Top African Trade Shows for Artisans & Designers: Your Annual Guide to Exhibiting Locally

Image Credit: SA Decor & Design

Many artisans dream of showcasing their work on global stages—from Paris to New York—but the reality is, exhibiting abroad can be costly and often out of reach for many creative businesses. This is where local and regional trade shows across Africa offer an invaluable launchpad. Investing in well-curated events within your country or the continent not only reduces costs but also gives you direct access to buyers, collaborators and industry insights that prepare you for the global market. For creative entrepreneurs looking to grow their wholesale presence, these exhibitions can be a powerful first step toward international visibility.

To help you plan, we’ve organised key trade shows by month based on patterns from the past few years (2022–2025). Whether you're attending as a visitor or preparing to exhibit in the future, this guide can serve as your annual calendar for staying market-aware and trend-informed.

March

• Nairobi Design Week — Nairobi, Kenya
• SARCDA International (Autumn edition) — Johannesburg, South Africa
• Addis Ababa International Trade Fair — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

April

• Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (Nairobi) — Nairobi, Kenya
• Kenya Homes Expo (Spring edition) — Nairobi, Kenya

June

• Decorex Africa (Cape Town) — Cape Town, South Africa

July

• Allfashion Sourcing — Cape Town, South Africa
• Decorex Africa (Johannesburg) — Johannesburg, South Africa

August

• SARCDA International (Spring edition) — Johannesburg, South Africa

September

• Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) — Location varies (2025: Algiers, Algeria)

October

• Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (Addis edition) — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Kenya Homes Expo (Fall edition) — Nairobi, Kenya

November

• Africa Tech Festival — Cape Town, South Africa

Even if you’re not ready to exhibit, simply attending or following the coverage from these shows can offer you valuable insight. You'll learn what buyers are looking for, how products are priced, which materials are trending, and what makes a product feel "retail ready." 

At Meekono, we support sellers in building towards these opportunities, whether through product development, wholesale education, or connections with global buyers. Africa’s trade shows are no longer just warm-ups; they are where serious business, creative innovation and cross-border growth begin. If you're looking for international trade shows to work toward, we've put together a helpful guide to global events worth aiming for.