Elevate Africa Opens Applications for Threads of Africa 2026

Elevate Africa is pleased to announce that applications are now open for Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026, a pan-African fashion, culture, and storytelling initiative that invites creatives across the continent to document and reimagine endangered or forgotten African textiles, techniques, and garments through fashion film.

The announcement comes at a time when African fashion is gaining international attention, but the continent’s textile heritage remains under pressure. Recent coverage of the sector points to strong global momentum, with the African fashion market estimated at about $31 billion in 2020 and expected to grow substantially by 2030, while structural constraints such as limited financing, inadequate infrastructure, and skills gaps continue to slow its full potential.

At the same time, major international exhibitions such as Africa Fashion have drawn attention to the richness of African design and the need to preserve its historical depth.

The Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026 was created to answer that challenge.

Anchored on the theme “Stories of Rebirth,” Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026 is designed to spotlight African fashion as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy, economic transformation, and sustainable industry growth. The competition is open to Fashion designers, filmmakers, students and creative teams of African descent from across Africa and the diaspora, and participants can enter individually or as part of a team.

Participants are invited to submit a three to five minute fashion micro-film that tells the story of an endangered or forgotten African textile, garment, or technique. Each submission should include documentary-style storytelling, visual documentation of the creative process, and a compelling case for revival rooted in cultural and economic relevance.

“Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize is more than a competition; it is a movement to reclaim our narratives, and revive our traditions. It is our way of weaving a stronger, and better connected Africa”, said .Princess-Iman Sado, Threads of Africa Project Lead.

The success of the maiden edition in 2024 also provides strong momentum for this year’s programme. Previous winners included Adeyoola Adenusi of Adeyoola’s Rehab and Tammytara Abaku of The Abiyetara Brand, both from Nigeria, as well as Philip-Oppong Antwi of Phyll Quahsey from Ghana.

The competition also attracted over 520 participants from Nigeria and other West African countries, highlighting the region’s creativity and diversity.

This year, the prize money has been increased as the programme anticipates awarding up to $25,000 in non-dilutive grants. Beyond the financial awards, winners will receive mentorship, visibility through a dedicated showcase at Elevate Africa’s 2026 Convening in Ghana, and amplification through the organisation’s platforms and partners.

Through this evolution, Elevate Africa aims to rebrand African traditions, strengthen intra-African collaboration, stimulate policy conversations, and support a stronger, more integrated African fashion economy.

Interested creatives across Africa can learn more and submit their entries by visiting the official Threads of Africa website at www.threadsofafrica.org.