AfriLabs Annual Gathering 2026

18 November to 20 November 2026 · 56 sessions across 2 days

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Track Room Person

Rooms CLOSED DOOR Conference Room 1 Conference Room 2 Conference Room 3 Conference Room 4 Dining / Exhibition Area Exhibition / Lounge Gala Venue Lounge, Main stage Lounge / Exhibition Lounge / Main Stage Main Hall Main Hall / Exhibition Area Track Room 1 Track Room 2 Track Room 3 Track Room 4 Track Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4 Everything else

Day 1 Wednesday 18 November

07:30
09:00

Arrival, Registration, Exhibition, Networking…

Lounge, Main stage

—

Arrival, registration, exhibition viewing and networking

09:00
09:05

Welcome and Opening AAG 2026

Main Hall

AfriLabs Senior Ecosystem Engagement Manager

Opening the Innovation Era: Welcome to AAG 2026

09:05
09:15

Opening Remark

Main Hall

AfriLabs Executive · Board

Opening Remarks A New Era for African Innovation

09:15
09:25

Host Country Welcome

Main Hall

Digital Transformation · Innovation · Minister · Republic of Benin

Benin’s Innovation Ambition: Building a Regional Hub for Technology, Talent & Investment

09:25
09:35

Keynote Address

Main Hall

Presidency - Republic of Benin

Africa’s Innovation Era: Building Institutions for Global Influence & Continental Impact

09:35
10:00

Fireside Chat

Main Hall

AfriLabs · Innovation · Minister Digital Transformation · Republic of Benin

From Innovation Ecosystems to Sustainable Institutions: What Will It Take to Shape Africa’s Next Era

10:00
10:45

Ministerial dialogue

Main Hall

—

Digital Innovation in Agriculture: Transforming Africa’s Food Systems Through Technology

10:45
11:15

Opening Plenary

Main Hall

—

Africa's Innovation Era: Building the Foundations for Africa’s Next Growth Era

11:15
11:30

Partner Spotlight

Main Hall

—

Partnerships That Move Innovation Forward

11:30
12:10

Tea Break / Networking / Exhibition

Exhibition / Lounge

—

Refresh, Connect & Collaborate

12:10
14:00

Policy, Data & AI

Track Room 1

—

Africa’s AI Moment: Building Sovereign Digital & Data Capabilities for Global Competitiveness

12:10
14:00

Trade & Industry

Track Room 2

—

Trade Rewired, Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation in the Digital Age

12:10
14:00

Hub Solutions

Hub Solutions Track Room 3

—

The Institutions Behind Innovation: Designing Sustainable Hubs That Scale Impact

12:10
14:00

Green and Blue Economy

Green and Blue Economy Track Room 4

—

Africa’s Natural Capital: Building the Green & Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth

12:10
14:00

HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE — CLOSED DOOR

CLOSED DOOR

Invited Ministers · Senior Government Officials

Breaking the Barriers: Harmonising Africa’s Regulatory Landscape to Unlock Cross-Border Market Access for Digital Innovation

12:10
14:00

Policy, Data & AI

Policy, Data and AI Track Room 1

Africa’s AI Moment: Building Sovereign Digital & Data Capabilities for Global Competitiveness

12:10
14:00

Trade & Industry

Trade and Industry Track Room 2

Trade Rewired, Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation in the Digital Age

12:10
14:00

HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE — CLOSED DOOR

CLOSED DOOR

Invited Ministers · Senior Government Officials

Breaking the Barriers: Harmonising Africa’s Regulatory Landscape to Unlock Cross-Border Market Access for Digital Innovation

14:00
15:30

Lunch, Exhibition and Networking

Lounge / Exhibition

—

Connect. Exchange. Build.

14:00
15:00

MoU Signings / Press Briefing

Main Hall

TBC

Strategic announcements and partnership signings

15:30
17:00

TRACK PROGRAMMES — SEGMENT 2

Track Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4

Track Champions

From Ideas to Institutions: Advancing the Innovation Agenda

15:30
17:00

Policy, Data & AI

Track Room 1

Africa’s AI Moment: Building Sovereign Digital & Data Capabilities for Global Competitiveness

15:30
17:00

Trade & Industry

Track Room 2

Trade Rewired, Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation in the Digital Age

15:30
17:00

Hub Solutions

Hub Solutions Track Room 3

The Institutions Behind Innovation: Designing Sustainable Hubs That Scale Impact

15:30
17:00

Green and Blue Economy

Green and Blue Economy Track Room 4

Africa’s Natural Capital: Building the Green & Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth

15:30
17:00

Policy, Data & AI

Policy, Data and AI Track Room 1

Africa’s AI Moment: Building Sovereign Digital & Data Capabilities for Global Competitiveness

15:30
17:00

Trade & Industry

Trade and Industry Track Room 2

Trade Rewired, Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation in the Digital Age

19:00
19:10

Gala

Gala Venue

MCs

A Celebration of Africa’s Innovation Community

Day 2 Thursday 19 November

08:30
09:00

Arrival, Registration, Exhibition & Networking

Lounge / Main Stage

Arrival, registration, exhibition viewing and networking

09:00
09:05

MC Energizer

Main Hall

Audience engagement and energy-setting for the day

09:05
09:15

Welcome Address

Main Hall

Eastern · Regional AfriLabs Board Representative

Official welcome and opening remarks for Day 2

09:15
09:25

Goodwill Messages

Main Hall

Goodwill messages from invited partners, stakeholders and ecosystem leaders

09:25
09:35

Keynote: Africa’s Innovation Era — From Local Solutions to Global Influence

Main Hall

Keynote exploring Africa’s growing innovation landscape and its potential for global influence

09:35
09:40

Inspirational Speech

Main Hall

Inspirational remarks to energise participants and set the tone for the day

09:40
09:55

Fishbowl Conversation

Main Hall

Interactive audience-led conversation exploring key themes from the opening programme

09:55
10:15

Hub Showcase

Main Hall

Showcase of AfriLabs hubs, their work, impact and contribution to the innovation ecosystem

10:15
10:30

AfriLabs: The Future

Main Hall

AfriLabs COO

AfriLabs initiatives, products, strategic direction and future priorities

10:30
10:35

Video Insert / MC Energizer

Main Hall

Content Team · Video

Short video content and audience energiser

10:35
10:50

African Innovation Showcase

Main Hall

Startup and ecosystem showcase highlighting African innovation and solutions

10:50
11:00

Partner Spotlight

Main Hall

Strategic partner presentation highlighting collaboration, contribution and opportunities

11:00
11:35

Reflect & Refuel

Main Hall / Exhibition Area

MCs

Recap of the morning programme and introduction to the Day 2 tracks, followed by networking and refreshments

11:35
14:00

Track Programmes — Segment 1: Makerspaces

Conference Room 1

11:35
14:00

Track Programmes — Segment 1: Green & Blue Economy

Conference Room 2

11:35
14:00

Track Programmes — Segment 1: Investor / Investment

Conference Room 3

11:35
14:00

Track Programmes — Segment 1: Trade & Commerce / Industry

Conference Room 4

14:00
15:30

Lunch, Exhibition & Networking

Dining / Exhibition Area

Lunch, exhibition viewing and informal networking

15:30
16:30

Track Programmes — Segment 2

Track Champion

Continuation and deep-dive sessions

15:30
16:30

Track Programmes — Segment 2

Track Champion

Continuation and deep-dive sessions

15:30
16:30

Track Programmes — Segment 2

Track Champion

Continuation and deep-dive sessions

15:30
16:30

Track Programmes — Segment 2

Track Champion

Continuation and deep-dive sessions

15:30
16:30

Connect Deal Room

Innovators · Selected Investors

Investor–innovator and institutional matchmaking

15:30
16:30

Partner / Stakeholder Sessions

Selected partner-led and stakeholder-focused sessions

16:30
16:40

MC Energizer

Main Hall

Audience energiser and transition into the closing programme

16:40
16:55

AAG 2026: The Impact We Are Building / Call to Action

Main Hall

Highlights, commitments, outcomes and call to action emerging from AAG 2026

16:55
17:10

AfriLabs Board Meet & Greet

Main Hall

AfriLabs Board

Conversation and engagement with AfriLabs Board members

17:10
17:20

Event Curtain Call / Closing

Main Hall

AfriLabs Board Chair + Collaborator

Official closing and final remarks for AAG 2026

Colours mark tracks and are assigned automatically; every session is named with its track as well, so the agenda reads the same without them.