Nairobi will host the Africa Blockchain Festival 2026 from October 15 to 17, bringing together blockchain and artificial intelligence leaders from Africa and beyond.
The three-day event will be held at the Sarit Expo Centre and is expected to attract investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, regulators, developers and technology executives.
The festival will be held under the theme, “Capital, Code and Continuity: Building Africa’s Permanent Digital Economy.”
Organisers said delegates from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America are expected to attend the event, which will focus on the role of emerging technologies in Africa’s economic development.
The festival will be co-hosted with the World Token Summit, with the two events focusing on blockchain adoption, investment and innovation.
According to the organisers, the programme will feature keynote speeches, policy discussions, investor forums, startup showcases, technical workshops, exhibitions and networking sessions.
Discussions will cover artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, digital finance, tokenisation, stablecoins, cybersecurity, digital identity and cross-border payments.
Africa Blockchain Festival co-founder and CEO Olubunmi Fabanwo said the event would focus on blockchain applications beyond cryptocurrency.
“Our vision has always extended far beyond cryptocurrency,” Fabanwo said.
He said blockchain could help develop trusted systems to improve financial inclusion, public services and trade while creating new industries.
“Rather than following traditional development paths, African nations can leapfrog legacy infrastructure and build economies designed for the digital age,” Fabanwo said.
Fabanwo said the partnership with the World Token Summit would broaden discussions around blockchain adoption and investment.
He said Nairobi was an ideal location for discussions on Africa’s digital future, citing Kenya’s fintech and mobile money ecosystem and its technology sector.
“Kenya has consistently demonstrated that innovation thrives when talent, entrepreneurship and supportive ecosystems come together,” he said.
World Token Summit founder Ahmed Refaie said the joint event would provide an opportunity to connect African innovators with governments, investors and technology leaders from around the world.
“Bringing Africa Blockchain Festival and the World Token Summit together in Nairobi creates a unique opportunity to connect governments, innovators, investors and industry leaders from around the world,” Refaie said.
The event is expected to attract founders, venture capital firms, financial institutions, technology companies, developers, government representatives, regulators and academic institutions.
Participants will explore tokenised assets, AI, blockchain applications, digital identity, enterprise technology and digital financial services.
Organisers said startups will also have an opportunity to showcase their technologies and connect with potential investors and international partners.
The event comes as African economies increasingly adopt digital technologies in areas including financial inclusion, payments, trade and access to services.
