The pioneering digital identity gathering, DID:UNCONF AFRICA, will return to the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) from 24–26 February 2026, following the strong success of its inaugural 2025 edition.
Hosted by South African identity innovators DIDx, in partnership with the globally recognised Internet Identity Workshop (IIW), the conference aims to accelerate Africa’s digital identity ecosystem through a collaborative, participant-driven approach.
The IIW, held twice annually in Silicon Valley and celebrating its 20th year, is widely regarded as the birthplace of several of the world’s foundational digital identity standards and technology communities. Bringing this format to Africa has positioned the unConference as a major meeting point for leaders shaping the continent’s digital trust landscape.
As with last year, DID:UNCONF AFRICA 2026 will follow the Open Space unConference model, meaning there is no fixed agenda. Instead, participants will create a live agenda each morning, enabling deep, peer-to-peer exploration of self-sovereign identity, verifiable credentials, cross-border digital trust, and real-world implementation frameworks tailored for African markets.
“The Open Space format breaks away from the top-down structure of traditional conferences,” said Gideon Lombard, COO of DIDx. “Here, everyone participates, contributes and builds together, which is exactly what Africa needs to develop a meaningful digital identity future.”
The 2026 event will feature:
- A Day One Business & Alignment Program for institutions, platforms, and service providers seeking to integrate into the open identity ecosystem.
- The Women’s Breakfast, promoting representation and leadership among women shaping Africa’s digital trust environment.
- A Sponsor Showcase, allowing organisations to demonstrate live identity technologies and partnership initiatives.
The unConference will once again be facilitated by Heidi Nobantu Saul, an international expert in Open Space identity forums and a producer of the Internet Identity Workshop. Her leadership ensures that each attendee, from government, fintech, civil society, academia, or startups, has an active voice in shaping the session outcomes.
A growing roster of both local and international sponsors has already confirmed participation, signalling strong confidence in the momentum of Africa’s digital identity ecosystem and the value of community-driven collaboration.
