The Insurance Conference 2026 is coming!

The Insurance Conference 2026 is set to bring a fresh, unexpected perspective to the industry on 20 and 21 August at Plaisir Wine Estate in Simondium, just outside Cape Town.

There has already been strong interest from both delegates and sponsors, and capacity will be reached very soon.

“That is very much by design,” says CN&CO founder Carel Nolte. “We have purposefully kept the conference niche, creating room to grow it alongside the industry and make it genuinely valuable for the people in the room.”

CN&CO has moved away from the traditional conference setup, focusing instead on fewer sponsors and stands, giving partners increased value while ensuring delegates learn and connect in a meaningful way.

“We want to start with a limited number of 200 delegates and grow the event steadily over time,” says Carel.

This is not going to be the usual insurance conference. Expect thoughtful conversations, different formats and a programme that looks at insurance from perspectives that are often overlooked. One session, for example, is called The Music of Insurance, featuring Charl du Plessis, the highly acclaimed classical and jazz pianist.

“We are examining insurance from all angles, because insurance touches virtually everything in our lives — the people we love, the things we build, the risks we take and the futures we imagine. That is why the programme needs to be broader, more curious and a little less predictable,” says Carel.

The core conference is a one-day event.

“We respect people’s time, so everything beyond the main programme is entirely optional,” says Carel. “People are busy, so we have designed the main conference to give a full, meaningful day — and then left the rest up to delegates. Join us for more if you can and want to, but there is no pressure.”

The dinner, padel and wine tasting experiences have been designed to give delegates an opportunity to network, make memories and do business in a meaningful way – less rush, more conversations.

“The value lies in bringing the right people together, having proper conversations and creating something that feels relevant to everyone,” says Carel. “Yes, the talks will be beneficial. But there is so much more to share and learn outside of the business session, when industry professionals get together over a meal, on a padel court or at a wine tasting.”

Thursday evening’s “smul” dinner is open to everyone who would like to join for good food and good conversation. (Smul is an Afrikaans word meaning to feast, relish or eat with great enjoyment — which perfectly captures the spirit of the evening.)

Friday offers two optional activities: Padel at Zorgvliet with Fulcrum, or a wine tasting hosted with Lombard Insurance.

Importantly, the conference, the smul dinner and Friday’s activities are all separate events and can be booked individually. Come for the day, stay for dinner, join an activity — or make a full experience of it. Bring clients, colleagues, friends. All are welcome!

“This is a first-of-its-kind event for our industry,” says Carel. “Set on the historic and beautiful Plaisir farm, it will be small enough to feel personal and ambitious enough to open up new conversations. Quite simply, it is going to be memorable, enjoyable and well worthwhile.”

Secure your place today!

Big thanks to our sponsors and partners from across the insurance spectrum: Aon Re, Crawford Dougall, EasyEquities, Elite Risk Acceptances, FAnews, the Financial Intermediaries Association, Fulcrum, Gage Car Hire, Global Choices, the Insurance Institute of the Western Cape, iTOO and Lombard.