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Conference Overview

The African Data Science Conference 2026 (ADSC 2026) is a flagship continental forum advancing research, innovation, and practice in data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, and analytics, with strong emphasis on African contexts, challenges, and opportunities. The conference's theme is African Data Science, for Africa.

Hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University), ADSC 2026 convenes researchers, industry practitioners, policymakers, and postgraduate scholars from across Africa and beyond, fostering rigorous scientific exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration bridging theory, application, and policy.

Accommodation

Holiday Inn Johannesburg Sunnyside Park Hotel

Cnr Princess of Wales Terrace & Carse O’Gowrie
P.O. Box 2041 | Parktown | Johannesburg | South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 87 630 0446
Website: www.ihg.com

Use this link to pay a discounted rate for bookings: ADS2026

Garden Court Milpark

Cnr Empire Road and, Owl Street, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2073
Website: https://hotelreservations.southernsun.com/?

MINT Hotel Rosebank

Stay your way at MINT Hotel Rosebank [use this promocode: MHRSJHBT2026]

Conference Themes (but not limited to...)

Foundations of Data Science, Applied Statistics, and Machine Learning.
Artificial Intelligence for Data Science: Large Language Models, Interpretable ML, Responsible AI, Innovative Applications and Pipelines.
Geospatial, Remote Sensing, and Environmental Data Science for Africa.
Applied Data Science in Health, Finance, Climate, Energy, etc.
Interdisciplinary Data Science and AI Paradigms (incl. AI Ethics, AI Safety, the Economics of AI & Quantum Data Science, Data Science in Policy and AI Governance for Sustainable Development).
Capacity Building, Data Science Education, Curriculum Design, and Pedagogy.
Open Data, Research Infrastructure, and Data Governance in Africa
Business Data Analytics, Digital Business Strategy and the 4IR.

Submission Categories

Full Papers: Original and completed research contributions. Accepted full papers will be presented orally and considered for inclusion in the official conference proceedings.

Extended Abstracts: Abstract-only submissions for oral presentation, suitable for emerging work, applied studies, and policy or industry-facing contributions.

Posters: Visual research presentations, particularly suitable for Honours students, early stage Master’s candidates, and work-in-progress.
Industry & Applied Innovation: A dedicated session of AI, ML & Data Science Innovation and Industry Lightning Talks, featuring short, high-impact presentations focused on applied solutions, prototypes, and near-production systems.

All full paper submissions to ADSC 2026 will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process overseen by the Scientific Committee to ensure academic quality and relevance.

Accepted full papers will be considered for inclusion in the official conference proceedings. Extended abstracts and poster submissions will be reviewed for relevance, clarity, and alignment with the conference themes.

N.B. Registration is now open

Early Bird (Extended) 15 May 2026 (excluding Gala Dinner)

Early Bird Standard: R5,500
Early Bird Student: R4,500

Regular Registration deadline: 5 June 2026 (excluding Gala Dinner)

Regular Standard: R6,000
Regular Student: R5,000

Industry / Corporate Delegate

R7,900 (includes Gala Dinner, priority seating, networking access, and related benefits)

Optional Add-Ons

Gala Dinner: R1,200
Workshops: R1,500 each

To register for ADSC 2026, delegates should visit the Wits Enterprise conference registration page at: https://adsconference.witsevents.co.za/register

Once on the page, delegates should select the appropriate registration category from the available options, including Student Early Bird, Standard Early Bird, Corporate / Industry Delegate, Student Registration, or Standard Registration.

Delegates may also select any optional extras where applicable, including additional paper submission, the Gala Dinner, and/or workshop attendance.

The available workshops will take place on 23 June 2026 and include sessions on healthcare AI, quantum machine learning and data science, trustworthy data science with LLM agents, spatial data science, publishing in top-tier journals, and data science in industry.

After selecting the relevant registration option and any optional extras, delegates should complete the required details and follow the payment instructions provided through the Wits Enterprise registration system to finalise their registration.

N.B. Student delegates may be required to provide proof of student status where applicable.

Professor Inger Fabris-Rotelli (University of Pretoria);
Dr Farai Mlambo (Wits);
Dr Taariq Surtee (Wits);
Professor Innocent Maposa (Stellenbosch University);
Dr Isaac Nyambiya (Great Zimbabwe University);
Dr Sunday Oladejo (Stellenbosch University);
Dr Humphery Brydon (University of the Western Cape);
Dr Peter Olukanmi (University of Johannesburg);
Dr Nomalanga Mashinini (Wits);
Dr Louise De Koker (Nelson Mandela University);
Professor James Cochran (The University of Alabama);
Dr Moses Phiri (NIQ Company);
Dr Ndivhuwo Makondo (IBM Research, Africa)
Prof. David Mhlanga (North-West University)

Publication Opportunity

In addition to the conference proceedings outlet, ADSC 2026 is supporting the following publication pathway. Selected high-quality full papers presented at the conference will be invited for consideration for publication in an edited volume titled “Statistics/ML/AI in Action for Sustainable Development.”

The book is expected to be published by Springer in mid-2027 as part of the ICSA Book Series in Statistics.

About the Book:

Statistical modelling, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly essential for generating actionable evidence to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To promote research and real-world innovation at the intersection of Statistics, ML, AI, and sustainable development, this interdisciplinary volume welcomes contributions from research and applications across fields including statistics, epidemiology, engineering, health and medicine, economics, the natural and social sciences, agriculture, and environmental sciences. Contributions should be grounded in statistical, ML, or AI methodologies and clearly demonstrate an application to one or more SDGs.

Book Editors:

Prof. Najmeh Nakhaeirad, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Prof. Ding-Geng Chen, University of Pretoria, South Africa & Arizona State University, Phoenix, USA

Postgraduate & Early-Career Engagement

Dedicated poster (good for improving your work).
Postgraduate research recognition awards (corporate sponsorships are welcome).
Professional involvement in conference operations (contact the conference or organising committee chair if interested).

Explore Conference Resources below:

Why Sponsor ADSC 2026?

Sponsoring ADSC 2026 positions your organisation within a growing African ecosystem of data science, artificial intelligence, analytics, and digital innovation. It provides visibility among highly engaged academic, institutional, industry, and policy audiences while contributing to research capacity, skills development, and responsible innovation.

View or Download the Full Prospectus.

ADSC 2026 Tech Exhibition at a Glance

The ADSC 2026 Tech Exhibition is a dedicated session within the conference designed to showcase technology-driven innovation, applied data science solutions, AI tools, digital platforms, analytics products, research prototypes, start-up solutions, and industry applications. The session will provide exhibitors with an opportunity to engage conference delegates, researchers, students, industry leaders, policymakers, sponsors, innovation partners, and institutional stakeholders.

It is intended to create a visible and interactive space for demonstrating how data science, AI, analytics, and digital technologies can generate value in African contexts.

View or Download the Tech Exhibition document.