ASFW 2026 Returns to Addis Ababa in November

28 August 2026: Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) will hold its 12th edition from 12-15 November 2026 at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ASFW 2026 will bring textile, apparel, leather and fashion businesses together to discuss sourcing, production and investment across Africa’s value chain.

What is ASFW 2026?

The organiser describes ASFW as Africa’s biggest trade event for the textile, apparel and fashion industry. The four-day fair is built for manufacturers, material suppliers, technology firms, designers, retailers, investors and public agencies seeking commercial links across the continent.

The official 2026 brochure lists Texworld Addis Ababa, Apparel Sourcing Addis Ababa and Texprocess Addis Ababa as brands licensed by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH. Messe Frankfurt is named as a cooperation partner rather than the organiser of ASFW.

What will buyers find at the Addis Ababa textile trade show?

The official product list spans raw materials, finished goods, production equipment and support services. Its main groups include:

• Cotton, yarn, silk, wool, denim, knitted fabrics, prints, embroidery, lace and functional textiles
• Menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, sportswear, workwear and fashion accessories
• Textile machinery, finishing systems, CAD/CAM software, recycling technology and quality-control equipment
• Leather, footwear, home textiles, textile care, logistics, research and IT services

This mix gives buyers a single place to compare African production capacity with machinery, software and service providers. The fair also puts cotton-to-garment and leather supply chains in the same business setting.

What does the ASFW 2026 programme include?

Alongside the exhibition, ASFW plans a conference, arranged business meetings, designer presentations, runway events and factory visits. The conference page says organisers expect more than 600 participants for discussions on sustainability, finance, manufacturing, logistics and investment.

The brochure projects meetings between more than 400 trade buyers and over 120 suppliers. These are targets for the coming edition, not completed attendance figures. Walk for Business will connect designers with retailers and production partners, while the invitation-only Elegance Fashion Show will put collections before buyers, officials and industry representatives.

How did the previous ASFW edition perform?

According to the organiser’s 2025 results, the 11th edition drew 4,337 trade visitors from 63 countries and 189 exhibitors from 22 countries. Its conference recorded 612 attendees. A scheduled B2B programme connected 83 buyers with 61 exhibiting companies.

Those figures provide a verified baseline for 2026, though the next edition’s final turnout will only be known after the event. ASFW’s return also follows Messe Frankfurt’s plan to add textile fairs in Nairobi from 2027, covered in Screen Print India’s report on East African textile events.

FAQs

When and where will ASFW 2026 take place?

ASFW 2026 is scheduled for 12 to 15 November 2026 at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Which industries does ASFW cover?

The event covers textiles, garments, fashion accessories, leather, footwear, home textiles, textile care, production machinery, software and related business services.