Career Indaba®
EXPO & BOOTCAMP
15 -16 MAY
2026
THEMED
“FUTURE-PROOFING SKILLS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH”
Career Indaba® Expo & Bootcamp 2026 is Africa’s boldest sector-aligned, and solution-driven career development event designed to bridge the skills gap, unlock real employment pathways, and future-proof talent across 20+ industries.
This event transforms traditional career expos into a multi-stakeholder workforce activation platform powered by employers, learning institutions, sector organisations, educators, and government. We are committed to driving sustainable employment in South Africa’s workforce and connecting learners, students, graduates, job seekers, employers, professionals with industry experts.
Strategic Alignment
Career Indaba Expo & Bootcamp 2026 is providing a unified national platform where employers, educators, and policymakers collaborate to future-proof talent, bridge the education-to-employment gap, and create tangible pathways to sustainable work in alignment with the NSDP, NDP 2030, and UN SDGs.
Key Themes
- Future of Work in Africa
- Bridging the Skills Gap
- Youth Employment & Labour Market Entry
- Fit-for-Purpose Career Pathways
- Inclusive Access & Economic Participation
- The role of Employer in Talent Development
- Innovation in Skills, Learning & Career Access
- Policy Reform for Workforce Readiness
- Sustainable Job Creation & Green Careers
- Entrepreneurship & the Informal Economy
Expected Outcomes
Employment Access
5,000+ job, internship & learnership opportunities
Skills Development
10,000+ participants attend masterclasses or CV clinics
Bursaries & Learning Access
2,000+ bursary applications submitted
Career Guidance
3,000 career assessments and 2,500 coaching sessions
Employer Engagement
300+ employers activated
Policy Influence
10+ briefs developed from expert sessions
Rural Inclusion
5,000+ learners reached from underserved communities
Digital Tools Showcased
50+ tech demos; 15+ EdTech platforms
Stakeholder Collaboration
100+ partnerships initiated
CAREER EXPO & BOOTCAMP
FORMAT
multi-stakeholder
activation
- 20+ Industry-Specific Bootcamps
- 120+ Exhibitor Pods, 5x exhibitors per Bootcamp
- Each bootcamp aligned with high-growth sector
- Sector & Faculty specific Masterclasses
- All sessions livestreamed and open to virtual attendees
Career Activation Zones
- Sector and academic faculty specific masterclasses
- Career Assessment Zone: Personality, interest, and skills-based assessments
- Digital Skills & Tech Demo Zone: AI tools, EdTech, and hiring platforms
- University Application: Real-time support for applying to universities and colleges, including application submissions
- Bursary & Funding Zone: Live applications, bursary packs, and advisor support
- Job Wall: 5,000+ jobs, QR-based applications
- Pitch Booth: Record your 60-second video CV
Who Should Attend
Free Registration for Grade 10 & 12
- Students, Graduates & NEET
- Job Seekers & Career Changers
- Employers & Recruiters
- Government, SETAs & Policymakers
- TVETs, Universities & EdTech Providers
- NGOs & Youth Organisations
Bootcamp Experience Highlights
- 20+ Sector Bootcamps aligned to priority growth sectors
- Practical masterclasses led by employers, industry experts, and recruiters
- Career mapping, labour market insights, job readiness activities
- Real-time job, internship, bursary and learnership access
Exhibitor Participation
Career Indaba® Expo & Bootcamp 2026 is not a traditional showcase, but a results-oriented solution space designed to bridge the gap between skills and opportunity. Exhibitor slots are intentionally limited and reserved for purpose-aligned organisations that play an active role in advancing employment, skills development, youth empowerment, and sector transformation. As an exhibitor, you are not just displaying , you are contributing to a national workforce activation agenda that connects learners, jobseekers, and professionals with real jobs, pathways, programmes, and funding. If your organisation is committed to impact, inclusion, and innovation in the world of work, this platform is built for you.
Eligibility Criteria
Exhibiting at Career Indaba® 2026 is about purpose. Qualifying exhibitors are invited to contribute meaningfully to the event’s mission by actively supporting employment access, skills development, or youth economic inclusion. Participation is reserved for organisations aligned to these impact-driven goals. Must meet 3 of 5.
Sponsor & Speaker
Engagement
Expect high-impact content aligned to event themes and contribute to policy reform, innovation, and youth empowerment.
PROGRAMME
The two-day experience is designed to drive impact, focus on employment, skills alignment, and access to sector-specific opportunities through immersive bootcamps and employer engagement. A spotlight on funding future careers, and policy reform.
Day 1: Friday, 15 May 2026
Theme: Youth Employment, Skills Alignment & Sector Access
07:00 – 09:00 – Registration & Expo Access (Foyer)
09:00 – 09:30 – Opening Ceremony Mainstage
09:30 – 10:00 – Keynote: Pathways to Jobs 2030
10:00 – 10:45 – Panel: Sector Readiness
11:00 – 12:30 – Bootcamp Masterclasses – Block 1
11:00 – 12:30 – Career Assessments (Career Lounge)
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch & Networking
13:30 – 14:15 – Mainstage Masterclass #1: Getting Hired
14:30 – 16:00 – Bootcamp Masterclasses – Block 2
16:00 – 16:30 – Fireside Chat: From Campus to Career
16:30 – 17:00 – Youth Talent Showcase & Entertainment
17:00 – 18:00 – CI Radio Live Broadcast – Day 1 Wrap-Up
Day 2: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Theme: Funding, Future Careers & Workforce Policy Reform
07:00 – 09:00 – Registration & Digital Access Orientation
09:00 – 09:30 – Keynote: Funding the Future
09:30 – 10:15 – Panel: Cost of Skilling
10:30 – 12:00 – Bootcamp Masterclasses – Block 3
10:30 – 12:30 – Career Assessments & Bursary Submissions
12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch & Meet the Funders
13:00 – 13:45 – Mainstage Masterclass #2: Digital Careers from Anywhere
14:00 – 15:30 – Bootcamp Masterclasses – Block 4
15:30 – 16:15 – Fireside Chat: What Youth Expect
16:15 – 16:45 – Closing Ceremony & Career Indaba Awards
17:00 – 18:00 – CI Radio Final Broadcast
CAREER COACHES 2025
Positioned across the Career Assessment and Career Guidance Zones, are professionally certified career coaches who will provide personalised support on career pathway selection, workplace readiness and career transitioning.
“FUTURE-PROOFING SKILLS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH — sector by sector”
Contact Us
General Inquiries: info@careerindaba.org Partnerships & Exhibitors: partnerships@careerindaba.org Tel: +27 (0)12 003 6663 Website: www.careerindaba.org
Booking is essential to observe safety protocols, a must to avoid disappointment. Dates: 15–16 May 2026. Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg & Provincial Virtual Hubs across 9x Provinces. Hybrid Format: Livestreaming across regions via CI Radio Channel and social platforms.
Event Details
Date: 15–16 May 2026
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Hybrid Format: Livestreamed to all African regions
Broadcast: CI Radio, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, X