Yes! Come early (8am) to register on the Tuesday morning.
The Indabaš is free to attend if you applied and are accepted. There are paid registration options for academics and industry professionals.
Speakers have their fees waived.
Each person we have at the event costs the Indabaš ~R5000. Considering we have 400 people, this is a lot of money. We are very grateful to our partners for making this possible.
As a community-orientated event, we are committed to making the Indabaš as accessible as possible. We have a number of travel grants available to help people attend the Indabaš. These are allocated at application time. See /register/travel-grants/ for more.
We have a limited number of travel grants that have awarded to applicants. These are allocated at application time. See /register/travel-grants/ for more.
One of the hardest decisions we make is allocating finite resources to infinite passion. We wish we could fund everyone, but we can’t. We are very grateful to our partners for making any of this possible.
If you need funding to attend, but did not get one this year, the best thing you can do is to apply again next year. We will be around and rotating the event across our beautiful country, and we will be trying our best to make the Indabaš as accessible as possible.
If you are an organisation, consider partnering with us to gain more visibility and support the Indabaš. If you are an individual, attending through paid registration options is also beneficial. If you are feeling particularly benevolent, consider donating.
Additionally, consider helping organise the event, volunteering at the event, shouting about the event, or just being a good human being.
Yes, there will be tea and coffee available at certain times throughout the day!
Yes, we will provide lunch on conference days. We will also provide some snacks throughout the day. Dietary requirements are collected in the registration form.
Most evenings will host an activity with some snacks and drinks provided, but in limited quantities and not intended as a full dinner experience. We strongly encourage you to make friends and get dinner.
If you have an “accommodation” travel grant and are booked by us to stay in the student residence, you will have access to the kitchens to prepare your own meals, but there is no cutlery.
The campus food court has a limited operating schedule during recess, but there is a small grocery shop on campus, and Westwood Mall (approx. 2 kilometers outside of campus) has ample options to grab a bite.
UKZN Westville campus is accessible through three entrances based at long windy roads through a nature reserve, which are all 24h access controlled. To avoid any access issues, make sure to have your badge, invitation letter or proof of attendance at hand for the guards to check.
UKZN’s Risk Management Service is available under 031 260 7133 or 031 260 7265.
The Deep Learning Indaba, as well as its local offspring, is a pan-African movement based on inclusivity, and we take a firm stance against any intimidation, violence or polemic against foreign nationals. We are monitoring the current tensions closely, and take the safety of our non-South African delegates very seriously.
Luckily, Westville campus is located in a residential area and far from protest hotspots, and also our recommended area for off-campus accommodation is generally safe. We encourage delegates to reach out to us if they have any concerns.
We suggest arriving on Sunday July 5th to join us for the opening on Monday morning, and leaving on Friday July 10th.
Very. We have an awesome selection of speakers and activities to fill up the time from ~8:30 am until 5 pm and beyond each day. The evening activities are normally optional, but we highly recommend you attend them for the full experience. Remember to also take time for yourself, and to explore the city and surrounds.
The IndabaX 2026 will take place at T-Block on UKZN’s Westville Campus. You cannot miss it: the entrance is in the middle of the courtyard behind the pond.
Hackathons will be held at H1 block, 200m from the main conference venue. The AI Fest is in the Main Hall, 50m across the courtyard.
You can park in the student parking spots on campus without a permit for the duration of the event.
The easiest way is to catch an Uber or Bolt. There are hourly airport shuttles for about R100, such as the Airbus Shuttle Service that can be booked by calling +27 82 340 9990. However, these usually only drop you in town, from where you would have to catch a minitaxi. Unfortunately, the use of public buses is rather cumbersome.
Durban’s beachfront is a wonderful space shared by swimmers, surfers, fisher(wo)men, churches, karate clubs and general beach goers, and especially vibrant in the early mornings. Chartwell Drive in Umhlanga village is a popular spot for party goers. Hikers will love Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.
Students who received an “accommodation” stipend will be hosted at the O-Block student residence on campus.
Please note the following:
Rooms in the residence may also be rented from the Residence Managers as a budget-friendly option in walking distance to the venue. Rates are R370 per night. To book a room, or to extend your sponsored stay, you need to pay the full amount (R370 x number of nights) into our account until Friday July 3rd. Our account details are:
Account Holder: DEEP LEARNING INDABAX SOUTH AFRICA NPC Account Type: GOLD BUSINESS ACCOUNT Account Number: 62910659575 Branch Code: 220526
Don’t forget to send proof of payment, together with your name and gender, to accounting@indabax.co.za - this will secure your bed.
Westville is a residential area with many private accommodation options set in lush nature.
For those that want to be around coffee shops and restaurants, we recommend finding accommodation around the Florida Road area in Musgrave. It is generally safe to walk, and a ~15-20 minute car ride to campus, and 10 minutes to the beach. You can organise shared rides using the conference WhatsApp group!
Here is a list of hotels suggested by the local organising committee: