For the first time, the Global Data Festival came to Africa as a joint event with the Kenya Space Expo & Conference. Hosted by the Government of Kenya, alongside the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the Kenya Space Agency, and the Global Partnership, GDF-KSEC 2026 brought together 1,500+ participants from 90+ countries at the Edge Convention Center in Nairobi from 2–5 June 2026.
The four-day program included daily plenaries on youth, AI, and the humanization of data; a joint opening and closing ceremony; a shared expo space; and sessions bridging the data and space worlds — from Earth observation for development to the governance of space data. Peer exchanges, training labs, lightning talks, and startup pitches rounded out a landmark event for both communities.
From the signing of the Safaricom-KNBS MoU on mobile phone data, to the launch of the PopIntel Hack and the Inclusive AI Innovations in Africa call for applications, GDF-KSEC 2026 produced outcomes that will shape the network's work for months to come.
Explore what came out of the Festival below — and stay connected as we continue to share stories, resources, and follow-up actions from Nairobi.