“As much as discovering new countries and cultures is also part of the experience, ensuring the smooth operation of the conference should be the main focus. For this reason, maybe the team should revisit the idea of organising it every year in the same place.” 

“I understand the importance of rotating continents, and as someone from Latin America, I know that some venues can be quite expensive to reach. Strengthening local communities is essential, and hosting RightsCon within their own regions can be a powerful way to do that. Perhaps you could consider alternating formats—holding a larger, centralized conference every two years in a fixed location, and in the intervening years, organizing a smaller event that rotates across continents. (RC Asia, RC Africa and so on).”

“Exploring hybrid or decentralized models, such as regional hubs or parallel local convenings, could help ensure continuity and inclusivity even in uncertain situations. This would allow participants, particularly from underrepresented regions, to still engage meaningfully despite global or political constraints”

“While the postponement of RightsCon in Zambia is disappointing, it also highlights the significance and impact of digital rights work. Reactions of this scale often indicate that the issues being addressed are both relevant and influential, which suggests progress in the right direction.

That said, this situation points to the need for a more nuanced, context-specific political analysis when planning such events. Beyond formal stakeholder engagement, it is important to understand the informal power structures and underlying decision-making dynamics within host countries, as those not always visible may ultimately shape outcomes.

This setback should not deter efforts to host RightsCon in Africa. The continent remains a critical space for these conversations, and future attempts should continue, with strengthened contextual awareness and strategic planning.“

“I would encourage RightsCon to strengthen risk assessment and contingency planning, particularly when hosting in politically sensitive contexts, to avoid last-minute disruptions of this scale. Clearer and earlier communication with participants would also help mitigate the financial and logistical impact on attendees, especially those traveling long distances.“

“I am so disappointed [that RightsCon 2026 in Zambia] fell apart in the end and do hope that some online convenings still happen – it can still have an impact to move things forward. Maybe not as a conference per se with everything happening at once but lots of scheduled convenings throughout the calendar on different topics? Also some sort of online community where we can share news and opportunities, and get together in trusted, private spaces.”

“There is an opportunity to shift from convening conversations to strengthening ecosystems. This means supporting regional and local infrastructures where dialogue, strategy, and action are already happening—sometimes informally, often without visibility, but with deep relevance to communities. It also means recognizing that participation should not be defined by the ability to attend a global event, but by the ability to shape agendas from where people are. There is also space to rethink how continuity is held. Many of the relationships and ideas that emerge around RightsCon risk losing momentum without a structure to sustain them. Supporting year-round engagement—through regional networks, collaborative platforms, and shared spaces for ongoing exchange—could ensure that the energy of the community does not depend on a single moment in time.”

“I am not sure it is realistic to try to pull off a 2026 Rights Con in person given global conditions including those tied to air travel. However, in line with what some major conferences did during COVID an option could be to schedule some RightsCon events and panels online. A particular theme area could be allocated a particular day of the week to make it easier for people to watch.”

“If possible, I would suggest hosting RightsCon in alignment with MozFest 2026 in Barcelona/Spain (late October or early November 2026) or before the Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi in December 2026.“

“Authoritarianism is testing us but this is our moment to decide who we are. We can retreat into silence, or we can stand firm and push forward with conviction. Rescheduling RightsCon 2026 is not just logistics; it is resistance. […] And to our community, it says this: we do not shrink under pressure; we rise, we organize, and we come back stronger”