The Insurance Conference 2026: Something new is coming to the Cape Winelands…

CN&CO is officially launching The Insurance Conference 2026, taking place on 20 and 21 August 2026 at the beautiful Plaisir Wine Estate in the Cape Winelands.

At CN&CO, we’ve spent a lot of time at insurance conferences over the years. We’ve attended them as delegates, worked behind the scenes as organisers, spoken on stage, managed media and sponsorships, hosted webinars and built communities around conversations that matter. Along the way we’ve learnt a few things about what works and what doesn’t.

“People want good content, yes. But they also want meaningful conversations,” says CN&CO founder Carel Nolte. “They want to meet people they’ll actually remember afterwards. They want time to think, connect and build relationships rather than simply moving from one session to the next.”

That thinking sits at the heart of something new that we’re very excited to announce – The Insurance Conference 2026.

And no, this isn’t just another insurance conference. Built on more than 30 years of combined experience in insurance marketing, events and industry engagement, The Insurance Conference has been designed as a curated experience for insurance professionals, brokers, underwriting managers, insurers, service providers and industry partners.

The idea is simple: get the right people into the right environment and create space for the conversations that really matter.

“We know what makes an event worth attending and what doesn’t,” says Carel. “The Insurance Conference has been designed around what people actually value: good conversations, quality content, authentic networking and experiences people genuinely want to be part of.”

Day one, Thursday 20 August, will feature a full conference programme running from 09:00 to 17:00. Delegates can expect industry insights, engaging speakers, practical discussions and fresh ideas shaping the future of insurance in South Africa.

Then, as the formal programme winds down, things move into a different gear.

The evening concludes with an exclusive gala dinner at Plaisir Wine Estate, giving guests and their partners an opportunity to connect in a more relaxed setting, surrounded by vineyards and mountains in the heart of the Winelands.

Day two looks a little different. Rather than more conference halls and PowerPoint decks, Friday is all about shared experiences and real networking opportunities. Attendees can choose from a range of activities including:

• A 5km or 10km fun run or walk
• A padel tournament at Zorgvliet Wines
• An exclusive four-wine-farm Winelands experience
• Additional curated experiences still to be announced

“One of the things we particularly like is the flexibility,” says Carel. “The gala dinner and Friday activities can all be booked separately, meaning you do not need to attend the conference itself to be part of the broader experience.

The event will also be CPD accredited for conference delegates attending on Thursday. And, importantly, attendance is being intentionally capped.

“Bigger doesn’t always mean better,” says Carel. “By limiting numbers, the aim is to create a more personal experience where conversations are easier, networking feels natural and sponsors have meaningful engagement opportunities rather than simply placing logos on banners.”

Speaking of sponsors, there are still a limited number of opportunities available for brands wanting to become part of the event.

“From exhibition spaces to tailored branded experiences, partners will have the opportunity to connect directly with a highly relevant audience in an environment designed for interaction and relationship building,” says Carel.

And there’s another practical touch we appreciate. Transport partner Gage Car Hire will provide a shuttle service between Cape Town CBD and Plaisir Wine Estate for conference delegates on Thursday.

“At CN&CO we love the insurance industry because, at its heart, it remains a people business. Relationships matter. Conversations matter. Communities matter. The Insurance Conference has been designed with exactly that in mind.”

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Conference tickets: R1 250 per delegate
Gala dinner: Ticketed separately
Friday experiences: Ticketed separately

CPD hours available for conference delegates on Thursday only.

Visit https://www.theinsuranceconference.co.za/ for more info and to book.