Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) has officially announced the return of the annual Eswatini Arts Summit, scheduled to take place from March 11 to 13, 2026.
The summit, which will be held at the Institute of Development and Management (IDM) in Matsapha, is themed “Creating opportunities for artists.” This direction directly aligns with the Speech from the Throne delivered by His Majesty King Mswati III, who recently called for the creation of youth prospects to eradicate unemployment.
By focusing on opportunity creation, the summit aims to transform the arts into a viable economic sector. The three-day conference will serve as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange, designed to develop professional pathways for local creatives.
This year’s event follows the successful 2025 summit, which secured major milestones for the industry. These included a casting commitment from South African production house Black Brain Pictures and a pledge from Paramount Africa to acquire ten Eswatini films annually. Additionally, artists like Young Zesh leveraged the platform to secure cross-border collaborations through AIRCO.
A Three-Day Industry Deep Dive
The summit is expected to follow a structured format to address various sectors of the industry:
Day 1: Film and Television
Day 2: The Music Industry
Day 3: Festivals, Events, and Awards
The goal remains to position Eswatini’s creative industry as a primary driver of social and economic development.
How to Register
Registration is now open through the Eswatini National Arts and Culture regional offices. Artists are encouraged to submit their names and artistic codes to their respective regional officers:
Hhohho: Temndeni Dlamini (+268 7854 6026)
Manzini: Zakithi Dlamini (+268 7912 7245)
Lubombo: Phumzile Sibandze (+268 7868 6863)
Shiselweni: Nomcebo Dlamini (+268 7626 5711)
