Ghana is hosting the 2026 Africa Real Estate Festival, bringing together policymakers, investors, developers, architects, and diaspora stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.

Under the theme “Innovation Meets Identity: Designing Africa’s Next Living Experience”, the festival aims to position real estate as a driver of sustainable urban development, cultural expression, and economic growth.

Founder and CEO Desmond Oteng emphasized that AREF is a movement addressing Africa’s rapid urbanization. “Africa is urbanizing faster than any other continent. We need connected and functional urban ecosystems that work for people,” he said. The event will feature over 1,500 delegates, 100 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, and 50 speakers.

International engagement was highlighted by Barbados High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, who underscored real estate’s role as a bridge between investment, diplomacy, and sustainable development. She noted that Barbados’ experience in tourism-linked real estate and community planning offers valuable lessons for Ghana and other African nations.

From the government side, Deputy Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office, Nana Kyere Agyemang, outlined strategies to deepen diaspora participation in real estate through structured investments, digital land governance, and commercial development incentives. The festival is expected to generate over US$200 million in investment leads.

The 2026 edition of AREF will feature four core pillars: the Investment & Policy Conference, the Real Estate Exhibition and Diaspora Investment Pavilion, the Luxury Experience & Lifestyle Showcase, and the Cultural Festival & Innovation Matchmaking segment. With plans to expand regionally, the festival seeks to foster sustainable urban innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term economic and cultural growth across Africa.