Africa Tech Festival 2026
Africa Tech Festival 2026 brings together technology leaders, telecom operators, enterprises, startups, investors, policymakers and innovators in Cape Town to explore the technologies, infrastructure and business opportunities shaping Africa's digital future.
About the Event
Africa Tech Festival 2026 takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 17–19 November 2026. The festival combines exhibition, conference content, networking, specialist programmes and technology-focused experiences across a broad digital ecosystem.
The official programme is organised around six interconnected content pillars:
- Telecoms & Connectivity — expanding access and advancing networks across Africa.
- Data Centres — exploring the infrastructure supporting digital growth and AI.
- AI — examining practical applications, productivity and emerging business models.
- Cybersecurity — addressing security, trust and resilience in an increasingly digital economy.
- Startups — connecting entrepreneurship, investment and technology innovation.
- Digital Transformation — exploring cloud, fintech, SaaS and modernisation.
What to Explore
Africa Tech Festival combines strategic discussions with practical and business-oriented experiences, including:
- Keynotes and stage content
- Industry sessions and specialist discussions
- Masterclasses
- Curated networking
- Pre-arranged 1:1 business meetings
- Startup-focused activities
- Exhibition and technology showcases
- Enterprise technology and digital transformation discussions
- AI, cybersecurity, connectivity and infrastructure programmes
The official 2026 programme spans nine stages and more than 100 sessions, with more than 400 speakers scheduled across the three-day programme. Africa Tech Festival
Dates & Exhibition Hours
17 November 2026
09:00–18:00
18 November 2026
09:00–18:00
19 November 2026
09:00–16:30
These are the official exhibition operating hours published by Africa Tech Festival. Exhibitor access begins earlier on show days.
Venue
Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Convention Square
1 Lower Long Street
Cape Town, 8001
South Africa
The official event information identifies CTICC as the main venue. Selected VIP, partner and festival experiences may take place at other locations in Cape Town.
Related Programmes & Experiences
Africa Tech Festival 2026 includes additional experiences around the main programme, including ATF Connect, a pre-arranged 1:1 meeting service, and the Leaders in Africa Summit, an invitation-only gathering for senior executives, policymakers and innovators. Other networking and partner activities are also scheduled around the main festival.
The festival also hosts The AI Summit Cape Town, a co-located AI event taking place from 17–19 November 2026 at CTICC. Access to that programme is subject to the applicable Africa Tech Festival pass requirements. Africa Tech Festival
Registration
Registration for Africa Tech Festival 2026 is available through the official Africa Tech Festival website.
Please check the official website for current pass options, access requirements, programme updates and registration information before attending.
Official Registration:
https://africatechfestival.com/
Official Organizer
Africa Tech Festival / Informa
Africa Tech Festival is part of Informa's international portfolio of business events and information services.
Attendance
Africa Tech Festival is intended for technology and business professionals across areas including telecommunications, digital infrastructure, enterprise technology, startups, investment, government and digital transformation. The official FAQ states that general attendance is primarily for adults, with specific provisions for accompanied 16–17-year-olds and infants.
Biskoon Editorial Note
This event is listed by Biskoon Editorial as part of its global event discovery platform. Biskoon is not the organizer of this event. Event dates, schedules, registration requirements and other details may change. Please check the official event website for the latest information before making travel or participation arrangements.
Itinerary
Welcome to Africa Tech Festival 2026
09:00 - 09:10
Official welcome and opening of the Africa Tech Festival 2026 programme at CTICC.
Opening Address: AI and Africa's Competitive Future
09:10 - 09:20
Opening address examining Africa's position in the global AI economy and the role of investment, talent and digital infrastructure in future competitiveness.
Fireside Chat: Connecting Africa to the AI Economy
09:20 - 09:40
Discussion on expanding participation in the AI economy across African markets, businesses and communities.
Panel: Building Africa's AI Advantage
10:00 - 10:35
Panel discussion on investment, talent, infrastructure and collaboration needed to strengthen Africa's AI capabilities.
Panel: Beyond Adoption: What Will Make Africa an AI Producer, Not Just a Consumer?
11:05 - 11:40
Discussion on building globally competitive African AI capabilities through talent, infrastructure, capital, local data and market demand.
Opening Panel: The Next Wave of AI Infrastructure Growth
11:50 - 12:30
Exploration of infrastructure investment, GPU capacity, data sovereignty and the development of local AI data-centre capabilities across Africa.
Networking Break
13:30 - 14:30
Scheduled networking break within the Africa Tech Festival programme.
Fireside Chat: Building the AI-Ready Enterprise
15:45 - 16:15
Discussion on the data, platforms and infrastructure foundations required to scale enterprise AI.
Fireside Chat: Where Investors See Long-Term Opportunity
10:45 - 11:05
Discussion on investment opportunities across Africa's digital economy, including digital infrastructure, AI, platforms and enterprise technology.
Presentation: The Next Mobile Money Growth Phase
11:50 - 12:20
Exploration of mobile money ecosystems, cross-border payments, digital services and opportunities for SME growth.
Panel: Securing Africa's Digital Future
12:40 - 13:20
Discussion on cybersecurity transformation, digital resilience, skills development and collaboration across Africa's digital economy.
Panel: Public-Private Partnerships Accelerating 4G and 5G Deployment
12:45 - 13:30
Discussion on government and private-sector collaboration, regulation, investment and innovation for 4G and 5G deployment across Africa.
Fireside Chat: How 5G Can Scale Profitably in Africa
14:30 - 14:55
Discussion on the commercial development of 5G and opportunities for network operators across African markets.
Panel Discussion: Will Edge Data Centre Deployments Be Able to Keep Up with Enterprise AI and Cloud Demands?
11:50 - 12:30
Discussion on edge infrastructure, enterprise AI workloads, cloud expansion and future data-centre investment across Africa.
Panel: Achieving Fibre-To-The-Home at Scale
12:20 - 13:00
Discussion on overcoming cost, regulatory and deployment barriers to expand fibre connectivity for homes and businesses.
Panel: AI-Powered Network Automation
12:45 - 13:30
Exploration of AI-driven network automation, predictive maintenance, operational efficiency and next-generation autonomous networks.
Fireside Chat: The Impact of Policy on Edge Infrastructure
13:10 - 13:40
Discussion on policy, data localisation, grid capacity and public-private cooperation affecting edge data-centre development.
FAQ
Africa Tech Festival is a major technology and digital transformation event bringing together technology leaders, telecom operators, enterprises, startups, investors, governments and innovators from Africa and beyond.
The main festival takes place 17–19 November 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa. VIP and partner events begin on 16 November.
The event is designed for technology and business professionals, telecom operators, enterprise leaders, startups, investors, regulators, policymakers and anyone involved in digital infrastructure, innovation or transformation.
The 2026 programme focuses on six core areas: Telecoms & Connectivity, Data Centres, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Startups, and Digital Transformation. The wider programme also includes FinTech and related technology topics.
Visa requirements depend on the visitor's nationality. Attendees should check South Africa's visa requirements with the relevant authorities. Africa Tech Festival/Informa can provide a visa invitation letter after the applicable registration requirements have been completed.
Registration is available through the official Africa Tech Festival website. Different pass options are available depending on the type of access required.
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