The 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026) will take place from 23–27 November 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together public health leaders, researchers, policymakers, governments, private-sector actors, innovators, programme implementers, and partners from across Africa and the wider global health community. The conference is co-hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

CPHIA is Africa CDC’s flagship annual public health conference and has grown into an important continental platform for discussing the health challenges facing Africa, sharing scientific evidence and innovations, building partnerships, and turning research into policies, health products, programmes, and practical action.

The theme for the 2026 edition is:

“Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty: Transformation from health dependency and vulnerability to ownership and resilience.”

CPHIA 2026 is expected to feature five days of high-level policy dialogue, scientific sessions, research presentations, innovation showcases, partnership development, networking, awards, exhibitions, and opportunities for organizations to host side events. The official conference website states that more than 30,000 attendees are expected.

Researchers also have an opportunity to submit abstracts for presentation at the conference. The current official abstract submission deadline is 15 September 2026, while early-bird conference registration is scheduled to close on 22 August 2026.

About the International Conference on Public Health in Africa

The International Conference on Public Health in Africa, widely known as CPHIA, is a flagship Africa CDC platform bringing together stakeholders across different levels of the health sector.

The conference connects:

• Political leaders
• Policymakers
• Scientists
• Researchers
• Public health professionals
• Programme implementers
• Private-sector representatives
• Community actors
• Innovators
• Development partners
• Government institutions
• Global health organizations

Its purpose is not simply to provide another scientific conference. CPHIA aims to create a continental space where evidence, political leadership, public-health implementation, financing, innovation, and partnerships can interact.

Africa CDC describes the conference as an opportunity for African stakeholders to have open discussions about critical health challenges while sharing scientific breakthroughs and innovations capable of driving positive change. The broader goal is to translate evidence and innovation into health products, tools, policies, and adequately financed programmes.

CPHIA 2026 Dates and Location

Conference: 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa

Dates: 23–27 November 2026

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Host city: Addis Ababa

Expected attendance: More than 30,000 delegates

Theme: Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty: Transformation from health dependency and vulnerability to ownership and resilience.

Addis Ababa is also home to Africa CDC and the African Union headquarters, placing CPHIA 2026 in one of the continent’s principal diplomatic and multilateral centres.

Why CPHIA Matters for African Public Health

The conference has evolved substantially since its first edition in 2021.

Africa CDC describes CPHIA as a major platform for African health actors and champions to discuss issues affecting health across the continent and share scientific evidence that can support practical solutions.

Its history includes:

• 2021: Inaugural virtual conference
• 2022: Kigali, Rwanda
• 2023: Lusaka, Zambia
• 2025: Durban, South Africa
• 2026: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The inaugural 2021 edition attracted more than 12,000 virtual participants. The 2022 conference in Kigali recorded more than 14,000 in-person and virtual participants, the 2023 event in Lusaka recorded more than 35,000, and the 2025 Durban edition attracted more than 17,000 participants across virtual and physical formats.

CPHIA 2026 Mission

CPHIA’s mission is centered on bringing together African and international stakeholders to:

• Share knowledge
• Build partnerships
• Catalyse action
• Strengthen African health security
• Advance universal health coverage
• Promote locally driven solutions
• Strengthen continental solidarity

Its vision is of a healthier, prosperous, and more self-reliant Africa supported by stronger health systems, local manufacturing capabilities, and a skilled health workforce.

Core Pillars of CPHIA

The conference identifies three broad pillars underpinning its work:

Science and Innovation

Scientific evidence is central to CPHIA.

Researchers are given opportunities to present findings and connect scientific knowledge with decision-makers responsible for policy and implementation.

Transformative Policies and Action

The conference seeks to move discussions beyond identifying problems toward policies and programmes capable of generating change.

Political Leadership for Impact

Government leadership and political commitment are important components of strengthening health systems and ensuring that research and public-health priorities receive sustained attention and resources.

What to Expect at CPHIA 2026

Africa CDC describes CPHIA 2026 as five days of discussions, research presentations, networking, innovation, and collaboration.

The conference experience is expected to include six particularly prominent components.

1. High-Level Policy Dialogue

CPHIA will bring participants into discussions involving:

• Heads of State and Government
• Ministers
• Global health leaders
• Members of the diplomatic community

This gives the conference a significant policy dimension alongside its scientific programme.

2. Scientific Sessions

The conference is expected to feature more than 100 sessions presenting research and innovations designed to contribute to evidence-based policies and action.

Researchers whose abstracts are accepted may have opportunities to present their work through oral, poster, or electronic presentation formats.

3. Innovation, Financing and Investment

CPHIA 2026 will provide opportunities to showcase health products, technologies, and innovations, with particular attention to African solutions.

This reflects the conference theme’s emphasis on reducing health dependency and strengthening the continent’s capacity to own and sustain health solutions.

4. Networking

With tens of thousands of delegates expected, CPHIA provides an opportunity to connect with people working across:

• Government
• Academia
• Public health
• International organizations
• Health technology
• Civil society
• Research
• Pharmaceutical and health manufacturing
• Health financing
• Community health
• Development cooperation

The official conference description specifically emphasizes connections between African participants and the wider global health community.

5. Awards and Recognition

CPHIA 2026 will recognize achievements in African health research and innovation, including recognition of young scientists.

The abstract programme identifies several awards, including:

• Best Oral Presentation
• Best Poster Presentation
• Young Investigator Award
• Innovation in Public Health Award

6. Partnerships and Collaboration

The conference also seeks to support strategic partnerships that can advance health security and health sovereignty across Africa.

CPHIA 2026 Conference Tracks

The scientific programme is structured around six major tracks addressing central public-health and health-security issues affecting Africa.

Track 1: Elevating Africa as a Leader in a Reformed and Inclusive Global Health Architecture

The first track focuses on strengthening Africa’s role in continental and global health priority-setting.

It reflects growing debates about:

• African leadership in global health
• Governance of global health institutions
• Representation
• Equity
• Decision-making power
• Health sovereignty
• International partnerships

The emphasis is on positioning Africa not merely as a recipient of global health interventions but as an active leader shaping priorities and solutions.

Track 2: Institutionalisation of Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in Africa

The second track focuses on strengthening systems for preventing, preparing for, and responding to major health emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola outbreaks, mpox, cholera, and other health emergencies have emphasized the importance of:

• Surveillance
• Emergency preparedness
• Public-health institutions
• Laboratory capacity
• Workforce preparedness
• Cross-border collaboration
• Rapid response systems

CPHIA frames pandemic preparedness as directly connected with continental health security.

Track 3: African Stakeholders’ Empowerment and Predictable, Innovative and Blended Financing

The third track addresses financing.

Its focus is on strengthening self-reliance through innovative and sustainable health financing approaches, including financing connected with universal health coverage.

The track reflects the conference’s broader emphasis on moving from dependency toward greater African ownership and financial sustainability.

Track 4: Primary Health Care, Digital Transformation and AI-Enabled Health Systems

The fourth track addresses one of the fastest-growing areas of contemporary healthcare: the intersection of primary healthcare, digital technology, and artificial intelligence.

It explores how digital transformation and AI can support evidence-based healthcare delivery at primary-care level.

Potential areas of interest may include:

• Digital health
• Artificial intelligence
• Health data
• Primary healthcare
• Digital diagnostics
• Health information systems
• Technology-enabled service delivery

The official theme emphasizes using digital innovation and AI to strengthen evidence-based primary healthcare.

Track 5: Unlocking Opportunities for Local Manufacturing in Africa

Local production of health commodities has become an important health-security priority.

Track 5 focuses on building Africa’s ability to manufacture the health products it requires.

This connects directly with the conference theme of health sovereignty and reduced dependence on external supply chains.

Track 6: Climate, Health Security and African Resilience

The final major track examines the connections between:

• Climate change
• One Health
• Health security
• African resilience

Climate change increasingly affects disease patterns, food systems, water security, extreme weather, displacement, vector-borne disease, and health-system demand.

This track therefore brings environmental and public-health concerns together under a broader resilience framework.

CPHIA 2026 Call for Abstracts

Researchers have an opportunity to submit research findings that align with the conference tracks.

The official CPHIA 2026 call for abstracts opened on:

5 August 2026

The submission deadline is:

15 September 2026

Notification of acceptance is scheduled for:

15 October 2026

Accepted presenters are expected to upload their final presentations by:

30 October 2026.

Important Step Before Submitting an Abstract

The conference instructs researchers to complete conference registration first.

Once registration is approved, applicants receive confirmation and can then sign in to submit an abstract.

Researchers who plan to submit should therefore avoid waiting until the final day to begin registration.

Abstract Submission Requirements

The official guidelines set a maximum abstract length of:

300 words

This excludes the title and author information.

The abstract should contain:

1. Background
2. Methods
3. Results
4. Conclusion

The abstract title should be concise and no longer than 20 words, and applicants should provide three to five keywords.

Research Must Be Original

Submitted work should be original and not previously published.

Applicants must also:

• List all authors and affiliations
• Declare conflicts of interest
• Indicate their preferred presentation format

Presentation preferences can include oral or poster formats.

Abstract Review Criteria

Submitted research will be assessed according to factors including:

• Scientific merit
• Originality
• Relevance to the CPHIA themes
• Methodological rigor
• Potential impact on African public health

This means applicants should not merely describe technically strong research. They should also explain why their findings matter for African public health.

Abstract Presentation Formats

Accepted research may be presented through several formats.

Oral Presentation

Oral presentations are allocated:

• 12 minutes for presentation
• 3 minutes for questions and answers

Poster Presentation

Posters should be:

• A0 size
• 841 × 1189 mm
• Portrait orientation

Dedicated poster sessions will be included during the conference.

E-Poster

Electronic posters can be displayed digitally on conference screens.

The specified format is:

• PowerPoint
• Maximum five slides

E-posters are expected to remain available during the conference.

Important Abstract Rules

Researchers should pay attention to several important conditions.

The presenting author must register for the conference.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

Each presenting author may submit a maximum of three abstracts.

Accepted abstracts are expected to be included in the conference proceedings.

CPHIA 2026 Travel Scholarships

The conference homepage identifies a scholarship pathway connected with abstract submission.

Researchers submitting high-quality abstracts may be considered for travel scholarships to attend CPHIA 2026. The current conference participation page lists 15 September 2026 as the relevant deadline.

However, the public conference information currently available does not provide detailed scholarship values, complete eligibility criteria, or a guarantee that every accepted abstract author will receive support.

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that abstract acceptance automatically means funded travel.

Researchers interested in travel support should monitor the official CPHIA website for additional scholarship guidance.

CPHIA 2026 Registration Timeline

The official abstract page currently lists the following registration dates:

Early-bird registration opens: 3 August 2026

Early-bird registration deadline: 22 August 2026

Regular registration opens: 23 August 2026

Conference: 23–27 November 2026.

Because early-bird registration is time-sensitive, participants planning to attend should complete registration promptly if they wish to use the early registration period.

The publicly accessible registration page retrieved for this article does not display complete fee information, so applicants should confirm current prices directly through the official registration portal rather than relying on unofficial sources.

CPHIA 2026 Side Events

Organizations can also apply to organize a side event during conference week.

Side events are intended as satellite sessions that complement the main conference programme and give organizations an opportunity to engage ministers, researchers, partners, and other public-health stakeholders.

The current timeline is:

Applications open: 7 August 2026

Deadline: 15 September 2026

Review and notification: 15 October 2026

Final programme details due: 30 October 2026

Side event week: 23–27 November 2026.

Side Event Requirements

Organizations should submit a clear proposal describing:

• Session theme
• Target audience
• Expected outcomes

Applicants must also demonstrate organizational capacity to host and promote their event.

The proposed side event should align with CPHIA and broader African public-health priorities.

Exhibition Opportunities

Organizations developing health products, technologies, services, research, and innovations can apply for exhibition space.

CPHIA describes the exhibition programme as a platform for organizations to showcase solutions to scientists, policymakers, health leaders, and advocates.

Key exhibition dates include:

Applications open: 7 August 2026

Application deadline: 15 September 2026

Notification of approval: 15 October 2026

Payment deadline: 31 October 2026

Booth setup begins: 1 November 2026

Exhibition days: 23–27 November 2026.

At the time the official exhibition page was reviewed, specific active exhibition packages had not yet been published.

Who Should Consider Exhibiting?

The exhibition component may be particularly relevant for organizations seeking to:

• Showcase health innovations
• Present products and services
• Reach decision-makers
• Develop partnerships
• Build visibility across African Union Member States
• Connect with health ministries, researchers, and industry leaders

CPHIA emphasizes Pan-African visibility and access to a high-level public-health audience.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

CPHIA 2026 also provides corporate sponsorship options.

The conference lists seven partnership categories, including:

• Platinum
• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze
• Targeted sponsorship
• Customized sponsorship
• Other negotiated arrangements

Published sponsorship values include:

• Platinum: USD 250,000
• Gold: USD 150,000
• Silver: USD 75,000
• Bronze: USD 35,000–50,000

Other packages are negotiable.

Corporate sponsorship is reviewed on a rolling basis.

CPHIA 2026 Speakers

The conference is expected to bring together major African voices in public health, policy, research, and innovation.

One confirmed keynote speaker listed on the official website is Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC.

The conference speaker page also invites experts to participate through:

• Research abstract submissions
• Session or workshop proposals
• Panel discussions
• Satellite or side events

The broader scientific direction is supported by a Scientific Committee composed of researchers and public-health leaders from institutions across Africa and beyond.

Awards for Researchers

Researchers participating through the abstract pathway may be considered for conference recognition.

The current call lists:

• Best Oral Presentation
• Best Poster Presentation
• Young Investigator Award
• Innovation in Public Health Award

These awards create an additional opportunity for early-career and established researchers to gain visibility for work with strong relevance to African public health.

Addis Ababa as the Host City

Addis Ababa will host the conference from 23–27 November.

The official venue information describes November conditions as generally mild, with temperatures around 10–25°C. Addis Ababa operates on East Africa Time, UTC+3.

Amharic is Ethiopia’s official language, while English is widely used in business and tourism.

Getting to Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is one of Africa’s major air hubs.

The conference website states that Ethiopian Airlines serves more than 125 destinations and estimates the airport-to-venue journey at approximately 15 kilometres or 30–45 minutes by car.

Transportation

The conference website states that shuttle services will be provided between official conference hotels and the venue.

Local ride-hailing services and Addis Ababa’s light-rail system are also identified as transport options.

Visa Information for International Participants

International attendees should check Ethiopia’s entry requirements well in advance.

The conference website indicates that Ethiopia offers electronic visa services for citizens of many countries and that CPHIA delegates may potentially be eligible for visa-on-arrival facilitation through official conference channels.

Conference invitation letters are available following registration.

The website estimates e-visa processing at approximately three to five business days, but travelers should always verify their individual immigration requirements through official Ethiopian channels before travelling.

Important CPHIA 2026 Dates

The main dates prospective participants should remember are:

• 3 August 2026: Early-bird registration opened
• 5 August 2026: Abstract submissions opened
• 7 August 2026: Side-event and exhibition applications opened
• 22 August 2026: Early-bird registration deadline
• 23 August 2026: Regular registration opens
• 15 September 2026: Abstract submission deadline
• 15 September 2026: Side-event application deadline
• 15 September 2026: Exhibition application deadline
• 15 September 2026: Travel scholarship-related abstract deadline listed by CPHIA
• 15 October 2026: Abstract acceptance notification
• 15 October 2026: Side-event review/notification
• 15 October 2026: Exhibitor approval notification
• 30 October 2026: Final presentation upload deadline
• 30 October 2026: Final side-event programme details due
• 31 October 2026: Exhibition payment deadline
• 23–27 November 2026: CPHIA 2026 conference

Tips for Researchers Submitting Abstracts

1. Register Before Trying to Submit

Conference registration must be completed first.

Do not leave registration until September 15 and assume you can immediately upload your abstract.

2. Choose the Right Conference Track

Your research should clearly connect with one of the six conference tracks.

Do not force a weak connection simply to submit.

3. Keep the Abstract Focused

You only have 300 words.

Use them efficiently across:

• Background
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion

4. Emphasize African Public-Health Relevance

One of the official review criteria is the potential impact of the research on African public health.

Make that contribution explicit rather than expecting reviewers to infer it.

5. Demonstrate Methodological Rigor

The research methodology is part of the review criteria.

Be specific about methods rather than describing the study in general terms.

6. Submit Original Work

The conference requires original work that has not previously been published.

7. Apply Before the Deadline

Late abstracts will not be accepted.

Who Should Attend CPHIA 2026?

The conference is relevant to a broad community working in health and development.

This can include:

• Public-health professionals
• Medical researchers
• Epidemiologists
• Clinicians
• Health-policy specialists
• Government officials
• Health ministers and policymakers
• Public-health students
• Academic researchers
• Early-career scientists
• Digital-health specialists
• AI and health researchers
• Health-financing professionals
• Pharmaceutical and manufacturing stakeholders
• One Health specialists
• Climate and health researchers
• NGO professionals
• Civil-society organizations
• Community-health actors
• International organizations
• Development partners
• Donor agencies
• Health entrepreneurs
• Technology companies
• Universities
• Research institutes

CPHIA itself describes its audience as connecting political leadership, policymakers, private-sector and community actors with scientists and programme implementers.

Why Young and Early-Career Researchers Should Consider CPHIA

CPHIA can be particularly relevant for emerging African researchers because it combines scientific presentation with a broader ecosystem of policymakers, institutions, and health leaders.

Accepted researchers may gain opportunities to:

• Present research
• Participate in scientific discussions
• Receive feedback
• Meet researchers from other countries
• Connect with policymakers
• Explore collaborations
• Compete for presentation awards
• Potentially be considered for travel scholarship support

The conference explicitly highlights recognition for young scientists and includes a Young Investigator Award in the abstract programme.

Conclusion

The 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026) represents one of the continent’s major opportunities in 2026 for public-health professionals, researchers, policymakers, innovators, organizations, and health-sector leaders to engage directly with the future of African health.

Taking place from 23–27 November 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the conference will focus on the theme “Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty: Transformation from health dependency and vulnerability to ownership and resilience.”

Across five days, participants can expect scientific sessions, high-level policy dialogue, health innovation, discussions around financing and investment, exhibitions, networking, awards, partnerships, and side events.

The six scientific tracks cover some of the most significant health priorities facing the continent: reforming global health architecture, pandemic preparedness, sustainable health financing, primary healthcare and AI, local manufacturing, and climate-related health resilience.

Researchers can submit original abstracts of up to 300 words, with submissions currently due by 15 September 2026. Early-bird registration closes on 22 August 2026, followed by regular registration beginning on 23 August.

Organizations can also participate through exhibitions, side events, partnerships, and corporate sponsorship.

With Africa CDC positioning the conference as a platform for turning African science and innovation into evidence-based policy and action, CPHIA 2026 offers an important space for people committed to strengthening public health, health security, sovereignty, and resilience across the continent.

Official CPHIA 2026 website: CPHIA 2026 – Africa CDC

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