African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 will run from October 12 to 16 in Cape Town, South Africa, with more than 9,000 delegates and over 400 high-level speakers expected. The conference and exhibition will use five conference stages and a series of dealmaking and roundtable sessions.
Conference platforms and forums#
The event will cover the energy value chain through panel discussions, technical workshops, presentations and fireside chats across five strategic stages.
- Upstream Exploration and Production (E&P) Forum
- Energy Finance Forum
- Energy Additions Forum
- AEW Townhall
- Downstream and Petrochemicals Forum
Country spotlights will present market opportunities to global capital, while dedicated roundtables will examine local content, US-Africa energy investment, cooperation between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Africa, and national oil company (NOC) and international oil company (IOC) partnerships. The Drill Room will focus on geology, exploration and subsurface intelligence. The Innovation Hub will examine technologies affecting the competitiveness of Africa’s energy industry.
Deal-focused sessions#
Premier Invest is sponsoring the Deal Room, which will connect project sponsors, developers and promoters with investors and lenders for oil, gas, power and infrastructure opportunities.
The African Farmout Forum, organized with Moyes & Co, Farmout Angel and Envoi Ltd, will feature available blocks and acreage from across Africa and link companies seeking partners with investors looking for upstream entry opportunities.
Specialized conferences#
Two additional conferences will run alongside the main program. Renegade Intel will cover artificial intelligence, natural gas, power generation, data centers, data sovereignty and infrastructure financing, connecting energy producers with technology companies, financiers and digital infrastructure developers.
Power Africa Today will bring together ministers, utilities, regulators, investors and developers for three days of sessions on generation, grids, gas-to-power, renewables, nuclear energy, regional power trade, electrification and project finance. The program is framed around reducing energy poverty.
Networking, awards and exhibition#
A Just Energy Transition concert will open the week, with networking receptions, power lunches and side events scheduled throughout. On Tuesday, October 13, the AEW 2026 Gala Dinner and Awards will recognize companies and individuals across 12 categories spanning the energy value chain.
An exhibition will run alongside the conference, showcasing brands, technologies, services and projects from the global energy industry and providing access to decision-makers, investors, policymakers and potential partners.
“AEW 2026 is where Africa’s energy ambitions become transactions. Over one week, we will unite governments with acreage, companies with projects, investors with capital and technology providers with solutions. Whether you are looking for a license, a farm-in partner, project finance, a power opportunity or your next market, Cape Town is where those conversations will happen,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
