Enlit Africa 2026 unveils full programme with focus on investment, innovation and infrastructure
ENLIT Africa has released its full 2026 conference programme, setting out an ambitious agenda for the continent’s power, energy and water sectors. Taking place from 19 to 21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the event will bring together more than 280 speakers, over 250 exhibitors and an expected 7,200 attendees from across Africa and beyond.
Recognised as one of the continent’s leading gatherings for energy and water professionals, Enlit Africa 2026 will feature eight specialised content tracks designed to address some of the sector’s most urgent challenges and opportunities. This year’s programme places a strong emphasis on infrastructure, investment, innovation and practical case studies that can support Africa’s transition to more secure and sustainable utility systems.
One of the major additions to the programme is a new session titled African Nuclear 2.0, which will examine how several countries are moving from nuclear planning into execution. The session will cover South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and its 20-year life extension, with Units 1 and 2 now licensed to operate until 2044 and 2045. It will also look at Ghana’s progress to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, where the country is currently evaluating technology bids from vendors in the United States, China and Russia. Broader regional ambitions will also be discussed, including the West African Power Pool’s 10 GW nuclear target and the role that small modular reactors could play in African grids.
Grid development will be another major theme. A new session on Independent Transmission Projects will explore how private investment could help solve Africa’s transmission bottlenecks. With many countries expanding generation capacity but struggling to move power efficiently, the discussion is expected to draw attention from policymakers, utilities and investors looking for workable models. International case studies, including lessons from India’s PowerGrid, will be used to frame the African opportunity.
The conference will also include a series of Generation Masterclasses, with interactive roundtables covering gas-to-power, nuclear, hydropower, clean coal and hydrogen. Another notable theme is the growing use of artificial intelligence in utility operations. Sessions focused on AI in Africa’s Power Grid will examine how utilities are already using real-time analytics and predictive maintenance tools to improve performance and reliability.
Beyond the main conference, Enlit Africa’s co-located platforms remain a key part of the event offering. Water Security Africa will showcase country playbooks and sector case studies, including Namibia’s long-running potable reuse programme, Uganda’s reduction in non-revenue water and Cape Town’s response to the Day Zero crisis. The programme will also feature stewardship sessions with major private sector organisations such as Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic and Growthpoint Properties.
The Project & Investment Network, now part of the new Level 2 Executive Experience, is positioned as a deal-making platform that connects project developers, financiers, utility leaders and development finance institutions. The programme will open with a Business Breakfast led by award-winning journalist and author Bruce Whitfield on 19 May.
The Utility CEO Forum will gather more than 35 utility CEOs for closed-door discussions on topics such as unbundling, prosumer management and financial sustainability. The Municipal Forum will focus on South Africa’s local government challenges, including metering, tariff reform, revenue management and electrification in informal settlements.
On the exhibition floor, free Technical Hub sessions will provide CPD-accredited training across power, renewable energy, storage and water topics.
Register for free expo pass to attend Enlit Africa’s exhibition floor and Technical Hub sessions: https://wearevuka.com/energy/enlit-africa/ticket-options/
Download the Full Programme here: https://wearevuka.com/energy/enlit-africa/programme/
