From mid-November 2026 to the end of January 2027, seven dated tech events follow one another across Africa, from Cotonou to Cape Town via Algiers, Dakar, Accra and Abidjan, and an eighth is still awaiting its date. Cybersecurity, telecoms, digital fabrication, deeptech or funding: each targets a different audience. Here are their dates, checked on the organisers’ websites on 12 November, and some pointers to help you choose.
Mid-November: three events in the same week
The Cyber Africa Forum opens the series on 16 and 17 November at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina, in Benin. After four editions in Côte d’Ivoire, the forum is holding its sixth edition in Cotonou, the second in a row in Benin. According to the press release published by the organisers on 6 July, more than 1,500 participants are expected around the theme “Building tomorrow’s digital trust”. The edition adds a college of experts, a strand called Tech 4 Creatives for the creative industries and a two-day cybersecurity hackathon, the HackerLab, designed with the Beninese agency ASIN.
From 17 to 19 November, Africa Tech Festival takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, in South Africa. Its programme is built around six pillars: telecoms and connectivity, data centres, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, startups and digital transformation. It is the event on this list most focused on operators and infrastructure.
At the same time, from 17 to 21 November, Algeria 2.0 takes over the Sidi Abdellah Cyberpark in Algiers. For this 13th edition, open every day from 9 am to 6 pm, the website’s FAQ states that entry is completely free but online registration is mandatory. Masterclasses, mentoring and a 48-hour hackathon, Makers², are devoted to AI, cloud and cybersecurity.
Late November and early December: makers, funding and deeptech
From 23 to 28 November, Make Africa brings together makers, innovators and digital players in Dakar, at the Green Energy Training Center in the SODIDA zone. The chosen theme combines maker innovation and technological sovereignty. The organiser puts forward a figure of more than 3,000 makers, entrepreneurs and “visionaries”, without specifying whether this is a forecast.
On 2 and 3 December, the NEXTEN Summit takes place in Accra, Ghana, although the home page does not name the exact venue. It claims an audience of decision-makers: founders, funds, bankers and regulators. The organisers announce more than 5,000 participants from more than 40 countries and 200 exhibitors. They also say they are monitoring the flooding situation in Ghana, while stating that preparations are continuing as normal. Pre-registration is free.
From 5 to 7 December, the African Startup Conference returns to Algiers, at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Centre, with deeptech as its common thread: AI, robotics and fundamental sciences. Registration is through the event’s official mobile app.
In Cape Town, AfricArena is also preparing its Grand Summit 2026, focused on investment. As of 12 November 2026, its page had not published any date: it is best to wait for the official announcement before booking.
January 2027: Abidjan closes the season
The Abidjan Tech Festival will take place on 22 and 23 January 2027 at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan, according to the listing by its organiser, the MINDICI agency. Demonstrations, talks, workshops, innovation competitions and business meetings are planned, with AI, fintech, e-commerce, cybersecurity and digital education on the agenda.
Which one to choose depending on your profile
- Security manager or CIO: Cotonou, for the announced institutional level and the hackathon.
- Operator, integrator or data centre player: Cape Town, whose programme covers connectivity and infrastructure.
- Student, developer or Algerian startup: Algeria 2.0, free with registration, followed by the African Startup Conference.
- Manufacturer, fablab, electronics engineer: Dakar, the only event on the list focused on makers.
- Founder raising funds or fintech: Accra, which highlights the meeting of capital, code and regulation.
For most of these events, the pages consulted do not show any prices: you need to contact the organisers directly, as you do for visas and accommodation. The attendance figures quoted here are those of the organisers and have not been independently verified.
These dates will be updated as announcements are made: to see the full calendar of tech events, with the map, head to 24h00. Journalists planning to cover one of these events can also request accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the next major tech event in Africa?
The Cyber Africa Forum, on 16 and 17 November 2026 in Cotonou, followed from the 17th by Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town and Algeria 2.0 in Algiers.
Which African tech events are free?
Algeria 2.0 announces completely free entry, with mandatory online registration. The NEXTEN Summit offers free pre-registration. For the others, prices were not displayed on the pages consulted.
Where are tech events taking place in French-speaking Africa until January 2027?
In Cotonou (Cyber Africa Forum), Algiers (Algeria 2.0 and African Startup Conference), Dakar (Make Africa) and Abidjan (Abidjan Tech Festival, in January 2027).
Sources
- Les 16 et 17 novembre, Cotonou accueillera les leaders africains et internationaux du numérique (communiqué) — Cyber Africa Forum, 2026-07-06
- Africa Tech Festival 2026, 17-19 November, Cape Town — Africa Tech Festival, 2026-11-12
- Algeria 2.0, 17-21 novembre 2026 — Algeria 2.0, 2026-11-12
- Make Africa 2026, Dakar — Make Africa, 2026-11-12
- NEXTEN Summit 2026, Accra — NEXTEN Summit, 2026-11-12
- African Startup Conference 2026 — African Startup Conference, 2026-11-12
- Abidjan Tech Festival 2027 — MINDICI, 2026-11-12
- AfricArena Grand Summit 2026 — AfricArena, 2026-11-12