The City of Kigali has officially joined the BestCities Global Alliance, an international network of leading destinations recognized for hosting world-class meetings, conferences, and business events. Kigali becomes the 14th city globally to join the alliance.
Kigali was admitted to the alliance based on several strengths, including its reputation as Africa’s cleanest and safest city, its high-quality hospitality, and its ability to warmly welcome visitors from around the world.
The Rwandan capital has steadily established itself as one of Africa’s premier meetings destinations. It has ranked second in Africa for six consecutive years in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings, which recognize cities that successfully host international association meetings.
In 2025, Rwanda hosted more than 25 international conferences, including the IAS 2025 International AIDS Society Conference and the Global NCD Alliance Forum, all of which were held in Kigali.
Kigali is also set to host the ICCA General Assembly in 2027 and the World Nephrology Congress in 2029, further strengthening its position as a global meetings destination.
The Chair of the BestCities Global Alliance Board, Julia Swanson, praised Kigali as one of Africa’s fastest-growing conference destinations, saying the city aligns closely with the alliance’s vision.
“Kigali demonstrates the qualities that define leading convention destinations today, including strong knowledge and innovation sectors, as well as a clear understanding of how business events can contribute to social and economic development,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB), Janet Karemera, said Kigali’s admission reflects Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening its position in the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry.
“Kigali has built significant capacity to host international meetings and events, supported by world-class infrastructure and proven experience in organizing major conferences,” she said.
She added that joining the alliance will help Rwanda further raise its international profile, gain valuable expertise, and continue promoting Kigali as a preferred destination for global meetings.
Kigali joins 13 other world-renowned cities in the alliance, including Berlin (Germany), Cape Town (South Africa), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dubai (UAE), Dublin (Ireland), Guadalajara (Mexico), Houston (USA), Madrid (Spain), Melbourne (Australia), Singapore, Tokyo (Japan), Vancouver (Canada), and Washington, D.C. (USA).
Founded in 2000, the BestCities Global Alliance was established through a partnership between Melbourne, Vancouver, and San Francisco with the goal of improving collaboration among leading convention cities and delivering exceptional services for international meetings and events.
Today, the alliance brings together some of the world’s top convention destinations. With its admission, Kigali becomes the first city in East Africa to join the BestCities Global Alliance, marking another milestone in Rwanda’s growing reputation as a global hub for international conferences and business events.
