UCT to host first-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa

Dear colleagues and students

It is with great delight that I share not one, but two incredible pieces of news: the University of Cape Town (UCT) has been announced as host for the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit 2026; and the university has climbed from 180th to 164th on the latest THE rankings.

We will host the THE World Academic Summit 2026 from 29 September to 1 October. This announcement was made at the 2025 summit hosted by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, which I had the honour of attending.

We are proud to co-host the 2026 edition alongside our long-standing strategic partner, the University of Bristol (UoB), with whom we have an enduring partnership built on mutual respect, trust and a shared commitment to advancing knowledge for the public good.

With UCT as the first-ever host of the THE World Academic Summit on African soil, this historic gathering affirms Africa’s longstanding contributions to the global knowledge community. It offers us an opportunity to showcase our continent’s rich traditions of knowledge-making, innovation and imagination – traditions that have long shaped, and continue to shape, the future of humanity.

In a world undergoing profound social, technological and environmental transformation, universities are being called to ponder their purpose and role in society. We are called to create spaces where knowledge advancements serve humanity; where excellence is measured not only by discovery, but by its capacity to be inclusive, impactful and sustainable.

Under the theme “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, the 2026 summit will convene hundreds of global leaders in higher education, research, policy, business and civil society to engage in meaningful dialogue on the urgent challenges facing universities in an increasingly complex and volatile world.

With themes spanning human-centric innovation, universities that lead with justice and accountability, and the building of equitable partnerships, the summit echoes the spirit of UCT’s Strategy 2030, expressed through our commitment to deepen our societal impact.

As we prepare to make this a memorable and historic gathering, we will draw on the creativity, diversity and innovation of our UCT community to ensure a successful summit.

• Read more about the 2026 summit.

THE also revealed its 2026 World University Rankings in which UCT climbed to 164th position out of 2 191 universities, placing the university in the top 7.5% worldwide. This marks a significant upward shift from our 2025 placement of 180th out of 2 092 universities.

This success builds on our recent performance in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, our highest achievement in a decade, where UCT rose to 150th globally in the 2026 rankings.

Our rise is a testament to the continuous pursuit of excellence by our staff and students. It is your dedication to rigorous scholarship, transformative teaching and meaningful engagement with society that drives UCT forward. This achievement belongs to every member of the university community who strives daily to make UCT not only a leading African institution, but a globally respected one. We thank you for your passion, your perseverance and your pursuit of excellence.

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements