Kenya will host the 2026 World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting which will bring together over 2,000 global health leaders, policymakers, innovators, and researchers.
Kenya will become the 13th country to host the WHS Regional Meeting, joining the ranks of Singapore, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Portugal, Iran, Uganda, Italy, the United States, Australia, and India.
Hosting the 2026 Summit is projected to inject an estimated Ksh 3.8 billion into Kenya’s economy through the multiplier effect of business events tourism.
The 2026 Nairobi Meeting is expected to be a catalyst for new partnerships across governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector, with outcomes directly informing progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2026 Summit will bring together African Health Ministers, leaders from Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, the African Union, alongside representatives from leading universities, civil society, private sector, and global development partners.
Since its founding in 2009, the World Health Summit in Berlin has evolved into one of the most influential global platforms for advancing health as a pillar of sustainable development. Regional meetings, hosted by WHS Academic Alliance members worldwide, address pressing local challenges while feeding into the broader global dialogue in Berlin.
The meeting is scheduled to take place from April 27–29, 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
“This is a significant milestone not only for our University and Kenya but for Africa’s health and development agenda. The summit will spotlight African-led solutions while shaping the broader global health conversation,” said Prof. Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of AKU Medical College, East Africa, and Incoming International President of the WHS Regional Meeting 2026.
The Summit underscores Kenya’s rising profile as a preferred Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination and highlights the role of conference tourism as one of the fastest-growing global sub-sectors, valued at billions of dollars annually.
KICC, Director of Business Development, Geoffrey Thande, noted: “KICC continues to spearhead strategic collaborations with partners such as the Aga Khan University and other local and international organizations to secure world-class conventions, ensuring Kenya’s visibility and competitiveness on the global stage.”
The Regional Meeting will feature plenary sessions, high-level dialogues, and collaborative workshops, producing actionable recommendations to advance Africa’s health priorities while contributing to the global health agenda.