PAID Summit 2026 Returns with Global Design Leaders, targets 10,000 Participants Across 30 Countries

By Ugo Aliogo

The Pan African Interior and Intentional Design Summit is set to return from May 7 to 9, 2026, convening more than 10,000 interior designers and industry stakeholders from over 30 countries in what organisers describe as Africa’s largest virtual gathering of design professionals.

Held under the theme Curating Our Future: The Power of Intentional Design, the three day summit will feature more than 70 designers, architects, educators, and policy voices from across Africa and the diaspora. The event, hosted by Light Design Lab, will take place virtually via its dedicated platform.
Originally launched in 2018, the summit has positioned itself as a convening platform for African interior designers seeking global relevance and cross border collaboration. Its return in 2026 follows what organisers say is sustained demand from a rapidly expanding design community.

Founder of Light Design Lab and convener of the summit, Osaru Alile Abraham, said the 2026 edition is designed to respond directly to the evolving needs of African designers.

“We built this programme around the questions African designers are actually asking right now how do we sustain, how do we sell, how do we lead. Across three days, participants will hear from designers shaping hospitals in Johannesburg, hospitality in Lagos, policy in Washington, and architecture from Amsterdam to Luanda. This is not a showcase. It is a working summit for designers ready to claim authority on the global stage,” she said.

The programme is structured across three thematic days, beginning with a focus on intentional design practice. The opening day will feature a keynote by Angelica Baccon, alongside discussions on sustainability, heritage, wellness, and emotional design. Speakers include Wangui Mwangi, Victor Ehikhamenor, Cédrix Tsambang, Jacqueline Aki, Tebby Modisagape, Daniel De Lemos, Tobi Ashiru, and Jackie Wacuka.

Day two will shift to the business of design, addressing finance, legal frameworks, education, and emerging technologies. Featured speakers include Jack Travis, Professor Dolapo Amole, Adedayo Adesina, Bolanle Williams Olley, Lara Cameron Cole, Folakemi Oloye, and Paula Rumm. Sessions will also explore pricing models, profitability, and the application of artificial intelligence in interior design practice.

The final day will examine influence and authority within the global design ecosystem, with contributions from Charrisse Johnston, Titi Ogufere, Dupe Olusola, Bunmi Sokenu Salako, and Audrey Forson. A closing panel on global positioning will feature Astrid Hebert, Iselene Augusto, Garreth van Niekerk, and Alan Hayward.

Beyond panel discussions, the summit will incorporate cultural programming, including performances by Cef Ashanti, DJ Uniflex, and poet Favour Amubode.

Organisers say the summit reflects a broader shift in the global design narrative, with African designers increasingly shaping conversations around sustainability, craftsmanship, and cultural identity.

“African design is no longer a footnote in the global conversation. It is shaping it. This summit brings that movement into one room for dialogue, business, and collective vision setting,” the organisers stated.
Participation is structured to ensure accessibility, with the first day open to the public at no cost, while subsequent days are ticketed at 25 dollars for early registration and 40 dollars for standard access.
In a move to align design with social impact, 70 percent of proceeds from the summit will be directed to The Happy Space Project, an initiative focused on creating dignified and healing spaces for vulnerable communities, including widows and orphans across Africa.

PAID Summit 2026 is supported by a coalition of partners across the African design ecosystem, including the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria, Design Week Lagos, Africa International Design Awards, and Decorex Africa, among others.

Organisers say the summit will bring together designers, students, manufacturers, real estate developers, hospitality groups, and media professionals, positioning it as a critical platform for advancing Africa’s role within the global design economy.