The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Government of Ethiopia have officially launched the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2026, set to take place in Addis Ababa from 23 to 27 November 2026. The event is positioned as the continent’s foremost public health gathering, bringing together governments, scientists, policymakers, health professionals, and partners to advance Africa-led solutions for health transformation.
Speaking at the launch, Ethiopian officials emphasized that the conference aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and represents a shift from dependency to self-reliance and resilience. The theme of CPHIA 2026, “Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty: Transformation from health dependency and vulnerability to ownership and resilience,” underscores the focus on strengthening health systems and accelerating the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda.
Africa CDC highlighted the scale of the upcoming event, noting that while the inaugural CPHIA in 2021 attracted 2,500 participants, CPHIA 2026 is targeting 30,000. The conference builds on commitments made in the Durban Promise during CPHIA 2025, which called for mobilizing Africa’s wealth and innovation for health sovereignty, strengthening governance, reinvesting in primary health care, and fostering regional solidarity.
As the flagship conference of Africa CDC and AU member states, CPHIA provides a unique platform for dialogue among political leaders, policymakers, private sector actors, scientists, and community representatives. It enables the sharing of scientific breakthroughs, innovations, and strategies to catalyze positive change in public health across Africa.
Hosting CPHIA 2026 in Addis Ababa reinforces Ethiopia’s role as a diplomatic hub, home to the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and Africa CDC. With four successful editions already held, the conference continues to grow as the leading forum for public health dialogue, policy alignment, and scientific exchange on the continent.
