MKTE 2026 will take place at Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum, one of Kenya's emerging venues for large-scale tourism events
The dates for the highly anticipated Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) 2026 have officially been announced, with the event scheduled to take place from 6th to 8th October 2026 in Nairobi. The expo will be hosted at Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum, one of Kenya's emerging venues for large-scale tourism and business events.
Organised by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), MKTE remains Kenya's flagship tourism and travel trade exhibition, bringing together tourism stakeholders, hosted buyers, travel professionals, investors, airlines, hospitality brands, media, and destination marketers from across Africa and the world.
According to information released on the official MKTE platform, the 2026 edition is expected to attract more than 350 exhibitors and over 5,000 tourism professionals, reinforcing its growing influence as one of Africa's leading tourism and travel trade events.
The expo continues to position Kenya as a strategic gateway for African tourism while creating opportunities for business networking, destination marketing, partnerships, and investment discussions within the tourism and MICE sectors.
Industry stakeholders view MKTE as an important platform for strengthening regional tourism collaboration, particularly as African destinations increasingly focus on intra-African travel, sustainable tourism, and experiential travel offerings.
Structured B2B meetings
Destination activations
Innovation and market access
The 2026 edition is expected to feature hosted buyer programs, B2B meetings, cultural showcases, destination activations, and industry forums designed to promote innovation and market access within the tourism ecosystem.
Organisers have also emphasized the expo's role in promoting sustainable tourism, community engagement, and conservation-focused travel experiences that align with changing global travel trends.
As competition among African destinations intensifies, events such as MKTE are becoming increasingly important for destination branding and positioning. The expo not only markets Kenya's tourism offerings but also strengthens the country's visibility as a hub for business events and international travel trade engagement.
The announcement of MKTE 2026 comes at a time when Kenya is intensifying efforts to grow both its leisure tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sectors.
With increased investment in tourism infrastructure, destination marketing campaigns, aviation connectivity, and conference facilities, Kenya continues to position itself as one of Africa's leading destinations for tourism and business events.
Industry observers believe that MKTE 2026 will play a critical role in driving new partnerships, showcasing East Africa's tourism potential, and supporting broader efforts to increase international arrivals and tourism revenues in the region.
East Africa's premier travel trade showcase returns to Nairobi this October.
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