African Marketplace (AMP) is coming back to Dubai this October, and this time the platform is opening even wider doors for African and Caribbean entrepreneurs looking to break into global markets.
The second edition of AMP runs from October 10 to 12, 2026, at the Conrad Hotel Dubai, following a debut edition in 2025 that organisers describe as proof of concept. The three day event brings together African and Caribbean brands, creatives, and innovators with global buyers, investors, policymakers, distributors, and cultural enthusiasts in one of the world’s most connected trade hubs.
AMP positions itself as a pan continental trade and cultural platform built to spotlight export ready African and Caribbean brands and SMEs, helping them scale internationally and access investment. This year’s edition spans fashion, furniture, art, cuisine, music, technology, wellness, and intellectual capital.
Ibukun Awosika, founder of African Marketplace and the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy, said the 2025 edition proved that Africa and the Caribbean could show up in Dubai with excellence in full expression rather than untapped potential. She described the 2026 edition as building on that foundation with greater scale and sharper commercial focus, calling it a declaration that both regions are globally ready.
Here is what AMP Dubai 2026 offers entrepreneurs:
- Direct access to global buyers and investors, with a curated pipeline already in place ahead of the event.
- Visibility beyond the booth, through editorial spotlights, interviews, and campaign content distributed via media partners.
- A new trade corridor into the Caribbean, opening fresh categories of demand for African SMEs.
- A global platform for brand storytelling, connecting founders with investors, trade agencies, and diaspora audiences.
- Peer to peer access to Africa’s export leaders, offering founders direct lessons from those further along the export journey.
- Momentum that outlasts the event itself, with pre event coverage, on site media, and post event features built into the campaign.
Organisers say AMP is building toward a lasting ecosystem where commerce, culture, innovation, and identity converge, positioning Dubai as a recurring commercial and cultural gateway for African and Caribbean excellence.
Exhibitor registration for AMP Dubai 2026 is open. Interested businesses, investors, and partners can apply at theafricanmarketplace.org/exhibit or learn more at www.theafricanmarketplace.org. Media and sponsorship inquiries can be sent to info@theafricanmarketplace.org.