Cape Town is probably aggressively bidding to be the host of WEF2027. The World Economic Forum (WEF) on African soil, is set to return in April 2027, after a 7-year hiatus, WEF and South African government officials confirmed at the main annual meeting in Davos this week.

WEF Africa was last held in September 2019 in Cape Town. It has been paused in 2020, since the Covid pandemic global shake down, which saw major conferences being cancelled, postponed or paused for a few years.

Speaking during a media briefing at WEF 2026 in Davos on Thursday, with the South African delegation, Munyati dubbed the 2027 Africa event as a “Spring Davos”. He said it would be a global event “similar to the WEF’s Global Summit in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) this year in April”.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola highlighted South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Summit in November 2025 and its resolutions, while Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau and Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille spoke about Africa using the opportunity to leverage and bolster trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area and to boost the business and events tourism sectors. Wesgro are probably sharpening their proposals and pitch decks as we speak.

Earlier in the week, Minister Lamola said that the WEF event in South Africa, come 2027, will either be hosted in Johannesburg or Cape Town, with the decision and plans still to be finalised. CNBC Africa first broke news of the return of WEF Africa on Tuesday, with the WEF’s Africa Head, Chido Munyati, confirming that the summit will resume in 2027.