednesday 25 – Friday 27 November 2026
Travel & accommodation
Participants arrange and cover their own transport and accommodation.
News & media centre
News & resources
Press releases, concept notes, position papers, calls for papers, galleries and reports.
Concept
Note
Note
Featured document
The Forum Concept Note
Background, objectives, tracks and expected outcomes of the 2026 Forum.
Get the document
Organisers & partners
Become a sponsor →Partners & sponsors
Organisers
Partners & sponsors
General inquiries[info@forum-email][Phone number]
Sponsorship inquiries[sponsorship@forum-email][Contact person]
Partnership requests[partners@forum-email][Contact person]
Got questions?
Can’t find what you need? Write to [info@forum-email].
Creatives and creative enterprises in film, fashion, music and related fields, as well as investors, financiers, buyers, partners and policymakers. [Confirm eligibility criteria with the Department of Arts.]