South Africa has been confirmed as the host of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa summit, scheduled to return to the continent in April 2027 after nearly an eight-year hiatus. The announcement was made by WEF officials at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where the forum’s Head of Africa, Chido Munyati, confirmed that the Africa summit will be held in South Africa, with the specific venue to be finalised between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The WEF on Africa summit, which has historically brought together government leaders, business executives, civil society representatives and academics to discuss economic and development priorities across the continent, was last held in Cape Town in 2019 before being paused due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving global conditions.
South Africa’s selection as the host country underscores its role as a major economic and diplomatic actor in Africa and comes after the nation successfully hosted the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, marking the first time that summit was held on African soil. South African officials have highlighted hosting the 2027 WEF Africa meeting as an opportunity to further position the country as a hub for international dialogue and investment on issues ranging from climate and infrastructure finance to digital transformation and regional integration.
World Economic Forum to resume Africa meetings in South Africa in April 2027
