Benin has been confirmed as the host country for the 2027 Black Travel Summit, which will take place in Cotonou. The announcement was made on October 17, 2026, at the Black Travel Awards Gala in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This will be the first time the Black Travel Summit is held on the African continent.
Black Travel Summit History and Partnership
The Black Travel Summit was founded by Anita Moreau in 2019 in the United States. Previous editions took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2025 and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2026. The selection of Benin as the 2027 host followed initial discussions between Benin Tourism and the
summit organizers at the 2025 Rio de Janeiro event. Benin Tourism is partnering with the summit to organize the event.
Market Data and Summit Objectives
Research by the Black Travel Alliance and MMGY Travel Intelligence found Black American leisure travelers took 184.12 million trips in 2023, generating approximately US$145 billion in travel spending. The 2027 summit aims to enhance international exchange and business collaboration across the global Black travel community and to strengthen connections between Africa and the global diaspora. Details on dates, programming, and participation will be released on the Black Travel Summit and Benin Tourism websites.
