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The WAZA Annual Conference Heads to South Africa in 2027
Posted: 3 September 2026
A historic national bid will bring the global zoo and aquarium community to Cape Town from 17 to 21 October 2027.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is delighted to announce that its 82nd Annual Conference will take place in South Africa, from 17 to 21 October 2027, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
The 2027 conference will mark a first in WAZA Annual Conference history.
For the first time, every WAZA institutional member within one country has come together behind a single national bid.
This unprecedented collaboration brings together South Africa’s WAZA members as one unified hosting team, combining expertise from institutions working across different regions, ecosystems and areas of conservation.
A National Welcome to the WAZA Community
Cango Wildlife and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will serve as the primary hosts and lead coordinators of the conference.
They will be joined by Two Oceans Aquarium as the official venue partner, together with the uShaka Sea World, operated by the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) and National Zoological Garden of South Africa, part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
Together, the five institutions represent the breadth of South African zoological and aquarium expertise — encompassing terrestrial wildlife conservation, aquatic science, biodiversity research, urban zoological heritage, education and public engagement.
Although delegates will gather in Cape Town, the conference will be shaped by institutions and perspectives from across South Africa.
This national hosting model will give the global WAZA community a broader window into the country’s conservation work, its institutional expertise and the people advancing the protection of wildlife and ecosystems throughout the country.
One Conference, a Country-Wide Perspective
South Africa is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, home to an extraordinary variety of species, landscapes and ecosystems.
From its oceans and coastlines to its mountains, forests, grasslands and savannahs, South Africa offers a powerful setting for conversations about the future of conservation, animal welfare, science and institutional leadership.
The joint national bid reflects the same spirit of collaboration that underpins successful conservation: institutions bringing together different strengths, experiences and perspectives around a shared purpose.
The conference may take place in one city, but the welcome — and the story it tells — will come from across South Africa.
Voices from the South African Hosts
Cango Wildlife
“Cango Wildlife is elated that WAZA has entrusted Cape Town with its 2027 Annual Conference - and prouder still that, for the first time in WAZA’s history, every member institution in a host country stands together to deliver it. In nature, nothing endures alone: the strongest ecosystems are built not on the dominance of one species, but on the resilience of their connections. That same principle brings us together - with unity, purpose and tenacity. I look forward most to the world seeing what this country already knows: South Africa is not merely a beneficiary of the global conservation effort, but one of its architects.”
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
“We are very proud to co-host the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference in our beautiful South Africa. Co-hosting is testament to how we, as a small zoo community, work together and support each other in a tangible way. We are proud to partner with Cango Wildlife, Two Oceans Aquarium, SAAMBR and SANBI, all well-respected facilities. Johannesburg Zoo is managed by passionate staff, and we cannot wait to show the WAZA community the variety of animals and African biodiversity we hold in beautiful surroundings.”
Two Oceans Aquarium
“The Two Oceans Aquarium, together with Cango Wildlife, Johannesburg Zoo, SANBI and SAAMBR, is deeply honoured to welcome the global WAZA community to our beautiful country. Hosting the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference is an exceptional opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment to conservation, environmental education and research. As a proud member of both WAZA and AAWHC, we look forward to sharing Cape Town, the historic gateway to Southern Africa, and the region's remarkable biodiversity and extraordinary wildlife.”
uShaka Sea World – SAAMBR
“SAAMBR has been a proud and active member of WAZA for many years, participating at every level and helping shape WAZA's strategies. Hosting the 82nd WAZA Conference with our AAWHC associates is the chance to show off our beautiful, biodiverse country to our friends and colleagues around the world, while continuing to serve our WAZA family.”
National Zoological Garden of South Africa – SANBI
“SANBI is honoured to co-host the 82nd WAZA Annual Conference. As the organisation responsible for the National Zoological Gardens (NZG), which proudly hosted the WAZA Conference in 2000, SANBI looks forward to welcoming delegates to the iconic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and strengthening global partnerships for biodiversity conservation.”
A Historic First for WAZA
Martín Zordan, Chief Executive Officer of WAZA, said:
“For the first time in WAZA Annual Conference history, every WAZA Institutional Member in one country has come together behind a single national bid. That is more than a hosting model — it is a powerful statement of shared purpose.
After 28 years since the last WAZA Conference was hosted on the African continent, South Africa will welcome our global community not through one institution alone, but through the collective knowledge, experience and ambition of its entire WAZA membership. This reflects WAZA’s continued commitment to ensuring that our events are inclusive, globally representative and hosted across different regions and countries, giving our diverse membership the opportunity to connect, contribute and lead.
The conference may take place in Cape Town, but its perspective, its expertise and its welcome will come from across South Africa.”
The global zoo and aquarium community will gather in Cape Town, South Africa, from 17 to 21 October 2027. Further information about the programme, registration and delegate experiences will be announced in due course. Save the date!
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
WAZA is a member of the following organisations:
