Kenya has won the bid to host the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit 2027, marking the global health event’s return to Africa for the first time since 2013.
The summit, scheduled to take place from November 24 to 28, 2027, will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi and organized by the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) in partnership with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
The historic win positions Kenya as a continental leader in the global fight against cancer and highlights Africa’s growing influence in shaping international health policy.
The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit (WCLS) is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the global health calendar, bringing together policymakers, civil society leaders, researchers, and private sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing cancer control.
According to UICC, hosting the 2027 edition in Nairobi provides a vital opportunity to ensure that Africa’s experiences, challenges, and innovations are fully represented in the global cancer dialogue.
“The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit brings together voices from every region to shape the future of cancer control,” said Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, President-elect of UICC and Founder and CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
“Holding the Summit in Nairobi ensures that Africa’s experiences and priorities are part of that global conversation. By convening in Africa, the Summit will ground its discussions in the lived realities of communities most affected by rising cancer burdens, ensuring that strategies are shaped by those confronting these challenges most directly.”
The 2027 Summit will also serve as a platform for strategic dialogue, regional collaboration, and sharing of innovative approaches to cancer prevention, treatment, and care.
“It is a privilege to welcome the global cancer community to Nairobi for the 2027 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit,” said Dr. Miriam Mutebi, a Member of the UICC Board of Directors and a breast surgical oncologist at Aga Khan University Hospital.
“This return to Africa after the Summit in Cape Town in 2013 highlights the growing leadership role that the continent is playing and offers a unique opportunity to engage with the challenges and progress shaping cancer across Africa, as well as to strengthen regional and global partnerships.”
By securing the hosting rights, the National Cancer Institute of Kenya has reaffirmed its role as a leading institution in advancing cancer control, not only regionally but also globally.
NCI-K said the event’s hosting “demonstrates Kenya’s growing leadership and commitment to global health collaboration.”
The Institute expressed confidence that through such high-level engagements, significant strides can be made toward winning the battle against cancer.
The summit is expected to attract hundreds of global health leaders to Nairobi, spotlighting Kenya as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and research in cancer care and control.
