The inaugural Africa Events Summit (AES) will be held on 10 September, 2026, at the Argyle Grand Hotel on Mombasa Road in Nairobi, bringing together more than 200 leaders from across East Africa’s events and hospitality sectors.

Organised by Billion Events East Africa under CEO Ian Migwi, the summit carries the theme, “Building East Africa’s Event Economy: Decisions, Direction, Alignment.”

AES is designed as a high-level industry platform for event planners, producers, creatives, venue operators, brand managers, and regulators from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.

The goal is to move the region’s events industry from scattered efforts towards a connected “event economy.”
Over two days, delegates will take part in conference sessions, panel discussions, and masterclasses, including training on event security and global best practices.

Day one focuses on the business and future of the experience economy in Africa, with an opening plenary, industry panels on growth and infrastructure, and roundtable discussions with partners and suppliers.

Day two centres on alignment, systems, and industry direction before closing with a gala dinner described as a “Met Gala”-style networking night for the region’s event builders.

Summit organisers say recommendations from AES will be presented directly to regional governments to help shape policy, reduce operational silos, and improve coordination across the events and hospitality sectors in East Africa.

By gathering the full events value chain in one room, AES aims to turn conversations into collaborations, encourage cross-border partnerships, and position East Africa’s experience economy for stronger investment and global recognition.

With applications for the pre-summit already exceeding available seats, organisers present AES 2026 as a pivotal moment for an industry that wants to be seen as a unified economic force.