As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how people create, communicate, and consume media, a critical question is gaining urgency: how can technology evolve without eroding human culture, creativity, and lived experience? This question will take center stage at MarkHack 5.0, Nigeria’s leading marketing, media, and innovation conference, scheduled for Thursday, June 5, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Themed “The Culture Algorithm: AI × Human Experience,” the conference will bring together industry leaders, creatives, technologists, startups, policymakers, and cultural innovators to explore how algorithms are shaping identity, behavior, media consumption, and everyday life. Participants will examine what this transformation means for brands, creators, and consumers in Nigeria and across Africa.
Organised by GDM Group in partnership with Eko Innovation Centre and Brand Communicator, MarkHack 5.0 marks a deliberate shift from tool-centric discussions on artificial intelligence to a culture-first conversation. As AI adoption accelerates across marketing, media, and the creative economy, the conference aims to foster deeper reflection on ethics, creativity, human agency, and the meaning of culture in an algorithm-driven world.
This year’s edition will feature a curated mix of immersive and high-impact experiences designed to move the conversation beyond theory into real-world application. Keynotes and fireside conversations will bring together industry leaders, founders, creatives, researchers, and policymakers to unpack AI’s influence on culture, storytelling, consumer behavior, and trust. A multidisciplinary hackathon and demo day will challenge startups building solutions at the intersection of AI, culture, and human experience, culminating in live demonstrations and recognition of standout innovations.
MarkHack 5.0 will also introduce immersive content creation and media experiences, where filmmakers and creators engage with emerging storytelling formats shaped by technology and culture. Consumer-led panels will foreground everyday perspectives on AI-powered platforms and digital products, while startup and corporate exhibitions will showcase innovations redefining marketing, media, lifestyle, and audience engagement. The awards and recognition segment will spotlight individuals and organisations driving meaningful change in Nigeria’s marketing, media, and technology ecosystem.
Since its launch in 2022 as Nigeria’s first marketing and media hackathon, MarkHack has evolved into a full-scale conference and thought-leadership platform. This evolution mirrors the broader industry shift from experimenting with tools to examining how technology shapes culture, creativity, and human values. MarkHack 5.0 builds on this legacy by expanding the conversation beyond automation and performance to identity, lifestyle, and human experience.
The conference offers marketers, founders, creators, investors, media professionals, and innovators a unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and gain insights into how AI can enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and expression in emerging markets.
Registration is now open at markhack.tech/pitch, and interested participants are encouraged to apply before the March 31, 2026 deadline. For inquiries and sponsorship opportunities, contact +234 703 186 9646.