The Nedbank IMC, Africa’s biggest marketing conference, has officially announced its 2026 event, anchored by the theme SHIFT HAPPENS™. ARE YOU READY? – a direct challenge to marketers, business leaders and agencies navigating one of the fastest periods of change the industry has ever faced.
Taking place on 17 September 2026 at Mosaïek, Johannesburg, with a hybrid in-person and virtual format, the Nedbank IMC 2026 will once again bring together senior marketers, CMOs, founders, strategists, creatives and growth leaders for one focused day of high-impact marketing intelligence.
In 2025, more than 3,300 delegates from over 20 countries gathered at the Nedbank IMC, reinforcing its position as the most credible and commercially relevant marketing platform on the continent. The 2026 edition builds on that momentum, sharpening the focus on how marketing must respond to accelerating technological change, shifting consumer behaviour and rising commercial pressure.
The SHIFT HAPPENS™ theme reflects a simple reality: marketing is no longer adjusting at the edges. Entire categories, channels and business models are being re-written. From artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making to creativity, culture and brand trust, marketers are being forced to make braver, faster and more accountable choices.
“Marketing has moved from fast to full-tilt,” says Dale Hefer, CEO of the Nedbank IMC. “Shift Happens™ isn’t a slogan – it’s a warning and an invitation. The brands and marketers who thrive will be the ones who understand what’s changing, why it’s changing, and how to act decisively. The Nedbank IMC exists to give marketers clarity, confidence and commercial relevance in moments like this.”
As title sponsor, Nedbank continues its long-standing commitment to advancing marketing leadership and business thinking in South Africa and across the continent.
“Marketing plays a critical role in shaping growth, trust and long-term value,” says Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive: Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank. “The Nedbank IMC creates a space where marketers can engage with the ideas, data and creativity shaping what comes next – not in theory, but in practice. That’s why this platform remains so important for the industry.”
True to its positioning, the Nedbank IMC 2026 will feature a curated, not crowdsourced, speaker line-up, blending a global perspective with an African context. The programme will explore the shifts reshaping marketing today – from AI and innovation to storytelling, effectiveness, courage and leadership – always grounded in commercial reality.
Thousands of students will again attend virtually at no cost through the YOUTH1000 programme, in partnership with MASA, ensuring early exposure to world-class marketing thinking and building a stronger future talent pipeline for the industry.
To find out more, visit www.imcconference.com
My experience – An amazing festival & engaged audience!
