Amplify Conference, Nigeria's leading platform for live event and production professionals, has unveiled plans for its 2026 gathering. The conference will take place on Wednesday, August 6, 2026, in Lagos and expects to bring together more than 1,000 industry experts under the theme "The Business of Live".
This marks the second year for Amplify Conference, which has quickly become the key annual forum where Africa's live event builders converge. The attendee base spans sound engineers, lighting specialists, production managers, artist representatives, tour organisers, and event planners across the continent.
Last year's editions drew participants from Nigeria and further afield. Amplify held mixer sessions in Lagos, Nairobi, and Lusaka before hosting flagship conferences in Lagos and Lusaka in August 2025.
The 2025 conference tackled pressing industry challenges through panel discussions and masterclasses. Leaders including Eunice Adeyemi of Q21 Solutions, Dr Edward Sunday of Azusa Productions, and Dr Yemi Amusan of Lucere shared their expertise.
The 2026 edition represents a substantial leap in scale and direction. Organisers selected "The Business of Live" to confront what they identify as the sector's most critical yet overlooked problem: the disconnect between technical skill and financial viability.
"Nigeria's live production talent ranks among the world's best," Siji Ewedemi, Amplify's convener, told reporters. "But skills alone don't sustain careers.
These professionals need to master business fundamentals as thoroughly as they master their craft."
Ewedemi added: "That's precisely what Amplify 2026 exists to explore."
The single-day programme features seven distinct sessions blending keynotes, intimate fireside conversations, panel debates, and a novel interactive component. Each session zeroes in on a separate facet of live production business operations.
The opening keynote, also called "The Business of Live," sets the day's direction with an unvarnished examination of operating as a live production business in Nigeria's current landscape.
Two fireside chats complete the format. The first, "Busy But Broke: The Truth About Working in Live Events," explores why fully booked professionals often struggle financially and how to reverse that pattern.
"Beyond the Gig: Building Wealth From Live" forms the second conversation, examining genuine wealth creation strategies for production experts across Nigeria and Africa.
The panel sessions include "Funding the Stage: How Money Powers the Live Event Industry," where three speakers dissect funding sources, risk distribution, and emerging financial models affecting producers and promoters.
"Still Building: Stories From the Ones Figuring It Out" brings three guests in dialogue with a moderator about mid-career realities. The discussion covers obstacles, determination, and pivotal choices in live production careers.
