With over 125,000 startups, Africa’s startup ecosystem is growing. Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa host most of these startups and attract the highest funding. While fintech leads the sector, tech events support its growth by encouraging collaboration, connecting startups with investors, and providing space for policy and regulatory discussions. Large-scale African tech events began decades ago, first focused on telecommunications. Around 2015, startup-focused conferences expanded into fintech, AI, and venture capital. In 1989, Lagos hosted a Science and Technology Week. In 2005, the Lagos State Government organised the first Lagos Science Festival. If you are planning for 2026, many of these events follow a yearly schedule. 1. Africa Tech Summit Africa Tech Summit began in London in 2016 and now holds its main event in Nairobi. It brings together startups, investors, regulators, and tech leaders. It includes the Africa Startup Summit and the Africa Tech Summit Awards. The 8th edition is scheduled for February 2026. 2. GITEX Africa GITEX GLOBAL started in 1981 at the Dubai World Trade Centre as the Gulf Computer Exhibition. It is now one of the largest ICT expos globally. GITEX Africa is its African edition. In 2024, it recorded over 30,000 visitors. The 2023 Morocco debut brought together 1,800 startups and 1,000 investors. GITEX Africa 2026 will be held in Marrakech from April 7 to April 9, 2026. 3. IoT West Africa IoT West Africa is held annually in Lagos. It focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, cloud computing, data centres, and digital energy. The event hosts over 100 exhibitors, 5,000 decision makers, and more than 40 technical sessions. The 2026 edition will run from April 28 to April 30 at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. 4. GITEX Nigeria GITEX Nigeria held its first edition in September 2025 in Abuja and Lagos. It brought together global tech firms, startups, and over 150 federal and state agencies. The event focuses on government-tech collaboration. It includes the Supernova Challenge and a startup festival. The 2025 edition focused on AI, digital transformation, and women-led innovation. It is slated for September 7 to September 10. 5. AI Expo Africa AI Expo Africa started in 2018 and is held in Johannesburg. It focuses on AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation. The event includes a trade expo, keynote sessions, workshops, investor matchmaking, and a Women in AI gathering. The 2026 edition will be held from October 28 to 29 at the Sandton Convention Centre. 6. Moonshot by TechCabal TechCabal rebranded its Future of Commerce conference to Moonshot by TechCabal in 2022. It connects founders, investors, and business leaders. Activities include TC Battlefield, a startup pitch competition, and off-site workshops. The event features sessions on investment, AI, creative economy, and climate tech. The last edition was held at the Eko Convention Centre. The 2026 edition is scheduled for October 28–29. 7. Africa Tech Festival (AfricaCom) Africa Tech Festival, formerly AfricaCom, began in 1997 in Cape Town. It focuses on telecoms, connectivity, and digital infrastructure. The festival includes AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and the AI Summit Cape Town. It brings together telecom leaders, investors, and policymakers. The 2026 edition is slated for November 17–19. 8. Africa Early Stage Investor Summit (AESIS) Africa Early Stage Investor Summit was launched in 2013 and rebranded in 2017. It is organised by VC4A and the African Business Angel Network. It gathers venture capital firms, angel investors, and startups. It features investor meetups and masterclasses through the AESIS Academy. In 2025, discussions focused on exit strategies and secondary markets. AESIS 2026 is slated for November 26–27 in Cape Town. 9. AfricArena Grand Summit A year-long competition and networking series culminates in the AfricArena Grand Summit, an annual startup tour that features over 100 startups from seed to growth stage. Startups pitch to investors and corporates. The summit attracts more than 500 delegates. The 2026 edition is expected on November 26–27. 10. Lagos Tech Fest Lagos Tech Fest is a two-day event in Lagos, organised by Eventhive.ng. It focuses on fintech, AI, investment, and digital infrastructure. It features pitch sessions, exhibitions, executive roundtables, and networking events. The sixth edition was held on February 17–18 and was attended by over 3,000 people.
