MWC26 Kigali Expands Africa’s Digital Frontiers with New Summits, AI Agenda and Inaugural GLOMOs Africa Awards

The GSMA has revealed new updates for MWC26 Kigali, Africa’s most influential connectivity event, including the arrival of new industry summits and the first-ever GLOMOs Africa awards.

In partnership with the Ministry of ICT & Innovation of Rwanda, MWC Kigali will return to the Kigali Convention Centre between 16 and 18 June 2026, where Africa’s digital agenda will once again take centre stage. Registration is now open here.

MWC Kigali will bring together pan-African and global decision-makers, regulators and investors in one of the continent’s fastest-growing innovation hubs for three days of exhibition, keynotes, sessions, and industry conferences. This year’s edition will welcome several new and returning summits reflecting the issues at the top of Africa’s digital agenda in 2026.

New additions include the following:

• Scams Summit (16 June): Examining the growing threat of AI-powered fraud and coordinated industry responses.
• AgriTech Summit (16 June): In partnership with AGRA, examining how connectivity and emerging technologies are unlocking new economic opportunities for Africa’s agricultural sector.
• Health Summit (17 June): Exploring how digital technologies and mobile connectivity are expanding access to quality healthcare across the continent.
• GSMA Technology Summit (17–18 June): A dedicated regional forum for African network operators covering 5G implementation, security and roaming.

The Education Summit, delivered by the Future of Education and Work (FEWA), and the 5G Summit both return, as well as the GSMA Ministerial Programme, which welcomed 49 delegations from 33 countries and 16 intergovernmental organisations during last year’s inaugural edition.

Also new this year, MWC Kigali will host the first-ever GLOMOs Africa awards, celebrating the organisations driving Africa’s digital transformation and delivering real, measurable impact across the continent. For its debut year, GLOMOs Africa will honour excellence across two focused categories: the Digital Innovation for Africa’s Real Economy Award and the Closing the Mobile Internet Usage Gap in Africa – Innovation Award. The awards are free to enter. Submissions are now open and will close on 30 April.

MWC26 Kigali will adopt four key themes, each reflecting the unique challenges and opportunities reshaping Africa’s digital future:

• ConnectAI: How AI and next-generation connectivity can converge to drive inclusive growth, with the potential to double Africa’s GDP growth rate by 2035.
• Fintech & Commerce: An expanded programme for 2026, exploring the sector’s role as a driver of economic diversification and resilience across the continent.
• Digital Africa: Exploring how mobile-first solutions and expanding broadband are acting as catalysts for transformation across healthcare, manufacturing and education.
• Intelligent Infrastructure: How 5G and AI-native autonomous networks are creating new revenue streams for African operators across mining, logistics, smart cities and beyond.

Exhibitors and sponsors for MWC26 include AethexAI, Airtel, Ericsson, Ethio Telecom, MTN, PXS, Terrapay, and YAS. To showcase your organisation or brand at the heart of Africa’s digital agenda, learn how to become a sponsor or exhibitor at www.mwckigali.com/become-a-sponsor.

Registration is now open here. Media, industry analysts and industry participants are invited to apply for a complimentary media pass here.

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