The countdown is on for GDN Meeting 2026, the GDN Annual Meeting,, staged in Cape Town, South Africa from 20 October 2026 to 22 October 2026 and set to gather the sector under one roof. It connects specialists, practitioners and industry leaders, and has grown into a key date on the sector's calendar. Scheduled every year, it strikes a balance between staying current and giving each edition room to grow. Behind the event stands Groningen Declaration Network, an organiser with a strong track record in the field. Cape Town International Convention Centre hosts, pairing practical facilities with a location that keeps attendees close to the action.

Set against the backdrop of Cape Town, GDN Meeting 2026 benefits from everything the city has to offer — from its transport links to its after-hours appeal. Whether you fly in or come by rail, Cape Town is well served and easy to move around. Places to stay are plentiful, and picking one near the venue keeps your mornings short and your options open. Between meetings and mingling, Cape Town offers plenty to see, taste and explore on your own time.

Across the schedule, Learner Mobility, Citizen Mobility, Academic Mobility, Higher Education, International Education and Education & Professional Development take centre stage, framed by case studies and practical takeaways. Interactive formats keep the audience in the room and the discussion honest, well beyond the usual slide decks. Expect to leave with a handful of new contacts you would have struggled to reach any other way. The programme brings Divine Edem Kwadzodeh (Secretary General, All-Africa Students Union), Prof. Payal Arora (Professor & Founder, Utrecht University/ Inclusive AI Lab) and Tom Wambeke (UN senior executive and Chief of Learning Innovation, ITCLI) to the stage, and others.

A few focused days here can save months of trial and error back at the desk. For seasoned professionals and first-time attendees alike, GDN Meeting 2026 offers a focused opportunity worth planning for.

Give yourself a realistic plan for each day — the schedule is full, and trying to see everything is a fast route to seeing very little.

For practical details on visiting South Africa — transport, visas and hotel districts — see our South Africa guide.