Kigali to Host Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo as Sector Seeks Scale in Energy Access
KIGALI, Rwanda — More than 1,000 investors, policymakers, companies and development partners are expected in Kigali from 27 to 29 October for the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026, as the sector looks to expand investment and bring reliable electricity to underserved communities.
The three-day gathering will take place at the Kigali Convention Centre. It is jointly organised by GOGLA, the global off-grid solar association, and the World Bank Group’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), with the Government of Rwanda co-hosting the event.
According to the organisers, the forum is designed to connect businesses, governments, financiers and development partners around the policies, technologies and investment needed to scale distributed renewable energy. GOGLA says the event will focus on turning the sector’s progress into wider access and economic opportunity.
Forum programme includes policy dialogue, exhibition and field visits
The programme begins on 26 October with an invitation-only government policy dialogue. The main forum and exhibition run from 27 to 29 October, followed by field visits and technical workshops on 30 October.
Sessions will cover off-grid solar systems, mini-grids, productive-use renewable energy, clean cooking and electric mobility. Discussions will examine financing, market development, policy frameworks and partnerships that can help energy providers reach more households and businesses.
The exhibition is expected to showcase technologies, appliances, storage solutions and business models. Matchmaking and networking opportunities are also planned to help companies connect with investors, policymakers and potential partners.
Solar power increasingly linked to jobs and livelihoods
Beyond household lighting, off-grid solar can provide power for farms, small businesses, schools and health facilities. When paired with suitable finance and market access, solar-powered irrigation, cooling, milling and other productive uses can help businesses operate more reliably and support local livelihoods.
The organisers have highlighted three broad themes for the 2026 edition: powering lives, putting solar to work and financing the future. Partner organisations are expected to contribute discussions on the links between energy access, agriculture, food systems, jobs and enterprise growth.
The forum also provides a platform for considering the financial conditions needed to scale the sector, including investment models, local-currency finance and policy measures that can help attract private capital while improving affordability for customers.
Why Kigali matters for the energy-access discussion
Rwanda’s role as host places the country at the centre of international discussions on distributed renewable energy. The country has expanded electricity access in recent years and has used both grid connections and off-grid solutions, including solar, to reach households.
For Rwanda and other African countries, off-grid systems can be particularly important in remote areas where extending the main electricity grid may take longer or prove costly. Reaching universal access will require solutions suited to different communities, reliable service, affordable products and financing that supports both consumers and energy businesses.
The forum comes amid a wider push to accelerate electricity connections across Africa. GOGLA says distributed renewable energy is expected to play a major role in efforts to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030 under Mission 300, an initiative led by the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank.
Organisers expect partnerships and investment discussions
The Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo has been held in several locations over previous editions, including Kigali in 2022 and Nairobi in 2024. Organisers say the 2026 gathering will bring the industry together to exchange knowledge, demonstrate new solutions and develop partnerships that can be taken into markets and projects after the event.
Registration, exhibition and sponsorship information is available through the official Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo website. GOGLA has also published details about the event and its objectives through its official forum page.
About the Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026
Dates: 27–29 October 2026
Venue: Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
Organisers: GOGLA and the World Bank Group’s ESMAP
Additional programme: Government policy dialogue on 26 October; field visits and technical workshops on 30 October.
Source: GOGLA and the official Global Off-Grid Solar Forum & Expo 2026 website.
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