As sustainability moves beyond compliance and reporting into the centre of business strategy, the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference & Expo 2026 will focus on helping organisations across the continent understand the real economic value of sustainability.

Taking place from 30 September to 1 October 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, this year’s event is themed: “A World of Change: Strengthening the Economics of Sustainability.” The programme will explore how sustainability is increasingly linked to business continuity, resilience, competitiveness, operational performance and long-term value creation in Africa.

Now entering its fifth year, the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference has become Africa’s largest and longest-standing sustainability and ESG event, bringing together business leaders, investors, policymakers, sustainability practitioners, academics and innovators from across the continent.

The 2026 programme has been designed to move beyond high-level ESG and sustainability discussions and focus more directly on implementation, capability-building and practical collaboration. Key themes include systemic risk, green industrialisation, resilience, sustainable finance, reporting and assurance, climate and nature integration, supply chain sustainability, AI and digital transformation, and sector-specific sustainability challenges.

“This year’s programme is focused on helping organisations understand the practical economics of sustainability,” says Wendy Poulton, Director and Co-founder of ESG Africa Events. “The conversation is shifting from whether sustainability matters, to how organisations can integrate sustainability into decision-making, operations and long-term growth strategies in a meaningful and measurable way.”

The conference will feature a CEO panel examining how systemic risks are reshaping leadership priorities, alongside sessions exploring the transition from compliance-driven sustainability to performance and impact-focused implementation. Discussions will also examine how sustainability influences access to capital, insurance, procurement, operational resilience and competitiveness.

A major addition to the 2026 edition is the introduction of dedicated Impact Hubs, designed to create more practical, hands-on engagement opportunities throughout the conference. One of the flagship new initiatives is the Sustainability Careers, Skills and Practice Hub, which will provide sustainability practitioners, students, SMMEs and early-career professionals with access to career guidance, mentorship opportunities, training providers, AI tools, skills diagnostics, CV and LinkedIn clinics, and practical sustainability resources.

“The Impact Hubs were introduced to make the conference more practical and implementation-focused,” says Poulton. “We wanted to create spaces where people can engage directly with tools, skills, mentorship and real-world support, rather than simply attending presentations. Sustainability capability-building remains one of the biggest opportunities and challenges across Africa.”

The event will also place a stronger emphasis on sector collaboration and practical case studies, with dedicated breakouts focused on industries including energy and mining, manufacturing and construction, and finance, insurance and property. These sessions will explore shared risks, innovation opportunities and collaborative solutions around issues such as water resilience, infrastructure, supply chains and technology adoption.

Recognising future talent and practical impact remains a core part of the conference. The Student Innovation Competition, now one of the most anticipated features of the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference, provides a platform for young African innovators to showcase solutions addressing sustainability challenges facing the continent. The competition highlights the role of youth innovation in shaping Africa’s sustainability future while connecting students and emerging entrepreneurs with industry leaders and potential partners.

The conference will also host the fourth edition of the Beyond Awards, which celebrates organisations and individuals driving measurable sustainability and social impact across Africa. The awards recognise leadership that moves beyond commitments and reporting toward practical implementation, innovation and meaningful outcomes.

“Africa has extraordinary sustainability talent, innovation and leadership emerging across sectors,” says Joshua Low, co-founder and director at ESG Africa Events. “The Beyond Awards and Student Innovation Competition help recognise the people and organisations driving real impact and creating solutions that are relevant to African realities.”

Alongside the conference programme, the Sustainability and ESG Africa Expo will showcase sustainability-focused products, services and technologies from organisations operating across Africa’s growing ESG ecosystem.

Since launching in 2022, the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference has grown significantly year-on-year, attracting more than 570 delegates, 100 speakers and representatives from over 380 organisations in 2025 alone. The event now attracts participants from more than 40 industry sectors and multiple countries across Africa and beyond, reinforcing its position as the continent’s leading platform for sustainability and ESG dialogue, collaboration and implementation.

More than just a two-day conference, the Sustainability and ESG Africa Conference continues to build a year-round sustainability community through webinars, leadership forums, networking events and communities of practice designed to strengthen collaboration and knowledge-sharing across Africa’s sustainability ecosystem.

“We are excited about this year’s event and the series of activities surrounding it. With ongoing market turbulence and growing global uncertainty, sustainability continues to provide organisations across the continent with a proven way to drive bottom-line value, increase efficiencies, manage risks more effectively, and stay ahead of the competition,” adds Poulton.