EA Summit: South Africa 2026 will take place on Saturday 31 October 2026, 08:00–18:00, in Cape Town, South Africa at UVU Africa (Brickfield Canvas, 35 Brickfield Rd, Woodstock).
EA Summit: South Africa is an effective altruism (EA) conference for people across South Africa who want to use their careers and resources to help others as much as possible. Now in its third year, the summit brings together researchers, professionals, founders, funders and students for one day of talks, workshops and one-to-one conversations on the world's most pressing problems, including global health and development, animal welfare, biosecurity, AI safety and effective giving.
Whether you are encountering these ideas for the first time or have worked in one of these fields for years, this is a rare chance to meet the people doing this work in the region, test your thinking against theirs, and leave with something concrete to do next.
Applications open on 1 September 2026. Express your interest to be notified the moment they do.
Application Process
Applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 16 October 2026. Here is what to expect:
Complete a short application (~10–15 minutes). We ask about your background, your interests, and how you would like to use the day. There is no minimum level of EA knowledge required.
Our team will review your application. We review on a rolling basis and aim to be in touch within 10 business days, whatever the outcome. All decisions will be out by 19 October, so that everyone has time to make travel arrangements.
Register for the summit (~5 minutes). If you are accepted you will receive a link to register and confirm your place. At this stage we ask for dietary requirements and access needs, and your choice of ticket tier.
We expect to receive considerably more applications than we have places, and we select carefully, so please apply early, and please apply even if you are unsure whether this event is for you. Being turned down is not a judgement on you, and we will point you towards other things in the EA ecosystem where we can.
Have questions? Email us at [email protected].
Before applications open: Express your interest and we will let you know as soon as they do.
Who is the event for
EA Summit: South Africa prioritises attendees based in South Africa in order to build the community and the connections across it. We also welcome experienced community members from elsewhere who can bring perspective and mentorship to the room.
The summit is a particularly good fit for:
- Professionals and decision-makers in health, policy, research, technology, philanthropy, business and the non-profit sector who want to direct their work towards the problems where it will count most
- Newcomers to effective altruism who are ready to act, and want to understand the ideas properly rather than in outline
- Students and early-career people with a real track record of getting things done
- Funders and philanthropists interested in where additional resources go furthest
- Experienced community members willing to mentor newcomers, share what they know, and open doors
You do not need any prior knowledge of effective altruism to apply. The day opens with a proper introduction to the ideas, and a substantial part of the programme is built for people meeting them for the first time.
Program
The agenda for EA Summit: South Africa 2026 will include:
- Talks from local and international experts across global health and development, animal welfare, biosecurity, AI safety and effective giving
- Interactive workshops and discussions
- A structured mentorship programme, matching attendees with experienced practitioners before the day so that the conversations you most need are already booked when you arrive
- Meetups, one-to-one time and social activities
We are in the process of designing the programme and want to hear from you. If you have ideas for speakers or topics, let us know at [email protected].
Full event details will be available in the Swapcard app closer to the conference. Swapcard also makes it easy to connect with other attendees, and many people find these connections the most rewarding part of the day. We recommend using Swapcard to message others and arrange one-to-one meetings a week or two before the summit begins.
Cost
Tickets are offered on a tiered scale, including an exemption option available to anyone for whom the cost would be a barrier — no questions asked, and it makes no difference to your place.
Travel and accommodation
Cape Town is served by Cape Town International Airport, with direct flights from across South Africa and the region. Details of recommended accommodation near the venue will be published closer to the date and in the attendee guide.
Accessibility
The venue has step-free access, accessible bathrooms and free parking. Attendees can tell us about any accessibility needs when registering.
Contact us
If you know someone who might want to attend, please share this event with them and encourage them to apply — personal invitations are how most of our strongest attendees find us.
Email us at [email protected] with any comments, suggestions or questions.