RightsCon 2026
Each year, RightsCon convenes business leaders, policymakers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology. In engaging fireside chats, hands-on workshops, strategic roundtables, private meetings, and a lively exhibition space, RightsCon is where a global movement comes together to build strategies and drive forward change toward a more free, open, and connected digital world.
The 14th edition of RightsCon will take place in Lusaka, Zambia, and online from Tuesday, May 5 to Friday, May 8, 2026. This edition marks the event’s long-awaited return to the African continent since RightsCon Tunis in 2019, and its first-ever summit in Southern Africa. The community will gather once again to share insights, exchange experiences, and connect around key issues for digital rights.
RightsCon 2026 will take place from Tuesday, May 5 to Friday, May 8, marking a one-day shift from the event’s usual Monday start. The new schedule follows community feedback and aims to provide participants with greater flexibility for travel and visa arrangements in the days leading up to the summit.
The overall timeline will remain similar to RightsCon 2025. Key milestones include:
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Call for Proposals opens: August 1, 2025
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Call for Proposals closes: September 12, 2025
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Travel Support launches: September 2025
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Registration opens: November 2025
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Proposals notifications: December 2025
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Public session list: February 2026
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Summit platform opens: April 2026
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RightsCon 2026: May 5–8, 2026
The Call for Proposals will open on August 1, 2025, kicking off the journey toward the next edition of the summit. As in previous years, the program will be community-driven — shaped by contributions and leadership from across the global digital rights movement.