14–16 May 2026  ·  Nairobi, Kenya

Pan-African Dialogue Institute Annual Conference 2026

Reimagining Africa's Future: Knowledge, Culture, and Continental Integration

Three days of rigorous dialogue, transformative ideas, and meaningful connections — bringing together Africa's most influential thinkers, creators, and changemakers.

KICC, Nairobi, Kenya
500+ Delegates
40+ Speakers
3 Parallel Tracks
Register Now View Programme

Conference begins in

23
Days
14
Hours
37
Minutes
00
Seconds

About the Conference

Three days that shape the continent's agenda

The PADI Annual Conference 2026 brings together the Pan-African Dialogue Institute's founding members, research partners, and the broader African professional community for three days of intensive dialogue on the continent's most pressing questions.

Spanning three tracks — Knowledge & Research, Culture & Heritage, and Economic Integration — the conference offers a unique space for African ideas to meet, challenge, and inspire each other.

40+
Expert Speakers
3
Thematic Tracks
500+
Expected Delegates
54
Countries Represented

"The most significant gathering of African intellectual and cultural leadership in 2026."

— Dr. Ibrahim Sesay, Director General, PADI

Knowledge Track Culture Track Economics Track

2026 Speakers

Voices shaping the continent

AD
Dr. Amara Diallo
Political Science · Senegal
KO
Prof. Kemi Osei
Development Economics · Nigeria
ZM
Zanele Mbeki
Visual Arts & Curation · South Africa
FA
Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid
Health Policy · Egypt
IS
Ibrahim Sesay
Director General, PADI
AK
Dr. Ama Korankye
Tech & Innovation · Ghana
TN
Tunde Nkosi
Business & Investment · Kenya
MO
Dr. Mercy Otieno
Education Policy · Tanzania

Programme

Three days. Three tracks. One vision.

09:00
Opening Ceremony & Keynote Address
Director General, PADI  ·  Plenary
10:30
Panel: African Epistemologies in Global Knowledge Systems
Multiple Speakers  ·  Knowledge Track
12:00
Lunch & Networking
—  ·  —
14:00
Session: AfCFTA — Two Years On: Lessons from the Ground
Economic Integration Scholars  ·  Economics Track
15:30
Session: Heritage Languages as Infrastructure
Linguists & Cultural Leaders  ·  Culture Track
17:30
Welcome Reception & Cultural Performance
—  ·  All Delegates
09:00
Keynote: The Creative Economy as National Infrastructure
Zanele Mbeki  ·  Culture Track
10:30
Panel: Youth Entrepreneurship Across the Continent
Young Leaders Forum  ·  Economics Track
12:00
Lunch & Networking
—  ·  —
14:00
Session: Digital Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid  ·  Knowledge Track
15:30
Roundtable: University Partnerships for Continental Research
Vice-Chancellors Panel  ·  Knowledge Track
18:00
Gala Dinner
—  ·  All Delegates
09:00
Session: Diaspora Investment in African Infrastructure
Finance Scholars  ·  Economics Track
10:30
Session: Afrofuturism and the Architecture of Tomorrow
Artists & Architects  ·  Culture Track
12:00
Lunch & Networking
—  ·  —
14:00
Collaborative Working Groups — Continent Agenda 2030
All Delegates  ·  All Tracks
16:00
Closing Plenary & Nairobi Declaration
PADI Leadership  ·  Plenary
17:30
Closing Reception
—  ·  All Delegates

Registration

Secure your place at PADI 2026

Delegate registration includes all conference sessions, materials, lunches, and the Gala Dinner. Institute members receive a preferential rate.

Institute Member
Free — included in membership
Early Bird Delegate
USD $150 (until 30 April)
Standard Delegate
USD $250
Virtual Attendance
USD $50

Register your interest

Venue & Travel

Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi

NAIROBI

Address
Harambee Ave, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel
+254 20 310 611
Website
kicc.co.ke
Airport
JKIA — 18km from venue
Book Accommodation

Partners & Sponsors

Interested in sponsoring? Contact us