Connected Africa Summit 2026 To Bring Together Policymakers, Innovators And Tech Leaders In Nairobi

Africa’s policymakers, innovators, and technology leaders are set to converge in Nairobi for the highly anticipated Connected Africa Summit 2026, taking place from April 27 to April 30, 2026, at the The Edge Convention Centre.

Organised by the ICT Authority of Kenya, the four-day summit will run daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (East Africa Time) and is expected to stand out as the continent’s most senior gathering focused on the digital economy this year.

Held under the theme “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market,” the Summit will unite key stakeholders and thought leaders to shape Africa’s digital destiny. The 2026 edition connects the dots between the 2024 Summit theme, “Shaping The Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity,” and the 2025 edition’s “The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality.” This year’s focus shifts firmly toward measurable delivery and sustained action.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and cybersecurity will headline discussions at the Summit, reflecting Africa’s urgent priorities in building resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital economies. Additional agenda themes will include digital identity, fintech, connectivity, smart infrastructure, cloud, data governance, and innovation ecosystems.

By convening leaders from government, the private sector, academia, and development organisations, the Summit aims to foster partnerships that move beyond dialogue into implementation. The focus will be on aligning investments, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and accelerating Africa’s journey toward a digitally empowered, inclusive, and globally competitive economy.

“This year’s theme is ‘Uniting Africa’s Innovation for an Inclusive Digital Market.’ It builds directly on the last two editions of the Summit—the 2024 edition, which focused on unlocking growth beyond connectivity, and the 2025 edition, which took us from vision to reality. This year, delivery has to become measurable,” said William Gitau, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy of Kenya during a press briefing held at Serena Hotel.

“The Connected Africa Summit is the most senior digital economy gathering the continent will convene this year. For context, the 2025 edition drew more than 1,500 delegates from over 30 countries, with 165 speakers and 40 sponsor partners. This year will build on that footprint,” he added.

A major milestone of this year’s summit will be the launch of the Connected Africa Secretariat, which will be chaired by Kenya. The Secretariat is expected to drive continuity, accountability, and long-term collaboration toward a unified, innovative, sustainable, and futuristic digital continent.

The Summit will feature an influential assemblage of government leaders, policymakers, ambassadors, and technology innovators. From cabinet ministers and regulators to pioneering tech executives and investors, these leaders will share insights and expertise on driving digital innovation across Africa and accelerating economic growth and social development.

Confirmed ministerial participation includes leaders from Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Gabon, Guinea, Chad, and Zimbabwe, with additional African states expected to attend through senior delegations.

With Africa’s digital transformation accelerating across sectors, Connected Africa Summit 2026 is poised to become the defining platform for collaboration, innovation, and policy action across the continent.