By Rob Tyson — MiningIR
Cape Town, South Africa — With just days remaining before the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 opens its doors at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 9–12 February, anticipation is building across the global mining and investment community. As Africa’s most influential mining investment platform, Mining Indaba once again brings together governments, mining companies, investors and industry leaders to shape the future of the continent’s mineral economy.
Stronger together: Progress through partnerships
The 2026 theme, “Stronger together: Progress through partnerships,” reflects a growing consensus that Africa’s mining potential can only be unlocked through closer collaboration between governments, the private sector, investors and communities. Organisers say this year’s programme has been deliberately designed to move beyond discussion, focusing on practical outcomes that drive investment, policy certainty and sustainable development.
As Mining Indaba’s advisory leadership noted in a recent statement, the theme speaks to “uniting governments, the private sector, communities and civil society in a powerful partnership that transforms mining into a shared triumph for Africa’s future.”
African heads of state take centre stage
A major highlight of the opening day will be the keynote address by H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, whose participation underscores the importance governments are placing on Mining Indaba as a strategic investment platform.
“Zambia is open for business, and partnerships are central to unlocking the full value of our mineral wealth for our people,” President Hichilema said recently, reiterating his administration’s commitment to investor engagement, policy reform and responsible mining growth.
South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, will officially open the event, welcoming delegations from across the continent. In a recent statement ahead of the conference, Mantashe emphasised that Mining Indaba remains a critical forum for aligning policy and capital.
“Mining Indaba provides a unique opportunity for African governments to present clear investment frameworks while engaging directly with global capital,” Mantashe said, highlighting South Africa’s focus on critical minerals and downstream industrialisation.
Senior government delegations from Angola, Ghana, Namibia and other mineral-rich African states will also take part in ministerial dialogues, country showcases and bilateral meetings with investors.
A future-focused agenda
Across four days, the conference agenda will explore themes including critical minerals, energy transition supply chains, financing models, policy certainty, and community participation. High-level panels will question whether global definitions of “critical minerals” adequately serve Africa’s development goals, while investment sessions aim to connect capital with bankable projects across the continent.
Structured business matchmaking programmes and informal networking events remain central to the Indaba experience, reinforcing its reputation as a place where deals are initiated and partnerships are forged.
Cape Town sets the stage
With more than 10,000 delegates, including investors, government officials and mining executives, expected to attend, Mining Indaba 2026 once again places Cape Town at the centre of global mining dialogue. Against the backdrop of Table Mountain and the city’s vibrant business ecosystem, this year’s Indaba is positioned as a defining moment for Africa’s mining future — one built on cooperation, leadership and shared progress.
