Organizers of the SIAO in Ouagadougou expect more than 6,000 exhibitors at the 2026 edition of the artisan fair. The event is scheduled to run from October 30 to November 8. Ghana will take pride of place as the invited guest of honor. Mali and Niger are set to attend as special guests. The fair has long ranked among West Africa's major meeting points for handicrafts and artisanal products. A large turnout of visitors and vendors would pack hotels, transport and workshops across the Burkinabè capital. The early announcement about guests gives national pavilions time to prepare their stands.