RightsCon 2026 will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC), located in the Olympia Park neighborhood in Lusaka, a central area surrounded by major international hotels, restaurants, and government buildings.

The MICC features modern infrastructure and technology, and newly renovated architecture. Its versatile layout offers more than 50 rooms – from auditoriums, banquet halls, and conference rooms – perfectly suited for the variety of formats and sessions that make up the RightsCon program.

The venue also includes ample parking for visitors and lush green areas, showcasing a glimpse of Zambia’s exuberant flora and fauna.

Located in the country’s capital, Lusaka, the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) is Zambia’s largest airport and the main gateway for international arrivals. The airport is a 20-30 minutes drive from the city center and the RightsCon 2026 venue. 

Flights
Recently renovated, the airport provides direct flights through key regional and international airlines, including Kenya Airways, Ethiopia Airlines, South African Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, ProFlight and more. We are currently working with select airlines to secure discount codes.

ATM: 
An ATM to withdraw local currency is available when exiting the terminal.

Welcome Desk:
Look for our booth right outside of the airport. A RightsCon representative will be there to welcome you to Lusaka and provide you with the information you need to get your journey started. 

Internet connection:
The Kenneth Kaunda International Airport offers free Wi-fi for all visitors. After passing through the arrivals gate, you’ll find an MTN stand outside where you can purchase a SIM card for your stay in Zambia. Please note that to purchase a SIM card, you’ll need to present your passport, and your photo will be taken and attached to your registration as part of Zambia’s SIM card regulations.

While eSIMs are available in Zambia, they are generally less reliable for maintaining a stable connection than physical SIM cards.

Tourism is one of the main drivers of Zambia’s economy, alongside their agriculture, manufacturing, and mining industries. In recent years, the country’s focus on growing its tourism sector has led to a rapid expansion of hotels and guest accommodations in Lusaka, including well-known international chains like Holiday Inn and InterContinental, as well as reputable local and regional brands, such as Grand Palace Hotel and the Quorum. 

The RightsCon venue, the MICC, is centrally located in Lusaka, surrounded by a variety of accommodation options within walking distance or a short drive away. 
 
For your convenience, our team is working to secure room blocks with selected hotels near the venue. More information, including booking links, discount codes, will be available in the coming weeks. However, if you have the means, we recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible to ensure room availability during the summit dates.

At the airport:

Taxis are the most common form of transport to and from the airport, however, note that most taxis in Lusaka only accept cash in the local currency, Zambian Kwacha. Car rental services are available at the airport through Avis and Europcar, and many hotels provide airport shuttle services. 

To make travel easier, RightsCon will provide shuttles between the airport and key hotel hubs in the weekend prior to the summit as well as the first days of RightsCon 2026.

Accessibility support from the airport to the hotel and venue: If you need accessibility assistance between the airport terminal and transport options to the hotel and venue, support is available. Our team can help you from the airport building to the welcome desk, and from the welcome desk to the shuttle or taxi service.

Support may include help with luggage or mobility devices, guidance along accessible routes, visual or verbal way-finding, arranging wheelchair-accessible transport, or ensuring adapted seating when needed.

Please let us know your accessibility needs in advance by emailing us at [email protected] so we can ensure a smooth arrival.

To the MICC:

While the MICC is within walking distance from neighboring hotels, our team will also provide daily shuttle services from key hotels and hubs in the city to the venue and back. We’ll share detailed shuttle routes and schedules closer to the summit.

RightsCon places participant safety, security, and wellbeing at the center of our planning and production of the summit. We chose Lusaka, Zambia after an extensive selection process and believe it to be a very safe and welcoming city and country to host RightsCon, but we know no country is without risk and take seriously our responsibility as convenors. 

Every year, our Safety Working Group, an internal committee composed of our RightsCon, Security, and Code of Conduct teams, reviews our safety and security processes to ensure we understand the risks posed to the RightsCon community, both online and in person, and are positioned to respond effectively to issues should they arise. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments, mapping out potential scenarios, and developing response plans, support mechanisms, and guidance for participants. In addition, this year, we have formed and are currently developing an advisory committee of 3-5 people to ensure our safety planning and guidance reflects the local context and the diversity of experiences and identities of participants.

As with past editions, our Safety Working Group will prepare a comprehensive plan for the lead up to, week of, and post RightsCon. While our planning is ongoing and you can expect to hear more from us in the coming months, below is a high-level overview of the support mechanisms we will have: 

• A support number for participants to contact if they face issues in transit, when arriving, or during the event;
• RightsCon representatives at the airport (either before and / or after security);
• Shuttles from the airport to the venue and nearby hotels, including accessibility support options;
• Local legal counsel onsite before, during, and after RightsCon in case incidents arise;
• Dedicated in-person and online psychosocial support for participants during the week of RightsCon;
• A wellness space at the venue for participants to relax and decompress;
• Our Safety Working Group and Code of Conduct teams onsite, ready to support and respond.

As our diverse community comes from different contexts and backgrounds, we recognize that each person’s risk profile and needs will be different. We also know that Zambia’s cultural and legal environment may present risks for some members of our global community, in particular those who identify as LGBTQ+.  Before deciding to host RightsCon in Zambia, our team conducted legal and security assessments and consulted with organizations in Zambia, across the region, and from our broader community to better understand the potential impact and environment for LGBTQ+ participants, both from Zambia and abroad. These consultations and assessments have helped us gain a more nuanced understanding of the potential risks facing LGBTQ+ participants. We are committed to understanding risks, thoughtfully building plans to mitigate them, sharing clear guidance to inform participants, and facilitating an inclusive environment for everyone. 

If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community planning to join us in Lusaka, please send us a note to [email protected]. Our team can connect with you directly and share more information about the context in Zambia and how to prepare for your participation.

As always, we welcome any participant to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns about your participation.