Africa Retail Congress 2026

Theme

Leading Africa's Retail Strategy:

People. Process. Planning. Resources.

Conversations and insights to build a more competitive, inclusive and future-ready retail sector across Africa.

  • Saturday,14 November 2026
  • 8:30 AM(WAT)
  • Honeywell Auditorium,Lagos Business School
Register for ARC 2026 Become a Sponsor Exhibit at ARC 2026
  • 1Day
  • 33+Speakers
  • 7Awards
  • 4Sector-Focused Sessions

The Fifth Africa Retail Congress

The Strategic Convening for Africa's Retail Leaders

Africa Retail Congress is the flagship industry platform of the Africa Retail Academy, Lagos Business School.

Now in its fifth edition, the Congress brings together chief executives, founders, board members, policymakers, investors and senior functional leaders from across Africa's formal, informal and digital retail ecosystems.

Delegates at a previous Africa Retail Congress plenary session

Previous editions have convened

  • 10,250+ participants
  • 750+ chief executives
  • 12 countries represented

The ARC 2026 Strategic Framework

Four Levers. One Coherent Retail Strategy.

The Congress will examine People, Process, Planning and Resources as interconnected drivers of retail performance.

  1. People

    Building the leadership and workforce required for growth

  2. Process

    Designing systems that make consistent execution possible

  3. Planning

    Turning business ambition into clear and measurable action

  4. Resources

    Directing capital, technology, data and management attention towards value

Are your most valuable resources concentrated on the priorities that matter most?

You will leave with more than observations about the market. You will leave with a clearer framework for assessing your strategy and strengthening execution.

Secure Your Place at ARC 2026

The ARC 2026 Experience

A Programme Designed Around Leadership Decisions

ARC 2026 combines national policy perspectives, executive experience, practical frameworks and sector-specific intelligence.

Keynote Address

A National Perspective on Retail, Enterprise Growth and Economic Development

The Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment will deliver the ARC 2026 keynote address, examining the role of retail in enterprise development, industrial growth, investment, employment, financial inclusion and the integration of formal, informal and digital markets.

Executive Plenary Conversations

How Leading Organisations Are Strengthening Performance

Chief executives and senior business leaders will examine the choices organisations must make to improve performance across People, Process, Planning and Resources, connecting strategic priorities with the practical realities of leadership, investment and execution.

Expert Presentations

Practical Frameworks Supported by Evidence and Experience

Faculty members, practitioners and industry experts will present relevant research, operating models and practical frameworks that delegates can apply within their organisations.

Sector-Focused Parallel Sessions

Direct Relevance to Your Market

Delegates will participate in focused conversations examining talent, decision-making and supply-chain performance across formal, informal and digital retail ecosystems. Each session will address the operating realities, growth constraints and strategic decisions specific to its sector.

  • Fashion, Beauty, Luxury and Lifestyle Retail
  • Electronics, Home, Healthcare and General Merchandise Retail
  • Financial Services Retail
  • Food, Grocery, Pharmaceutical, FMCG and Food-Service Retail

The Africa Retail Awards

Recognising Leadership and Contribution to Africa's Retail Sector

Seven awards will recognise organisations and individuals making meaningful contributions to retail growth, innovation, leadership and market development across Africa. Further information on the award categories and selection process will be announced.

Apply for the Retail Awards

Who Attends ARC 2026?

Meet the Leaders Responsible for Shaping the Market

Africa Retail Congress is designed for senior decision-makers with direct responsibility for strategy, investment, regulation, growth and execution.

Register as a Delegate

Attendees include

  • Chief executives and founders
  • Board members and investors
  • Policymakers and regulators
  • Retail and commercial directors
  • Strategy and business-development leaders
  • Finance and investment executives
  • Operations and supply-chain leaders
  • Technology, digital and data executives
  • Marketing and customer-experience leaders
  • Human-resource and organisational-development leaders
  • E-commerce, payments and financial-services leaders
  • Manufacturers, distributors and channel partners

Leaders come from

  • Food and grocery retail
  • FMCG and consumer goods
  • Fashion, beauty, luxury and lifestyle
  • Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
  • Electronics, home and general merchandise
  • Financial services and payments
  • E-commerce and social commerce
  • Food service and hospitality
  • Logistics and fulfilment
  • Technology and data
  • Informal and traditional trade
  • Professional and advisory services

ARC 2026 Speakers

ARC 2026 speakers are selected for the decisions they lead, the organisations they build and the practical experience they bring to the Congress.

The speaker faculty includes chief executives, founders, policymakers, regulators, academics and senior functional leaders from across the retail ecosystem.

Three Ways to Participate

Attend as a Delegate

Strengthen the Decisions You Are Responsible For

Attend ARC 2026 to access strategic conversations, sector intelligence, practical perspectives and senior-level relationships relevant to your organisation.

Delegate participation is suitable for leaders seeking to:

  • Assess their organisation's strategy and execution capability
  • Learn from leaders operating across different retail models
  • Identify potential partners and solutions
  • Understand policy and market developments
  • Build relationships across Africa's retail ecosystem
Register for ARC 2026

Exhibit at ARC 2026

Put Your Solutions in Front of Retail Decision-Makers

Present your products, services and capabilities to retail executives, founders, commercial leaders and organisations evaluating potential partners and investments.

Exhibition is suitable for:

  • Consumer and retail brands
  • FMCG manufacturers
  • Technology companies
  • Banks, fintechs and payment businesses
  • Logistics and fulfilment providers
  • Data and customer-intelligence companies
  • Professional-service firms
  • Organisations seeking distributors, partners or corporate buyers

₦1,500,000per standard booth, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis

Request the Exhibition Proposal
A leadership team in discussion

Bring Your Leadership Team

Build a Shared View of the Decisions Ahead

Retail strategy cuts across leadership, finance, operations, technology, people, marketing and commercial growth. Organisations may nominate multiple delegates to enable cross-functional participation and develop a shared understanding of the priorities affecting business performance.

Bringing a team allows your organisation to:

  • Examine strategic challenges from multiple functional perspectives
  • Compare insights across the four parallel sessions
  • Identify dependencies between business units
  • Evaluate potential partners collectively
  • Translate Congress insights into coordinated action after the event
Request an Invoice for Multiple Employees

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions delegates, exhibitors and sponsors ask most often.

Further information

Oluwatomilola Mustapha

omustapha@lbs.edu.ng afracademy@lbs.edu.ng +234 814 169 7656
What is the theme of ARC 2026?

The theme is "Leading Africa's Retail Strategy: People, Process, Planning and Resources." The Congress will examine how organisations can strengthen these four interconnected areas to improve execution, profitability and sustainable growth.

When and where will ARC 2026 take place?

ARC 2026 will take place on Saturday, 14 November 2026, from 8:30 a.m. WAT at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School, Lagos, Nigeria.

Who should attend?

The Congress is designed for chief executives, founders, board members, investors, policymakers, regulators and senior leaders responsible for strategy, finance, operations, supply chain, technology, people, marketing and commercial growth. It is also relevant to organisations providing products, services and infrastructure to the retail sector.

Is the Congress limited to traditional retailers?

No. ARC covers the complete retail ecosystem, including FMCG, financial services, technology, e-commerce, social commerce, payments, logistics, food service, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, fashion, beauty, electronics, informal trade and professional services.

Can organisations nominate multiple delegates?

Yes. Organisations may register multiple employees or representatives. Cross-functional participation is encouraged for organisations seeking to align their leadership teams around shared strategic priorities.

How can my organisation exhibit?

Standard exhibition booths are available for ₦1,500,000 each and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Click "Request the Exhibition Proposal" or contact the Africa Retail Academy for availability and specifications.

How can my organisation become a sponsor?

Sponsorship opportunities are available across Headline, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. Click "Request the Sponsorship Proposal" or call +234 814 169 7656 to discuss the most appropriate opportunity for your organisation.

Lead the Decisions That Will Shape Retail Growth

Africa Retail Congress 2026 will bring together the people responsible for determining how retail businesses across Africa are built, financed, regulated and scaled.

Join the conversations. Examine your strategic priorities. Meet the leaders and partners capable of moving them forward.

Saturday, 14 November 2026Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School

Register for ARC 2026 Become a Sponsor Exhibit at ARC 2026