Advancing the Future of Autonomy
in Africa.
How policy, investment, talent and infrastructure shape the full potential of Africa's low-altitude economy.
In Partnership with the African Drone Forum
Aviation Africa Kigali 2025
Who This Is For
Two Audiences. One Invitation.
We are not speaking to the broad aviation crowd or to airlines. We are speaking to the drone and autonomous systems community.
Africa
The Continental Ecosystem
Operators, manufacturers, software providers, service companies, training academies and infrastructure partners building the sector across Africa.
International
The International Ecosystem
Global drone and autonomous systems companies seeking to meet regulators, operators and partners, exchange knowledge and explore opportunities for responsible market access across African markets.
Come to Nairobi to meet, exchange and find partners, where Africa's drone regulators convene.
Learn More About the Event →About the Event
Aviation Africa 2026
Africa's most established aviation conference arrives in Nairobi for its 10th edition. The summit convenes aviation leaders, civil aviation authorities, airlines, airports, manufacturers, investors and policymakers from across the continent.
For the second consecutive year, the African Drone Forum serves as the official strategic partner for the Drone and Autonomous Systems Track, convening the ecosystem shaping Africa's low-altitude economy with dedicated conversations on drone regulation, BVLOS operations, UTM, advanced air mobility and the future of low-altitude flight.
The 2025 partnership in Kigali delivered outcomes beyond the summit itself. The programme generated formal regulator briefing requests, initiated a regional BVLOS and UTM harmonisation white paper, and featured the first live pilotless passenger eVTOL demonstration at a continental civil aviation summit. In 2026, the partnership returns to Nairobi with an expanded Drone and Autonomous Systems Track and the inaugural African Drone Regulators Forum.
Building on the Success of Aviation Africa 2025
September 9–10, 2026
Program Overview
Drone and Autonomous Systems Track
Curated panels and talks across the Main Stage and Insight Theatre covering drone regulation, BVLOS, UTM, workforce and advanced air mobility.
African Drone Regulators Forum (ADRF)
The inaugural closed-door peer working session for African CAA drone-department heads. Co-facilitated with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The policy centrepiece.
Drone and Autonomous Systems Exhibition
The dedicated exhibition on the Sarit Expo floor for drone and autonomous systems companies, African and international, with ADF-facilitated buyer introductions and scheduled one-to-one meetings.
Live Demonstrations
An opportunity for exhibiting companies to demonstrate their products and services, in flight or on the ground, to a combined regulator and industry audience.
2026 Program Snapshot
2 Days
African Drone Regulators Forum
African Drone Regulators Forum
The African Drone Regulators Forum is the inaugural gathering of African CAA drone-department heads in a dedicated peer-to-peer working environment. This is not a panel. It is a structured working room where the people responsible for drone regulation across the continent sit together, compare what they are building, and identify where they can move faster by learning from each other.
- › Structured sharing round from participating CAA teams
- › Peer problem-solving on BVLOS authorisation, UTM governance and training pathway design
- › Co-facilitated with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority
- › Output: State of African Drone Regulation 2026 briefing note
- › Year 2 ADRF agenda set by Year 1 participants
For African CAA drone-department leads and invited regulatory stakeholders only.
Choose Your Path
Participation Pathways
Whether you are a regulator, operator, manufacturer, investor, training provider or technology company, there are multiple ways to participate in Aviation Africa 2026.
Join the ADRF
The inaugural peer session for African CAA drone-department leads focused on drone regulation, BVLOS authorisation, UTM governance and training pathway design.
Request ADRF Invitation →Sponsor, Partner or Exhibit
Put your organisation in front of regulators, operators, investors and industry stakeholders through sponsorship, exhibition and strategic partnership opportunities.
Download the Partner Pack →Speak
Contribute practical insight on drone regulation, BVLOS, UTM, advanced air mobility, workforce development, drone data and AI.
Apply to Speak →Attend
Join regulators, operators, manufacturers, investors and ecosystem partners for two days of discussions, networking and knowledge exchange focused on the future of autonomy in Africa.
Register Interest →Expo Floor · Both Days
A Curated Exhibition for Serious Market Access
The ADF Exhibition Pavilion is designed for companies working in Africa or seeking responsible market access across African drone and autonomous systems markets.
ADF coordinates exhibitor selection, buyer introductions, scheduled one-to-one meetings and exhibitor directory visibility across both days of the summit.
Open To
Take Part · September 2026
Host City
Why Nairobi. Why Now.
Kenya is one of Africa's most active drone markets, with a live UTM procurement process, an operational BVLOS corridor, and more licensed drone training academies than any other country on the continent.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority co-facilitates the inaugural African Drone Regulators Forum. Nairobi in September is where regulators, operators, manufacturers and investors from across the continent gather for two days of focused conversation on the future of autonomy in Africa.
We would be glad to have you there.
A Live BVLOS Corridor
Kenya operates an active BVLOS corridor, making it one of the few markets on the continent with live regulatory infrastructure for advanced drone operations.
UTM Procurement Underway
Kenya's UTM system is in active procurement, bringing concrete implementation questions that will shape the ADRF and Track conversations in September.
The Training Hub
More licensed drone training academies than any other country on the continent. Kenya is building the talent infrastructure for Africa's low-altitude economy.
Officially Hosted By
Join the ecosystem shaping Africa's low-altitude economy.
Get Involved
Whether you are looking to attend, speak, join the ADRF, exhibit or explore partnership opportunities, the ADF team will connect you with the right next step.
Public registration through Aviation Africa opens in June 2026.
From Nairobi, and onward.
A relationship built one engagement at a time, in both directions. We would be glad to have you with us for the next chapter.
Register Interest →