What’s On in October: The Podcast & Creator Events to Watch
October is bringing podcasters, creators, storytellers and media professionals together across Africa and beyond. From podcast awards and voiceover conferences to creator economy gatherings and tech events, these are the dates worth having on your radar this month.
International Women’s Podcast Awards 2026
Date: 8 October
Location: Toronto, Canada
About: The International Women’s Podcast Awards return to Toronto to recognise exceptional moments in podcasting and the women behind them. Unlike awards that focus primarily on downloads or podcast categories, the IWPAs judge individual moments of audio for their impact, originality, production quality and listening experience. The 2026 ceremony will take place at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and will also be livestreamed.
Check out the event: Explore the International Women’s Podcast Awards
VOAfrica 2026
Date: 16–17 October
Location: Online
About: VOAfrica brings voice artists, producers, casting professionals and other audio creatives together for two days of learning and professional development. The 2026 programme includes practical sessions around voice acting, character creation and building a career in voiceover, making it relevant to podcasters and creators who work with voice as part of their craft.
Check out the event: Explore VOAfrica 2026
PodSummit 2026
Date: 16–17 October
Location: Calgary, Canada
About: PodSummit returns to Calgary for two days focused on podcasting, audio and video storytelling. The programme brings together Canadian podcast creators and industry professionals for conversations around growth, monetisation, storytelling, technology and the wider business of podcasting. The event will also feature a live recording of Unlonely with Dr. Jody Carrington.
Check out the event: Explore PodSummit 2026
SMFest Abuja 2026
Date: 17–18 October
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
About: SMFest Abuja returns as a two-day gathering focused on social media, technology and digital creativity. The event brings together creators, business leaders and technology professionals, with the 2026 programme including speakers such as technology creator Fisayo Fosudo and creator and entrepreneur Eric Egugua.
Check out the event: Explore SMFest Abuja 2026
GrindCon Weekend 2026
Date: 24–25 October
Location: Boston, USA
About: GrindCon is bringing its creator conference to Boston for a weekend built around the business and creative side of being a creator. The programme combines Creator Camp with a wider conference covering money, ownership, audience, media, branding, entrepreneurship and the creative economy, alongside networking and live experiences.
Check out the event: Explore GrindCon Weekend 2026
Built For More 2026
Date: 24 October
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
About: Built For More is a free one-day conference bringing together technology, leadership and entrepreneurship in Lagos. The programme includes a fireside chat with technology creator Fisayo Fosudo, alongside conversations and workshops around building businesses, leadership and innovation.
Check out the event: Explore Built For More 2026
The African Creators Conference 2026
Date: 30–31 October
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
About: The African Creators Conference returns to Abuja with a programme focused on the continent’s creative and digital economy. The conference includes dedicated spaces for creators, AI, gaming and animation, careers and deal-making, with sessions designed around storytelling, audience engagement, monetisation, partnerships and the wider business of creativity.
Check out the event: Explore the African Creators Conference
Moonshot by TechCabal
Date: 28–29 October
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
About: Moonshot by TechCabal returns to Lagos with nine content tracks exploring the future of African technology and business. For creators and media professionals, the Creative Economy track is particularly relevant, bringing together storytellers, creators, founders and platforms working across Africa’s cultural and creative industries.
Check out the event: Explore Moonshot 2026
Afrotellers Conference 2026
Date: 28–31 October
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
About: Afrotellers brings storytellers, media practitioners, researchers, activists and cultural leaders together around the theme Narrative Sovereignty in the Age of AI and Shifting Global Power. The programme looks at who owns African stories and how technology, artificial intelligence and changing global power structures are affecting the way those stories are created, distributed and understood.
Check out the event: Explore Afrotellers Conference 2026
The Future Creative — Creatives Discuss 2026
Date: 31 October
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
About: The Future Creative brings creatives together in Lagos for a day focused on turning creative work into sustainable businesses and communities. The programme combines conversations, networking and creative growth, with the event aimed at people building careers across the wider creative economy.
Check out the event: Explore The Future Creative
