Africa Now returns to Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann for its second edition, bringing contemporary African fashion and design to the third floor of the Coupole from June 17 to July 8, 2026. Set inside one of Paris’s most recognized department stores, the pop-up places African creativity within a major international retail context, connecting designers with a wider public during a key moment in the city’s cultural calendar.
FASHION
The 2026 edition gathers 11 designers working across ready-to-wear, handbags, jewelry and accessories. Together, they present a broad view of African fashion today, one shaped by craft, material knowledge, contemporary silhouettes and strong individual identities. Rather than reducing African design to a single aesthetic, Africa Now builds a selection that reflects the range of voices shaping the field across the continent and diaspora.
This year’s pop-up was curated in partnership with Adama Paris, CANEX x Tranoï and Africa Fashion Up x Studio Ka. The collaboration brings together platforms already active in supporting African designers and creating pathways toward international visibility. Through these partnerships, Africa Now combines established names with emerging talent, giving visitors the chance to discover designers at different stages of their practice.
The designers presented through Adama Paris include Adama Paris, Ibrahim Fernandez, Sisters of Afrika and Christie Brown. CANEX x Tranoï brings Late For Work, Judy Sanderson, We Are NBO and Vanhu Vamwe into the selection, while Africa Fashion Up x Studio Ka presents Eric Raisina, Kwiyiah Style and Talua. Across these names, the pop-up offers a direct look at how African designers are working with textiles, form, adornment and cultural references while addressing a global audience.
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann gives the project a strong setting. The Coupole remains one of the most visited retail spaces in Paris, known for its scale, architecture and international foot traffic. By occupying this space, Africa Now places contemporary African design in conversation with luxury retail, tourism and the everyday rhythm of a city that continues to shape global fashion visibility.
The opening event took place at JOE & THE JUICE and welcomed guests from fashion, music and culture. Attendees included Grammy Award-winning artist Angélique Kidjo, model Maria Borges, former Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé, as well as Chioma Ikokwu, Tenicka B and Candace Marie. Their presence reflected the project’s wider cultural reach and its role as a meeting point between design, celebrity, media and international audiences.
Africa Now presents fashion as more than product. The pop-up frames clothing and accessories as carriers of stories, skills and contemporary ambition. Many of the pieces reflect heritage craftsmanship, yet they do so through present-day design languages. The result is a selection that speaks to tradition without being confined by it, showing how designers continue to reinterpret technique, identity and material through current forms.
The project also responds to a broader shift in the international fashion conversation. African designers have gained increasing visibility across runways, concept stores, exhibitions and cultural programs, yet access to major retail platforms remains essential. Pop-ups such as Africa Now help create that bridge, allowing designers to reach new clients, press and industry figures in a setting built around direct encounter.
Following its inaugural edition, Africa Now continues its mission to showcase contemporary African creativity and connect designers with international audiences. The 2026 edition at Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann expands that purpose through a curated presentation that feels both commercial and cultural. It gives visitors the opportunity to engage with fashion and design from across Africa in a setting that encourages discovery.
Running until July 8, Africa Now offers a concise but layered view of the current direction of African fashion. Through its designers, partners and Paris location, the pop-up presents a scene defined by movement, confidence and creative range.
