Nairobi To Host Internet Governance Forum

Kenya will host the 21st Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Nairobi from 14–18 December 2026, marking the first edition of the global forum since the United Nations granted it permanent status.

Preparations gained momentum this week as Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador , and Dr Korir Sing’oei, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs hosted a delegation from the IGF Secretariat led by Chengetai Masango, alongside IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) Chair Jennifer Chung. The delegation toured the Bomas International Convention Centre, the venue for the summit, and reviewed the country’s readiness plans.

The visit comes ahead of the first in-person IGF 2026 Open Consultations and MAG Meeting, scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 24–26 June, officially launching preparations for the December gathering.

Established in 2006 following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Internet Governance Forum serves as the United Nations’ primary platform for dialogue on internet and digital policy. The forum brings together governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the technical community to discuss issues ranging from artificial intelligence governance and cybersecurity to digital inclusion, data protection, and online rights.

The 2026 edition carries particular significance following the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 80/173 in late 2025, which established the IGF as a permanent United Nations forum. Previous editions operated under renewable mandates that required periodic extensions.

Kenyan officials have described the Nairobi gathering as historic, noting that it will be the first IGF convened under the forum’s new permanent status. Kenya also becomes the first African country to host the global event twice, having previously hosted the sixth IGF in Nairobi in 2011.

Organizers expect more than 9,000 delegates from over 165 countries to participate in the five-day event, which is projected to feature more than 250 sessions in both physical and virtual formats.

The forum will address some of the most pressing issues shaping the global digital landscape, including artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, data sovereignty, and bridging the digital divide.

Hosting the event further strengthens Kenya’s position as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa. Government officials have said the summit will provide an opportunity to amplify African and Global South perspectives in global digital policy discussions while reinforcing Nairobi’s growing influence in international technology governance.

The event comes as Kenya continues to play an increasingly active role in global digital policy processes, including its participation in the WSIS+20 review and the development of international frameworks around emerging technologies.

With preparations underway and consultations beginning this month, attention now shifts to shaping the forum’s agenda and ensuring Nairobi is ready to welcome the global internet governance community in December 2026.