Rwanda is set to host the 2026 edition of the Africa CEO Forum 2026, a major continental business gathering expected to bring together Heads of State, top investors, corporate leaders and policymakers in Kigali.
The high-level forum will take place from May 14–15, 2026, further cementing Kigali’s growing reputation as a leading hub for high-level economic dialogue and investment promotion in Africa.
Launched in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum has become Africa’s premier annual platform for engagement between the public and private sectors. It attracts more than 2,800 participants from over 90 countries, including chief executives of multinational companies, global investors, ministers and development partners.
The forum was established by Jeune Afrique Media Group in partnership with the International Finance Corporation.
Six African Heads of State expected
This year’s edition will be chaired by Paul Kagame and is expected to convene six African Heads of State, including Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Daniel Chapo, Mohamed Cheikh Ould El Ghazouani and Mamadi Doumbouya.
The summit will also attract ministers of finance, trade and technology, alongside executives from leading global financial institutions, multinational corporations, technology firms and major industrial investors operating across Africa.
Africa’s economic agenda in focus
The 2026 forum comes at a time when African economies are intensifying efforts to address structural challenges and accelerate inclusive growth through regional integration and private sector development.
Discussions will focus on large-scale infrastructure investment, industrialisation, and economic transformation, with particular attention on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, aimed at boosting intra-African trade and competitiveness.
Participants are also expected to explore how digital innovation and emerging technologies can strengthen African enterprises and expand their global reach, alongside strategies to deepen public-private partnerships and unlock investment flows across key sectors.
Rwanda’s positioning as a business destination
For Rwanda, hosting the forum reinforces its strategy to position itself as a stable, efficient and competitive investment destination in Africa.
The event is also expected to generate significant benefits for the country’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry, with hotels, transport services and tourism operators set to accommodate thousands of international delegates.
Beyond economic visibility, the forum is anticipated to strengthen Rwanda’s role as a convening point for continental policy and business discussions shaping Africa’s economic future.
