African Futures Conference 2026: from data to decisions

This event explores how data, foresight and evidence-based decisions can shape Africa's future.

Date: 2026-10-13 to 2026-10-14

Time: 08:30 to 17:30

Venue: Hybrid (Day 1 in-person at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria + livestream | Day 2 fully online)

The African Futures Conference is the continent's premier platform for African-led foresight. Now in its third year, the 2026 conference brings together policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, private-sector leaders and civil-society actors from across Africa and beyond, for two days of strategic dialogue, practical learning and continent-wide participation.

The theme From Data to Decisions traces an arc from evidence to action: understanding the trends shaping Africa's trajectory, exploring the futures that different choices could create and shaping the decisions that build a more inclusive, sustainable future.

This year's event includes:

Keynote addresses and high-level strategic dialogues on Day 1
Hands-on FuturesLab sessions and practical workshops on Day 2
The Top 5 Young Changemakers 2026
Launch of Africa's Road to Prosperity – 10 Things to Know book by Jakkie Cilliers

Conference objectives

The conference aims to strengthen the connection between data, foresight and decision-making for Africa's development. It showcases how evidence, modelling and scenario thinking can be applied in practice to inform more inclusive, sustainable and resilient policy, investment and strategic choices. The event elevates the voices of young changemakers alongside established leaders and researchers, encouraging intergenerational dialogue and stronger links between evidence generation and policy action across the continent.

Conference themes

The conference is structured around three stages:

Understanding trends: Data, modelling and analysis reveal where Africa's development trajectory is currently heading
Exploring alternatives: Foresight opens up the futures that different policy and strategic choices could create
Shaping futures: Turning insight into the decisions that build a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient continent