The organisers of the Connected Africa Summit (CAS) have officially confirmed the 2026 edition of the continental forum, set to take place from April 27 to 30 at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi.
Themed “Uniting Africa’s Innovation for a Single Digital Market,” CAS2026 aims to move beyond dialogue to tangible outcomes, bringing together presidents, senior government officials, policymakers, innovators, and investors from across the continent. Organisers say this year’s focus is on fostering collaboration, piloting scalable ideas, and ensuring digital transformation initiatives translate into real impact for communities and businesses.
The 2026 summit builds on the momentum of previous editions, including CAS2024, themed “Shaping the Future of a Connected Africa: Unlocking Growth Beyond Connectivity,” and CAS2025, “The Digital Journey: Vision to Reality.” Over the years, the summit has evolved into a premier platform for shaping Africa’s digital ecosystem and accelerating policy alignment across borders.
In 2025, more than 2,000 delegates convened in Diani, Kenya, to deliberate on digital inclusion, climate technology, broadband expansion, and future-ready skills. The forum featured keynote addresses from Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, and the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau.
Other prominent voices included Philip Thigo, Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, and Eunice Pohlmann, Chair of Women in Technology & Innovation Africa. Private sector leaders from Cisco and Fortinet joined fintech innovators and policymakers in examining digital inclusion, cybersecurity, data governance, and emerging technologies.
CAS2026 is firmly anchored in the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020–2030. The summit will spotlight policy harmonisation, digital infrastructure development, skills advancement, and innovation ecosystems as pillars for achieving a unified digital economy.
It also integrates key continental instruments, including the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol under the African Continental Free Trade Area and the AU Data Policy Framework. Organisers say aligning these frameworks is critical to ensuring Africa’s digital growth remains secure, interoperable, and inclusive.
Speaking at the partners’ breakfast that marked the official launch of the CAS2026 journey, Eng. John Tanui, CBS, Principal Secretary at Kenya’s State Department for ICT and Digital Economy, underscored the significance of the summit.
“This summit is our opportunity to show the world how Africa can unite its innovation to build a truly inclusive digital market,” he said.
Eng. Tanui added that the event demonstrates Kenya’s leadership in advancing digital transformation initiatives and thanked sponsors and partners for their continued support, noting that their contributions have been instrumental in driving the summit’s vision forward.
As preparations gather pace, CAS2026 is expected to further position Nairobi as a continental technology hub, while reinforcing Africa’s collective ambition to create a seamless and inclusive single digital market.
