Access Now, a non-governmental organisation focused on defending and extending the digital rights of people and communities at risk, has opened registration for the 14th edition of its annual summit on human rights in the digital age, popularly known as RightsCon, which is scheduled to take place in Lusaka, Zambia, from May 5 to 8, 2026.
The summit will bring together business leaders, policy makers, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to address pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology.
A global network of over 5,000 experts, in-person and online, is expected to take part in discussions that are shaping the present and future of digital rights, and to work together toward a free, open, and connected world.
Past editions have brought together numerous communities and constituencies, including those defending inclusion, privacy, and freedom online, as well as those advancing human rights frameworks for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), to those fighting internet shutdowns, particularly within the #KeepItOn coalition, a global network of over 345 organisations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns.
The choice for Lusaka was announced on August 25, following a multi-year consultation involving community members, Access Now’s Africa team, and regional partners, ensuring participants’ safety while reinforcing RightsCon’s role as a trusted platform that drives the global digital rights agenda forward.
According to the host organisation, Zambia was selected for next year’s edition because of the significant progress its government has made in strengthening the country’s digital economy through investments in expanded connectivity, digital literacy, and the digitised delivery of public services, which have positioned Zambia as a regional hub for innovation.
In addition to Lusaka itself becoming a focal point for regional and international digital rights engagement, hosting major convenings, such as the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) in 2022, Mozilla Festival (MozFest) in 2024, and the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) in 2025, Access Now also explained that another key factor in selecting Lusaka as the host city was because of its accessibility, as Zambia offers visa-free entry to nationals of 167 countries and provides a straightforward e-Visa process for others, making global participation more inclusive.
Following the call for session proposals, which opened on August 1, 2025, and closed on September 12, 2025, proposal notifications are expected to be sent out in December 2025, with the list of public sessions planned for release in February 2026.
Please visit: https://www.rightscon.org/registration/ for registration details.
