Upcoming Events: Key Conferences and Other Events in 2026
As higher education and the marketing and supply chain industries evolve, 2026 continues to provide a calendar of conferences that highlight innovation, digital transformation, and leadership development.
From exploring the implications of the AI age to addressing business resilience, these events bring together academics, practitioners, and industry leaders to dialogue, collaborate, and share knowledge.
Here is a preview of confirmed major upcoming conferences that offer opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth.
For inclusion of upcoming marketing, supply chain, or education events, contact Dr Helena van Wyk at helenavw@immgsm.ac.za
2026 Siyaphumelela Conference

This conference provides an engaging environment to discuss institutional initiatives aimed at supporting student populations and systemic design.
Key Details:
- Theme: Reimagining Student Success and Expanding Opportunity for All
- Conference date: 23 – 26 June 2026
- Location: Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Johannesburg
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- 30 March – 6 June: Conference registration open
- 12 March 13h00-14h00: Webinar for interested conference presenters
- 20 April: Deadline for presentations to be submitted via EasyChair
- 6 May: Deadline for Siyaphumelela Network Partner Sharing (for institutional leads ONLY) to be submitted via EasyChair
- 8 May: Notification of acceptance to all presenters
More info: Siyaphumelela Conference
SAPICS – The Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa – 48th Annual Conference

The SAPICS 2026 conference marks 60 years of supply chain leadership and excellence, themed Legacy to Leadership: 60 Years of Connection, Collaboration & Transformation.
The event explores AI adoption, digital integration, risk management, workforce development, and supply chain optimisation.
Attendees will engage with global and local experts through workshops, keynote sessions, and networking opportunities, focusing on building resilient, agile, and sustainable supply chains in Africa.
Key Details:
- Conference date: 19 – 22 July 2026
- Location: Century City, Cape Town
Themes:
- Artificial intelligence: From optional to essential
- Digital integration and connectivity
- Big data and advanced analytics
- Trade policies, geopolitical policies and global trade dynamics
- Automation: Scaling across warehouses and logistics
- Supply chain risk management
- Agility and resilience: Managing volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity
- Workforce evolution: Closing the skills gap
- Visibility, traceability and metrics: End-to-end clarity
- Cybersecurity
- Supply chain optimisation: Beyond cost cutting
- Strategic sourcing and supplier management: More dynamic, customer-centric models
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- 5 February 2026: Speaker submission deadline (early submission is encouraged)
- 9 March 2026: Notification of acceptance or otherwise
- 30 June 2026: Submission of white paper
More info: SAPICS
SSIRC (Social Sciences International Research Conference)

This international assembly brings forward multi-disciplinary research designed to bridge regional experience with modern academic engagement.
Key Details:
- Theme: Reimagining social sciences research through evidence, experience and engagement
- Conference date: 8 – 11 September 2026
- Location: Hilton Resort and Spa, Mauritius
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Call for abstracts: 30 March 2026
- Full paper: 31 May 2026
More info: SSIRC
AMC (African Marketing Confederation) Conference 2026

This dynamic gathering targets regional development frameworks and strategies for elevating local capabilities onto an international platform.
Key Details:
- Theme: Turning African Strengths into Global Impact
- Conference date: 23 – 25 September 2026
- Location: Livingstone, Zambia
More info: AMC 2026 Conference
ASCON (African Supply Chain Confederation) Conference 2026
Focused on regional supply chains, this event highlights how industrial networks expand continental strengths for global competitive advantage.
Key Details:
- Theme: Africa Rising: Converting Strength into Global Impact with Supply Chain
- Conference date: 23 – 25 September 2026
- Location: Livingstone, Zambia
More info: TICON Africa / African Marketing Confederation / ASCON Conference
SAIMS (Southern African Institute for Management Scientists)

The SAIMS gathering addresses operational management models and structural transformations across changing corporate and academic landscapes.
Key Details:
- Theme: Rethinking Management in the AI Age
- Conference date: 27 – 30 September 2026
- Location: University of the Free State
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Paper submission deadline: 5 May 2026
- Notice of acceptance: 27 July 2026
- Early bird registration: 15 August 2026
- Full Revised Paper Submission: 27 August 2026
More info: SAIMS Conference
IBC (International Business Conference)

This specialised convention provides critical exposure to business development, industrial economics, and research-led peer interventions.
Key Details:
- Conference date: 4 – 7 October 2026
- Location: Arabella Hotel, Golf & Spa, Kleinmond, Western Cape, South Africa
- Registration fees: R4 250
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Registration and submission of full-length papers and work-in-progress papers (WIPs) are open: 16 March 2026
- Deadline for the submission of the work-in-progress stream: 28 June 2026
More info: IBC 2026 Conference
SAPHE (Southern African Private Higher Education) Conference

This dedicated forum explores academic benchmarks, innovative research, and community initiatives within private higher education.
Key Details:
- Theme: Private Higher Education: Academic Excellence in an Evolving Society
Sub Themes:
- Teaching and learning
- Research and innovation
- Community engagement
- Conference date: 11 – 12 November 2026
- Location: IMM Graduate School Parktown, Johannesburg
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Submission deadline: 29 May 2026
- Feedback on acceptance will be provided by: 30 June 2026
More info: SAPHE 2026 Conference
Rosebank International (RBI) Inaugural Conference

This initial global meetup charts inclusive, digital, and decolonial landscapes for the long-term benefit of academic teaching practices.
Key Details:
- Theme: Global Dialogues on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Flourishing Futures
- Central Theme: Inclusive, Digital and Decolonial Futures
- Conference date: 19 – 20 November 2026
- Location: Salt Rock Hotel, Durban, South Africa
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Abstract submission deadline: 10 August 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 10 September 2026
- Due date for submission of full papers for consideration in the conference proceedings: 10 November 2026
More info here.
The Third International Conference on Teaching and Learning (IIE – The Independent Institute of Education)

A crucial educational assembly targeting core paradigms of equity, institutional innovation, and classroom development.
Key Details:
- Theme: Equity in Education
- Conference date: 23 – 27 November 2026
- Location: Emeris, Sandton Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
Important Dates & Deadlines:
- Abstract submission: 29 May 2026
More info: IIE 3rd International Conference on Teaching and Learning
Why Attend 2026 Conferences?
Let the remainder of 2026 be a period of professional development, collaboration, and innovation across the higher education, marketing, and supply chain sectors.
These events offer opportunities to explore AI, sustainability, and resilience, gain insights, share research, and connect with peers across Africa and beyond.
Mark your calendars, register to attend, and participate to contribute to meaningful transformation in education and industry.
If you would like to feature an upcoming conference, event, or initiative related to marketing, supply chain management, or education, please contact Dr Helena van Wyk at helenavw@immgsm.ac.za for inclusion in future updates.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Value of Academic and Industry Conferences
1. Why are academic and professional conferences important for industry development?
Conferences serve as vital platforms for industry development by bringing together academics, practitioners, and corporate leaders to address contemporary market challenges. These assemblies facilitate the sharing of peer-reviewed research, showcase technological innovations like artificial intelligence adoption, and establish updated benchmarks for industry practice, ensuring sectors remain resilient amid global economic shifts.
2. How do international conferences help bridge the gap between regional experiences and global trends?
International conferences provide structured forums where multi-disciplinary research can be categorised and compared on a global scale. By bringing together diverse delegates from different countries, these events allow regional professionals to contextualise local operational challenges, adapt global best practices to unique domestic markets, and elevate continental strengths onto international platforms.
3. In what ways do industry events accelerate workforce evolution and skills development?
Professional events accelerate workforce evolution by hosting interactive workshops, expert panels, and keynote sessions focused on closing the skills gap. Exposure to emerging trends—such as digital integration, big data analytics, and advanced risk management—helps practitioners modernise their capabilities, transitioning their operational models from traditional frameworks into innovative, future-proof systems.
4. Why does the IMM Graduate School actively participate in and host major educational conferences?
The IMM Graduate School participates in and hosts major educational conferences to drive forward the evolution of flexible learning and maintain academic excellence. Engaging directly with broader academic forums allows the institution to evaluate emerging educational frameworks, contribute to discussions on decolonial and digital futures, and ensure its qualifications remain fully aligned with both local and international higher education standards.
5. How does conference participation benefit IMM Graduate School students and researchers?
Active conference involvement ensures that IMM Graduate School students and researchers are exposed to cutting-edge thought leadership and modern industry applications. By submitting papers, abstracts, and case studies to these assemblies, the institution’s scholars can have their academic work evaluated against international peer benchmarks, which directly enhances the credibility and real-world relevance of their qualifications.
6. How do partnerships with professional bodies enhance the IMM Graduate School’s curriculum?
Collaborating with prominent professional confederations in marketing, business management, and supply chain management allows the IMM Graduate School to bridge the gap between classroom theory and corporate reality. These continuous engagements ensure that the institution’s distance-learning and campus programmes are regularly modernised with the latest insights regarding automation, strategic sourcing, and responsible corporate governance.