WACREN 2026 Annual Conference — Hosted by GAMREN

Presented By: WACREN, GAMREN

The two-day conference (March 26–27) brings together researchers, technologists, policymakers, and network operators from across Africa and beyond. Initiatives showcased at WACREN 2026 include:

• LIBSENSE — advancing open access and open science across the continent
• Africa Digital Campus — supporting digital transformation in higher education
• WACREN CLI-MET — climate monitoring through research network infrastructure
• EduAI — exploring AI applications in education and research

As has been the tradition at WACREN annual conferences, the main event will be preceded by targeted workshops, project meetings, and technical training sessions running from March 23–25. These sessions provide hands-on opportunities for NREN technical teams, identity management specialists, network engineers, and open science practitioners.

Venue

The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre (SDKJICC) is The Gambia’s premier conference facility, located in the Greater Banjul Area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. With a capacity of over 4,000 guests, state-of-the-art teleconferencing capabilities, and high-speed fibre connectivity, the SDKJICC has previously hosted the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit and the African Development Bank Annual General Meeting.

Registration

Early bird registration is now open:

• Registrants residing in Africa: $100
• Registrants residing outside Africa: $150

Registration fees cover entry and meals on the Conference days (March 26 & 27 only). Pre-conference workshops are free to attend but require separate registration.

Payment methods:

• Credit/Debit Card — pay securely online
• Bank Transfer — send confirmation to conf2026@wacren.net

Why This Matters for The Gambia

Hosting WACREN 2026 places The Gambia at the centre of Africa’s research and education networking conversation at a pivotal moment. The Gambia was among six new countries connected to the WACREN regional backbone in 2025, and GAMREN’s member institutions are now gaining access to advanced connectivity, eduroam, identity federation, and other services that connect them to the global research community.

The conference provides an unprecedented opportunity for Gambian researchers, educators, ICT professionals, and policymakers to engage directly with the continent’s leading research network practitioners and to shape the future direction of digital infrastructure for African research and education.

For the latest updates, programme details, and registration, visit wacren2026.wacren.net

Source: WACREN
Original announcement: wacren.net/en/wacren-opens-early-bird-registration-for-2026-conference/