Sports Wellness Summit

Echoes of Resilience: Forging Mental Wellness Pathways in African Sports

The Sports Wellness Summit 2026 is a premier two-day gathering dedicated to advancing mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding, and resilience across the sports ecosystem. Scheduled for 19–20 November 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, the summit will bring together athletes, coaches, sports federations, policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, journalists, parents, youth leaders, and development partners to address one of the most pressing yet often overlooked aspects of sport: mental wellness.

Across Africa and beyond, athletes and young people face growing pressures related to performance, identity, injury, social expectations, digital life, economic uncertainty, and transitions in education and careers. Despite these challenges, conversations around mental health in sports remain limited, and support systems are often fragmented or inaccessible, particularly at grassroots and community levels.

The Sports Wellness Summit seeks to change this narrative by creating a platform for open dialogue, practical learning, collaboration, and action. Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities, participants will explore innovative approaches to strengthening mental wellbeing in sports while building sustainable pathways for prevention, early intervention, support, and recovery.

A unique feature of the 2026 summit is its parallel wellness tracks, designed to address the diverse experiences and needs of different groups:

• Boys and Young Men: Identity, masculinity, social norms, purpose, digital experiences, and emotional wellbeing.
• Girls (Under 18): Confidence, body image, leadership, safety, and mental resilience.
• Young Women (18+): Purpose, career pressures, relationships, leadership, and wellbeing.
• Parents and Caregivers: Raising emotionally healthy children in a digital world.
• Media and Journalism: Ethical storytelling, youth mental health narratives, and responsible reporting.

Summit Objectives

• Promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma within sports communities.
• Equip athletes, coaches, and families with practical tools for resilience and emotional wellbeing.
• Strengthen safeguarding and referral pathways from grassroots sports clubs to professional support services.
• Foster partnerships between sports organizations, health institutions, governments, academia, and development partners.
• Develop policy recommendations and action plans that integrate mental wellness into sports systems.
• Amplify the voices and lived experiences of athletes and young people.

Who Should Attend?

• Athletes and sports teams
• Coaches and sports administrators
• Schools, colleges, and universities
• Parents and caregivers
• Mental health professionals
• Healthcare providers
• Government ministries and agencies
• Sports federations and associations
• Journalists and media practitioners
• NGOs, CBOs, and youth organizations
• Researchers and academics
• Corporate sponsors and development partners

Expected Outcomes

Participants will leave with:

• Enhanced mental health literacy and practical skills.
• New partnerships and collaboration opportunities.
• Access to toolkits, resources, and referral networks.
• Actionable recommendations for sports organizations and policymakers.
• A shared commitment to creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive sporting environments.

The Sports Wellness Summit 2026 is more than an event—it is a movement to ensure that every athlete, from playground to podium, has access to the support, care, and opportunities needed to thrive both on and off the field.

Together, we can build a future where mental wellness is recognized as an essential part of sporting success and human development.