The highly anticipated 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum is scheduled to take place on May 14 and 15 at the Kigali Convention Centre.

This prominent event will convene a diverse assembly of influential figures, including business leaders, investors, policymakers, and representatives from development finance institutions, both from within Africa and internationally.

Founded in 2012 by the Jeune Afrique Media Group and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum has established itself as a crucial platform.

It serves to connect African decision-makers with international investors and institutions that operate across the continent, facilitating dialogue and fostering strategic partnerships for economic advancement.

Under the compelling theme, "The scale imperative: Why Africa must embrace shared ownership," the 2026 forum aims to drive discussions around vital topics.

Expected conversations will largely center on strategies for cross-border cooperation, the implementation of shared investment models, and the critical need to build continental-scale African enterprises capable of competing on a global stage.

The forum's overarching purpose is to provide robust support to African business leaders through a combination of in-person and digital events, insightful reports, and expert analyses, all designed to facilitate business growth and promote innovative solutions for Africa's sustained economic progress.

The summit is renowned for its extensive scale of participation, historically attracting approximately 2,000 participants annually from over 70 countries.

This includes more than 1,000 CEOs, over 75 heads of state and ministers, leaders of development finance institutions, and hundreds of journalists.

The 2025 edition exemplified this growth, recording more than 2,800 participants from 90 countries, over 1,200 Chief-suite executives, more than 500 government participants, and over 300 speakers and journalists, underscoring its expanding influence and reach.

Discussions at the forum will delve into how African nations and businesses can collaboratively engage across borders.

This includes leveraging shared equity, shared infrastructure, and shared frameworks to cultivate continental champions and significantly bolster Africa's global competitiveness.

Leaders will actively explore avenues for cross-border partnerships, effective risk-sharing mechanisms, and innovative strategies essential for developing large-scale African projects and industries poised for international competition.

Key economic topics slated for discussion encompass financing real estate, integrating mining and energy sectors, promoting industrialisation, fostering infrastructure development, ensuring digital sovereignty, mobilising institutional capital, and enhancing cross-border trade and payment systems.

A distinctive and highly impactful feature of the forum will be the "Invest In" sessions. These sessions provide a direct interface where CEOs and investors can engage constructively with African government officials to discuss crucial investment opportunities, comprehensive development strategies, and specific sector pipelines.

The programme will comprehensively cover critical areas such as trade, industrialisation, financing, and job creation, while also highlighting the pivotal role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in expanding and integrating African markets.

Designed to transcend mere deliberation, the forum is committed to actively supporting investment partnerships, facilitating significant business deals, and forging public-private agreements that are instrumental for long-term economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and large-scale capital mobilisation across the entire continent.

Notably, the forum has successfully facilitated over $1 billion in investment commitments during its last two editions through agreements involving governments, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders.

The 2026 edition is set to welcome an impressive roster of high-level participants, reaffirming the Africa CEO Forum's stature as a premier platform for public-private dialogue in Africa.

Confirmed attendees include distinguished heads of state: Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, and Mamadi Doumbouya of Guinea. Several prime ministers are also expected, such as Justin Nsengiyumva of Rwanda, Maria Benvinda Levi of Mozambique, Robert Beugré Mambé of Côte d'Ivoire, Amadou Oury Bah of Guinea, and Mwigulu Nchemba of Tanzania.

The attendance of various government ministers further solidifies the forum's high-level engagement, with confirmed participation from José De Lima Massano of Angola (Minister of State for Economic Coordination), Birame Souleye Diop of Senegal (Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines), Bouna Sylla of Guinea (Minister of Mines and Geology), Muhammad Ali Pate of Nigeria (Minister of Health and Social Welfare), and Thierry Minko of Gabon (Minister of Economy, Finance, Debt and Shareholdings).

Structurally, the forum is organised as a two-day summit that intricately combines plenary sessions, thematic panels, and structured business meetings. It commences with high-level discussions, progressively moving into sector-focused panels and targeted business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements.

These structured interactions are specifically designed to advance investment opportunities and foster meaningful partnerships across various sectors.

Tracing its origins, the forum first launched in Geneva in 2012, subsequently relocating to Abidjan in 2015, and has since adopted a rotational model for its host cities, including Kigali, which previously hosted the event in 2019 and 2024.

The 2020 edition was regrettably not held due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 edition adapted to a virtual format.

A core leadership perspective emphasised by the forum is the imperative for stronger coordination in Africa's approach to growth.

This includes a resolute focus on enhancing the deployment of capital to effectively support job creation and industrial development.

Furthermore, the forum consistently highlights the pressing need for more efficient investment systems.

These systems are crucial for underpinning and facilitating the long-term economic transformation that is vital for the continent's sustained prosperity and global competitiveness.