The Black Travel Summit announced on October 17, 2026, at the Black Travel Awards Gala in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that its 2027 edition will be held in Cotonou, Benin. This marks the first time the summit will take place on African soil.
Founded in the United States by Anita Moreau in 2019, the summit has previously been hosted in Rio de Janeiro in 2025 and Milwaukee in 2026. The 2027 event is organized in partnership with Benin Tourism, following initial talks between the host country and summit organizers at the 2025 summit in Brazil.
Black American Leisure Travel Statistics
Research conducted by the Black Travel Alliance
and MMGY Travel Intelligence showed that Black American leisure travelers took 184.12 million trips in 2023. These travelers generated an estimated US$145 billion in spending during that year, highlighting the economic impact and market potential within this sector.
Objectives for the 2027 Summit
The 2027 Black Travel Summit aims to strengthen ties between Africa and the global Black diaspora. It will serve as a platform to facilitate cross-border partnerships and foster business development opportunities within the international Black travel community. The event promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in global tourism and focuses on maximizing economic and cultural exchange.
Specific details, including the exact dates, program
agenda, and participation information for the 2027 summit, will be released by the Black Travel Summit and Benin Tourism at a later time.
