Africa Events Summit 2026 Set to Unite East Africa’s Events Industry

Africa Events Summit 2026 officials and key industry stakeholders during a press briefing in Nairobi ahead of the September 10–11 event.

By: Gladys Karuga

The Africa Events Summit (AES) 2026 is seeking to bring together key players in East Africa’s events industry to strengthen collaboration, unlock new business opportunities and position the region as a competitive global events destination.

The two-day summit, scheduled for September 10 and 11, brings together event planners, producers, venues, suppliers, brands, creatives, security professionals and other stakeholders from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

The inaugural Africa Events Summit will be held at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi on September 10 and 11, 2026. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the hotel on September 5, 2026, ahead of the summit.

Speaking ahead of the summit, Ian Migwi, CEO of Billion Events Africa and vision bearer of the Africa Events Summit, said the industry has for years operated in silos, limiting its potential despite growing demand for events across the region.

“We are bringing together all those key players from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya for us to have a conversation that will shape how the future of the event industry looks like,” Migwi said.

Migwi said AES is designed to create a platform where industry players can share knowledge, identify challenges and develop solutions that will help East Africa compete more effectively in the global events market.

He noted that collaboration across borders could help the region attract more international business and establish East Africa as a preferred destination for major events.

The summit will also push for the operationalisation of the Kenya National Convention Bureau (KNCB), which stakeholders say could play a critical role in growing Kenya’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector.

According to Migwi, a fully operational convention bureau would help coordinate and support the events ecosystem while increasing Kenya’s ability to attract international delegates.

The AES is a private sector initiative building on existing industry conversations such as the Africa MICE Summit & Expo. Recommendations from the summit will be submitted to the Principal Secretary of Tourism to inform policy decision-making.

MICE Analyst Simon P. said the convention bureau is yet to take off due to budgetary constraints, with funding competing with education and healthcare budgets in Parliament.

The AES Secretariat also acknowledged positive developments from the public sector, including the waiving of visas for 52 African countries, the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the construction of the Bomas International Convention Complex.

The summit is also expected to focus heavily on safety and security, an area stakeholders say is often overlooked when planning events.

Kingsley Litali, Managing Director of Crime Shield Security Limited, said security should be integrated into event planning from the beginning rather than treated as an afterthought.

“Security is supposed to be built in. Most of the times you find that when you're doing the floor plans, security comes as an afterthought,” Litali said.

Litali will lead a masterclass at the summit focusing on crowd management, safety and security during events. He said the first interaction attendees have at an event is often with security personnel, making security a critical part of the overall event experience.

He urged event organisers and investors to prioritise professional security, arguing that a well-managed security system contributes to the perception and success of an event.

Litali also noted rising insecurities in some common event venues, calling for gaps to be tightened in order to attract more events. He said no one should lose their personal belongings in pursuit of great experiences.

During the summit, Litali will host a masterclass on event security featuring real case studies.

The summit will also spotlight the role of the creative economy in driving East Africa’s global visibility.

Benjamin Otwal, Music Executive, Creative Director and Alikiba’s Talent Manager, said the region’s culture is one of its strongest assets and can be packaged for international markets through music, film, dance and other creative industries.

“East Africa has always been, in terms of exports, our biggest export as a region is culture,” Otwal said.

Otwal said the region’s large population provides a significant competitive advantage if countries work together to consolidate their markets and creative industries.

He is expected to lead a masterclass on experience and creative alignment, focusing on how artists, dancers, DJs and other creatives can package themselves and their work to compete on a global scale.

He also emphasised the importance of perception and storytelling in determining how African creative products are received internationally.

Otwal also called for increased investment by corporates working with local artists for their campaigns and events as part of efforts to promote the creative industry.

June Chepkemei, Kenya Tourism Board CEO, is expected to headline the summit with key opening remarks alongside notable speakers.

The summit’s opening panel, “Building Africa’s Event Economy: Current State, Opportunities & Gaps”, will run on Day 1 from 11:30am to 1:30pm and will be moderated by corporate MC Ian Muiruri.

Panellists include Zaheeda Suleman, CEO of The Be Experience Company; Harold Mnkheni, Managing Director of Haddypro Co. Ltd, Tanzania; Eric Mwanzia, Managing Director of The Arts Group Ltd and Chairman of EMAK; Grace Ndiege, Influence and Advocacy Manager at EABL; and Khalhani Sichangi, Founder and Group CEO of KS Group Africa.

The Africa Events Summit is expected to feature five masterclasses, keynote sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities involving practitioners from across the region.

Organisers say the summit has already attracted participation from stakeholders and organisations across East Africa, alongside support from several corporate partners.

Prospective delegates can register for the summit through the Africa Events Summit registration platform.

The long-term vision is to expand AES beyond East Africa by establishing chapters in other parts of the continent, including Southern and Western Africa.

Organisers believe that bringing the continent’s events ecosystem together could create new opportunities for investment, tourism, employment and growth of the creative economy.

The summit will therefore seek to move the industry from isolated operations towards greater collaboration, professionalisation and shared growth, with stakeholders calling for stronger partnerships between the private sector, government, creatives and other players.

Billion Events East Africa is the events management and production company driving the vision behind the Africa Events Summit. The company convened the initiative and continues to support its growth, with the intention that the industry itself carries it forward.