2026 Africa Facts Summit
October 21 – October 22
The fifth edition of the Africa Facts Summit will take place on 21 – 22 October 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa – bringing together fact-checkers, journalists, researchers, technologists, policymakers, and civil society actors at a critical moment for information integrity on the continent.
A critical moment for information integrity
The 2026 summit comes at a defining moment. Across the globe, the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence tools, increasingly sophisticated coordinated disinformation networks, rising digital fraud and scams and escalating geopolitical influence campaigns, are fundamentally reshaping online information spaces. Africa is not insulated from these forces. On the continent, they continue to intersect with elections, conflict, public health communication and declining public trust in institutions and media – with real consequences for communities, democracies and lives.
It is against this backdrop that the Africa Facts Summit has grown into an essential space for reflection, collaboration and practical problem-solving. Now in its fifth year, the summit convenes a growing, cross-continental community of organisations working across languages, regions and disciplines to build public resilience to misinformation and disinformation.
What to expect
The 2026 programme will feature panel discussions, workshops, presentations and interactive sessions exploring the most pressing issues shaping the information ecosystem today. Key themes include:
- The impact of artificial intelligence on information integrity
- Disinformation networks and platform accountability
- Elections and democratic resilience
- Foreign influence operations
- Media literacy and public trust
- The long-term sustainability of the information integrity sector
“Information integrity work has become increasingly interconnected with broader questions about democracy, technology, public trust and civic participation,” said Hlalani Gumpo, Africa Check’s Head of Outreach and Impact. “The summit creates an opportunity not only to examine emerging threats, but also to spotlight innovative responses, strengthen partnerships and build a more resilient ecosystem for the future.”