Nairobi is set to become the centre of global discussions on journalist safety, press freedom and peaceful conflict resolution when the Global Press Peace Summit 2026 brings together media practitioners, policymakers, diplomats, humanitarian organisations, peacebuilders and civil society actors in November.
The three-day summit is scheduled for November 25 to 27, 2026, at the University of Nairobi, according to the official summit programme. Organisers describe the gathering as a high-level international platform focused on protecting journalists and humanitarian workers operating in conflict and other high-risk environments.
The summit is expected to examine the growing risks faced by journalists working in war zones and unstable environments, including physical attacks, digital threats, surveillance, misinformation, arbitrary detention, trauma and loss of livelihoods.
Journalists connect ahead of Nairobi summit
Preparations for the summit continued on August 26, 2026, when journalists and other stakeholders took part in a virtual meeting ahead of the Nairobi gathering.
The Intercontinental Connection of Journalists (ICJ) was represented during the virtual meeting by Saša Dobrijević, the founder of ICJ, and Daisy Okiring, a Kenyan investigative journalist working with ICJ.
The participation of ICJ highlights the growing importance of cross-border collaboration among journalists as media workers confront increasingly complex threats that extend beyond national borders.
For journalists working independently and those reporting on sensitive issues, international networks can provide opportunities to exchange experiences, identify common challenges and contribute to global conversations on press freedom and journalist protection.
The August 26 virtual engagement forms part of the wider mobilisation ahead of the summit, which organisers hope will bring together journalists and institutions from different parts of the world.
Six themes will shape the summit
The summit will be structured around six major thematic areas covering some of the most pressing challenges facing journalists and humanitarian workers.
One of the key areas is physical and digital protection of journalists. Discussions will focus on hostile-environment awareness, emergency preparedness, protective equipment, secure transportation, digital security, encrypted communication, surveillance protection and newsroom security.
The second theme, legal frameworks and accountability, will examine the protection of journalists under national and international law and the persistent problem of impunity for attacks against media workers.
The summit will also address peace, security and mediation, exploring the role of journalism and independent media in conflict situations and peacebuilding.
Another area will focus on humanitarian support systems, particularly the protection of humanitarian workers, emergency responders and medical personnel operating in conflict zones.
The fifth theme will examine misinformation, propaganda and press freedom, including the impact of disinformation and emerging technologies on journalism and conflict reporting.
The final theme will focus on trauma support, rehabilitation and livelihood pathways, addressing the psychological, professional and economic consequences faced by journalists exposed to conflict and other dangerous assignments.
Summit seeks evidence from journalists
A major component of the initiative is a Global Baseline Survey on the Safety of Journalists and Humanitarian Workers.
Journalists, photojournalists, editors, freelancers, fixers, humanitarian workers, aid professionals, emergency responders and peacebuilders working in high-risk environments are being encouraged to participate.
The survey seeks to document the experiences and threats faced by people working in dangerous environments. Its findings are expected to contribute to discussions at the summit and inform the development of the planned Nairobi Declaration.
Take the Global Baseline Safety Survey:
Global Press Peace Summit safety survey
The summit organisers say the evidence gathered will help identify emerging threats and strengthen strategies for protecting journalists and humanitarian workers.
Nairobi Declaration expected
One of the major anticipated outcomes of the summit is the Nairobi Declaration on the Protection of Journalists and Humanitarian Workers.
The summit programme provides for the presentation of the baseline survey findings, plenary discussions, drafting committee deliberations and review and adoption of the declaration.
The declaration is intended to translate discussions into concrete commitments and provide an advocacy framework for stronger protection of journalists and humanitarian workers.
The summit will also provide opportunities for researchers and practitioners to present papers and case studies covering diplomacy, peacebuilding, media freedom, international humanitarian law, human rights, governance, technology and humanitarian response.
Journalists invited to register
Journalists and other stakeholders interested in participating in the Nairobi meeting can register through the official summit platform.
The organisers have created different registration categories for journalists, delegates, exhibitors and sponsors. Journalists will have opportunities to participate in safety training, discussions and sessions addressing the realities of reporting from high-risk environments.
Register for the Global Press Peace Summit:
Register for the summit
Journalists can also use the dedicated journalist registration platform:
Journalist registration:
Register as a journalist
Researchers and journalists wishing to contribute papers can also submit abstracts under the summit’s six thematic tracks.
Call for papers:
Submit a paper or abstract
As preparations continue, the August 26 virtual meeting provided an opportunity for journalists and networks such as ICJ to engage with the summit agenda ahead of the Nairobi gathering.
For Saša Dobrijević and Daisy Okiring, representing ICJ in the preparations also places the journalist network within a broader international conversation about the safety, rights and professional resilience of media workers.
With journalists increasingly working across borders and covering conflicts that have regional and global consequences, organisers hope the Nairobi summit will produce practical solutions while strengthening cooperation between the media, humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors.
The Global Press Peace Summit is therefore positioning Nairobi not simply as the venue for another international conference, but as a meeting point for journalists and global actors seeking stronger protections for those reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous environments.
