DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Tanzania is set to host the AFRICON MSME Summit & Awards 2026, a major Pan-African business event expected to bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, development partners and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond. Scheduled to take place from 23–25 July 2026 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, the summit aims to strengthen Africa's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by promoting investment, innovation, industrialisation and cross-border trade.
The three-day summit is expected to attract more than 1,300 delegates from over 20 African countries and the African diaspora, creating one of the continent's largest platforms for networking, business matchmaking and policy dialogue. Organisers say the event will serve as a gateway for businesses seeking partnerships while supporting the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Hosted under the theme of accelerating entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth, AFRICON 2026 will feature high-level discussions on manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, digital innovation, renewable energy, education, finance and investment. Participants will also engage in business-to-business meetings, investment forums, exhibitions and knowledge sharing sessions designed to unlock new opportunities for African enterprises.
According to the organizers, the summit reflects Tanzania's growing role as a regional investment destination and business hub.
"Dar es Salaam will become the meeting point for investors, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and development partners from across Africa and beyond," the organizers stated while announcing the event.
The summit comes at a time when MSMEs continue to play a vital role in Africa's economy by generating employment, driving innovation and contributing significantly to national GDPs. Despite their importance, many small businesses continue to face challenges accessing finance, technology, regional markets and investment opportunities. AFRICON aims to address these barriers by creating direct engagement between entrepreneurs, governments and financial institutions.
The programme will include sector-specific discussions covering agribusiness, creative industries, healthcare, digital transformation, tourism and hospitality, renewable energy and human capital development. Organisers believe these sectors offer significant opportunities for sustainable growth and stronger collaboration among African economies.
A key highlight of the event will be the AFRICON Awards Gala, which will recognize outstanding African entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in economic development and entrepreneurship.
"The future of Africa is being built today. Be part of the conversation. Be part of the partnerships. Be part of the transformation,"
organizers said in an invitation to prospective delegates.
Government representatives, investors and development organizations are also expected to use the summit as a platform to discuss policies that improve the business environment for MSMEs while encouraging regional integration under AfCFTA. The event is expected to strengthen investment links between Tanzania and other African economies while promoting collaboration with international partners.
For Tanzania, hosting AFRICON 2026 represents an opportunity to showcase its investment climate, strategic location and expanding industrial sector to a global audience. The country has increasingly positioned itself as a gateway to East African markets through infrastructure development, policy reforms and regional trade initiatives.
As anticipation builds ahead of the summit, business leaders across the continent are expected to gather in Dar es Salaam to exchange ideas, establish partnerships and identify practical solutions that can accelerate the growth of Africa's MSME sector. With entrepreneurship recognised as a key driver of inclusive economic development, AFRICON MSME Summit 2026 is expected to reinforce collaboration, innovation and investment that will help shape the future of African business.