ILSA 2026, Addis Ababa: Africa's longevity summit
Dates
20–21 Nov 2026
City / country
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Venue
Shaggar Institute of Technology
Are you the organiser of this event?
Event overview
The International Longevity Summit Africa 2026 (ILSA 2026) takes place in Addis Ababa on 20–21 November 2026 at the Shaggar Institute of Technology.
The two-day summit brings researchers, clinicians, health-tech innovators, investors and policymakers together under the theme “From Biology to Society: Advancing Healthy Aging in Africa”.
It is organised by Afrolongevity with the Shaggar Institute of Technology, continuing a series that has met in Johannesburg, Lagos and Durban.
TL;DR
Meet the researchers, clinicians, ministry officials and investors shaping healthy aging across Africa. The programme combines scientific plenaries, policy roundtables and structured networking, so a delegate can leave with both a research update and a working contact list.
Put a health-tech, biotech, diagnostics or wellness product in front of African clinicians, academics, development partners and investors. The summit’s research showcases and policy roundtables create direct access to decision-makers evaluating prevention, diagnostics and care-delivery tools.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Shaggar Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Entrances & gates
Main campus entrance
Use the signed main gate and bring photo ID for the security desk.
Parking: Ask the summit registration desk about delegate parking and the designated drop-off point at the campus entrance.
Gate: Use the main campus entrance named in the delegate confirmation; bring photo ID for the security desk.
Attend
Ticket info
Badge collection
Bring the registration confirmation and photo ID to the campus registration desk.
Ticket notes
Delegate registration runs through the official summit site. No public delegate fee or ticket price is published; registered participants receive travel and accommodation guidance.
What's on
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2025
Edition #: 4
This edition
2026
Visitors: 300
Exhibitors: 15
Next edition
Not announced yet
Growth over time
Edition recap
ILSA 2025 was the fourth edition, held in Durban, South Africa, at the Sun Sibaya Hotel with Mangosuthu University of Technology as partner. It continued the series from Johannesburg in 2023 and Lagos in 2024.
New this edition
Impact
ILSA’s value is continental convening rather than floor size: it puts African aging researchers, clinicians and policymakers in the same room as health-tech founders and development partners, creating a route from research evidence to prevention policy and procurement.
Audience quality
The audience is senior and multidisciplinary: academic and clinical researchers, ministry and regulator officials, development partners, investors and founders. Attendance is by registration, so exhibitors should expect qualified conversations rather than mass consumer traffic.
Exhibitor outcomes
Best ROI comes from a focused research-showcase or partnership presence aimed at clinicians, ministry buyers and investors. Set a modest lead target for a 300-delegate summit and prioritise follow-up meetings over scan volume.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
ILSA is one of the few recurring continental forums where longevity science, clinical prevention and African policy meet. For suppliers and investors, it is a concentrated entry point to ministries, research institutions and health-tech buyers across the region.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Prevention moves into primary care
African health systems are shifting spend toward early screening, metabolic health and age-related disease prevention rather than late-stage treatment alone.
What it changes: Suppliers of diagnostics, remote monitoring and lifestyle programmes can position products as system-level prevention rather than elective wellness.
SourcePrecision medicine for African populations
Researchers are pressing for genomic and clinical evidence that reflects African diversity instead of relying on cohorts drawn mainly from Europe and North America.
What it changes: Companies with local evidence generation and diverse trial capability have a credible differentiator with ministries and research partners.
Health-tech and AI cross into aging care
AI triage, remote monitoring and digital care coordination are being adapted for low-bandwidth, workforce-constrained settings across the continent.
What it changes: AgeTech and MedTech entrants can use the summit to find clinical validation partners and public-sector pilot routes.
ILSA moves between African research hubs each year. Buyers planning a continental calendar can pair it with the prior ILSA editions and larger African health exhibitions.
Late-year planning
Dates fall in the November dry season, after most international autumn conference cycles.
Edition cities and sequence come from the organiser’s history page; exact prior-edition dates were not published there.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Main international gateway and the practical arrival point for delegates.
about 10 km from central Addis Ababa
to venue
25–45 minutes depending on traffic
by car
Adama Airport
Domestic feeder airport; not a practical international arrival point for the summit.
about 100 km southeast of Addis Ababa
to venue
1.5–2 hours by road
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 45–80 / night
Simple business hotels with breakfast; book early because November is a busy conference month.
USD 90–150 / night
Reliable international-standard rooms close to the airport and main meeting districts.
USD 180–280 / night
Full-service hotels with meeting space, gyms and airport transfers.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Ride-hailing
Use the Ride app or a metered taxi arranged by the hotel; agree the fare before departure.
Minibus taxi
Cheap but crowded and route-specific; not recommended for delegates carrying exhibition material.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa on arrival | Eligible nationalities only; check the official list before travelling | — | On arrival | |
| Ethiopian e-Visa | Visitors who prefer to secure the visa before departure | — | Apply at least 7–10 days ahead |
Some nationalities may be exempt or eligible for visa on arrival; confirm your own status on evisa.gov.et before booking.
No carnet arrangement is published for this summit; confirm with the organiser and Ethiopian customs before shipping display material.
Official visa pageWeather
November is the start of the dry season: mild days around 20–24°C, cool nights near 9–11°C, low rainfall and strong afternoon sun at altitude.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi are widely available in Bole and central Addis Ababa; buy a local Ethio Telecom or Safaricom SIM at the airport for reliable data.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Coffee ceremony
Accepting an invitation to a coffee ceremony is a standard way to build rapport; expect three rounds and allow time for it.
Greetings and dress
A handshake with the right hand and a polite greeting goes a long way. Dress smartly for the summit; evenings can be cool at altitude.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: ADD
Ethiopian Airlines is the dominant carrier into ADD and offers the most one-stop connections from Europe, Asia and North America. Book November travel early.
Book flightsMost foreign delegates need an Ethiopian visa; visa on arrival is available for eligible countries and an e-Visa can be secured before travel.
Estimated cost: USD 50–100 depending on nationality and visa type
Processing: 7–10 days for e-Visa; visa on arrival issued at the airport
Carry a printed approval, passport photos and the invitation letter from the Shaggar Institute of Technology.
OfficialPartnerGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Take a hotel-arranged car or Ride-hailing car from Bole airport; allow 25–45 minutes to the campus.
Hotel → venue: Stay in Bole or Kazanchis and use Ride-hailing for a 15–30 minute trip; agree the fare first.
Ride-hail: The Ride app and hotel taxis are the practical options. Fares are cash or mobile money; keep small notes.
Public transit: Minibuses are cheap but crowded and route-specific; light rail serves parts of the city but not the campus directly.
Parking: On-campus delegate parking is not published; confirm with the registration desk before driving.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: November
Temperature: 9–24°C
Seasonality: Start of the dry season with low rainfall and strong afternoon sun.
Packing: Bring layers for cool evenings, sun protection, a light rain shell and comfortable walking shoes for the campus.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: 2026-11-20
Day one carries the opening keynote, the main science plenary and the first networking reception, giving the widest view of the summit and the best chance to meet senior delegates.
Register and book flights — Use the official registration page and confirm the visa route for your nationality.
Apply for the Ethiopian e-Visa — Print the approval; a receipt alone is not accepted at the border.
Book a Bole or Kazanchis hotel — Request an airport pickup and confirm the cancellation policy.
Download the programme and shortlist sessions — Choose one science, one policy and one networking block per day.
Arrive, change currency and check the campus route — Keep some Ethiopian birr for taxis and incidentals; confirm your registration desk location.
Registration and coffee
Campus main entrance and registration deskOpening keynote and science plenary
Main plenary hallSupplier and research partner meetings
Research showcase and networking areaPolicy roundtable or thematic panel
Breakout roomsDelegate networking reception
Campus networking spaceNational Museum of Ethiopia
Culture
About 20–30 minutes by car from Bole
See the Lucy hominid fossil and a compact introduction to Ethiopian history.
Entoto Park
Outdoors
About 30–40 minutes by car
Eucalyptus forest, city views and a cooler highland walk before or after the summit.
Delegate networking reception
Official
The best single room for meeting speakers and ministry delegates; arrive early.
Bole coffee houses
Informal
Use a coffee meeting for a second conversation with a contact made on the floor.
A 300-delegate summit rewards a small number of well-researched follow-ups over mass email. Prioritise ministry, clinical and investor contacts met in sessions.
Budget
Shell scheme
USD 180–350 / m²
Raw space
USD 120–250 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
Planning bands only; the organiser publishes no stand tariff. Confirm all inclusions and taxes in writing.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
booth
exhibitor · standard shell 9 sqm
USD 1620–3150 / per booth
hotel
both · mid
USD 90–150 / per night
per diem
both · standard
USD 45–75 / per day
visa
both · e-Visa or on arrival
USD 50–100 / per person
flight
both · regional return
USD 350–500 / per person
insurance
both · travel medical
USD 80–180 / per trip
freight
exhibitor · small shipment
USD 400–1200 / per shipment
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| booth | exhibitor | standard shell 9 sqm | USD 1620–3150 / per booth | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| hotel | both | mid | USD 90–150 / per night | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| per diem | both | standard | USD 45–75 / per day | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| visa | both | e-Visa or on arrival | USD 50–100 / per person | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| flight | both | regional return | USD 350–500 / per person | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| insurance | both | travel medical | USD 80–180 / per trip | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
| freight | exhibitor | small shipment | USD 400–1200 / per shipment | estimate | 2026-11-05 |
Decision
Six quick questions on your role, budget and goals point to the best way to use ILSA 2026.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
Which best describes your role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You can fund travel, want learning and introductions, and do not need a stand to meet your goals.
Best for
Researchers, clinicians, policymakers and students who want the science and the continental network
Min. budget
$900.00
Timeline
4–6 weeks for visa, flights and hotel
Risks
Limited public programme detail
November hotel demand
exhibit
You have a clear buyer segment, a demo or research showcase, and staff who can follow up within 24 hours.
Best for
HealthTech, biotech, diagnostics and clinical-service organisations with a product or partnership offer
Min. budget
$3,500.00
Timeline
8–12 weeks for stand, freight and approvals
Risks
No published stand tariff
Smaller floor than a trade expo
skip
The audience does not match your buyer, or the cost of travel cannot be justified by a realistic pipeline.
Best for
Consumer wellness brands, mass-market retailers and teams with no African partner or travel budget
Timeline
Not applicable
Risks
Missing a focused senior audience
No consumer footfall
Book with
Shaggar Institute of Technology
Diaspora-founded academic and research institution hosting ILSA 2026 on its Addis Ababa campus.
Named on the official about page as the 2026 host and strategic partner.
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopia’s flag carrier and the practical long-haul and regional connection into Bole International Airport.
A useful travel resource, not a confirmed event sponsor.
Ethiopian Ministry of Health
Federal ministry responsible for national health policy, prevention and care delivery, and a key audience for healthy-aging policy.
Public body relevant to the summit’s policy audience; no partnership is claimed.
Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations
Business chamber connecting investors and companies with Addis Ababa’s commercial ecosystem.
Local business resource; not a confirmed event partner.
Recommended providers
Apply at least 7–10 days ahead and print the approval; visa on arrival is available for eligible countries.
Compare Bole and Kazanchis hotels, then confirm airport pickup directly with the property.
Book into ADD; the airline has the widest African and long-haul network from Addis Ababa.
Use a broker for Ethiopian customs and temporary import; no official event handler is published.
Choose a policy that covers medical care, evacuation and trip interruption; confirm altitude and adventure exclusions.
Book Addis Ababa city and Entoto tours with a licensed operator; check cancellation terms.
Bring your own scanning app and a paper backup; no official scanner is provided.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
5 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
2
References
1
Publishers
2
Date checked
Afrolongevity / Shaggar Institute of Technology
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