ANDE has postponed its Global Annual Conference — originally planned for late 2026 in Cape Town — while it completes an organizational strategy review, and now expects to convene the rebuilt event in 2027 instead. No new date or city has been set.
At a glance
| Status | Who it’s for | What it offers | Geography | Follow for updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postponed to 2027 — no confirmed date or city yet | CEOs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem-builders working on small and growing business (SGB) constraints in emerging markets | Convening, networking, and knowledge-sharing on SGB finance and support (not a grant program) | Global emerging-markets ecosystem | andeglobal.org/annual-conference |
Background
ANDE (the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) normally runs this conference annually; the 2025 edition ran September 30–October 2, 2025, at Haven Riviera Cancún in Mexico. The official notice for 2026 reads: “As ANDE undertakes a process to redefine its organizational strategy and priorities, we have made the decision to postpone the ANDE Global Annual Conference 2026 by a few months,” adding that the delay “will allow us to complete our strategic planning process and ensure that the conference reflects ANDE’s future direction, priorities, and opportunities for our global network.” ANDE has not published further detail on what the strategy review covers or when it will conclude.
Who it’s for
In its normal form, the conference convenes CEOs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem-builders around the practical constraints facing small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets — access to capital, talent, and market infrastructure chief among them. That audience and focus are expected to carry over once the event is rescheduled, though ANDE’s messaging suggests the 2027 edition may reflect a revised strategic direction rather than simply resuming the prior format.
What’s next
Confirmed: the 2026 edition is postponed; ANDE states it looks forward to “welcoming the global community together in 2027.” Not yet confirmed: no specific 2027 date or host city has been announced, and ANDE has not published an outcome or timeline for the strategic planning process itself. Readers should follow the official ANDE annual-conference page directly for the update rather than relying on a secondary listing, several of which still show the original 2026 Cape Town listing as active.
FAQ
Is the ANDE Global Annual Conference happening in 2026?
No. ANDE has postponed the 2026 edition while it completes a strategic planning process.
When and where will it happen instead?
ANDE says it expects to convene the conference in 2027, but has not yet announced a specific date or city.
Why was it postponed?
ANDE is redefining its organizational strategy and priorities and wants the conference to reflect that new direction rather than run on the old timeline.
Where can I get the official update when a new date is set?
ANDE’s own annual-conference page at andeglobal.org.
